- About us
- Schools
- Area planning
- Find your Schools’ Support Officer
- Best practice case studies
- Funding opportunities
- School vacancies
- Shared education
- #OpenToAll
- CSSC Award in Excellence in Educational Research
- Erasmus+
- CSSC Membership Survey 2022 – Results
- CSSC Sign Language programme - engaging with sign, a language for you and me
- Governors
- News
- Events
- Publications
- Ethos
- #OpenToAll
- Contact
- Search
New research demonstrates the importance of effective leadership serving disadvantaged communities
The Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC) welcomes new research that demonstrates the importance of effective leadership in schools serving disadvantaged communities.
The report ‘Effective School Leadership in Disadvantaged Communities’ focuses on the 13 high-performing schools in disadvantaged areas highlighted by the Independent Review of Education. These schools achieved significantly above expectations despite serving communities with over 50% free school meal entitlement. The research findings align with the Taskforce Report ‘Development of a proposed model for support for controlled schools’ which recognised the need for enhanced leadership development and strategic support across all school sectors.
CSSC Chief Executive Mark Baker said:
“This research reinforces the need for enhanced leadership support, with the principals interviewed calling for ‘new pathways to leadership, including secondments, phased retirements, and structured mentoring’.”
Mr Baker continued: “The research supports the Taskforce's analysis that controlled schools require "a clearly identified sectoral ethos, strategy, and vision for high-quality education" alongside "support for leadership appointments and development, ensuring the right leaders are appointed and are equipped to drive improvement." The Taskforce identified the need for "a clearer sectoral vision and more coherent, proactive leadership" and "support tailored to individual school contexts, with a stronger focus on standards."
The controlled sector serves Northern Ireland's most diverse communities, educating 148,431 pupils across 49% of all schools. This includes 28% of pupils entitled to Free School Meals, 45% of newcomer pupils, and 32,387 pupils with Special Educational Needs.
Read Effective School Leadership in Disadvantaged Communities report here. Authors Prof Noel Purdy OBE, Dr Emilia Symington, Dr Mark Ballentine, Dr Karen Orr, Dr Glenda Walsh, Dr Katie Tate.
18 September 2025