The idea for this book grew out of an international conference organized by the National College for School Leadership, An International Future: learning from best practice worldwide, which explored innovative and significant aspects of educational leadership and brought together international colleagues to generate new understandings. The conference proved a dynamic forum for debate for researchers, academics, policy-makers and practitioners. It was clear at the conference that there was a consensus of understanding around certain key themes that crossed national boundaries. In Developing Leadership, well-known international contributors explore this consensus to promote the key themes which reflect our best present understanding of good school leadership, and to inform school leaders about leading edge thinking which bears on their role. These key ideas, which are highlighted at various points throughout the book, are built around professional learning communities; distributed leadership; strategic thinking about ICT; sustainability; internship; mentoring and coaching.