Alma Harris is Professor of School Leadership and Director of the Leadership, Policy and Improvement Unit at the Institute of Education, University of Warwick. She has published extensively on the theme of leadership and school improvement and her latest books include: Effective Leadership for School Improvement (2003) Routledge/Falmer; School Improvement: What's in it for Schools? (2002) Routledge/Falmer. Leading the Improving Department (2002) David Fulton. Her most recent research work has focused upon effective leadership in schools facing challenging circumstances and the relationship bet