Delve into the intricate dynamics of power within the Further Education sector with this compelling collection. Serving as a thematic sequel to ‘Further Education and the Twelve Dancing Princesses‘, this book strikes a balance between playful exploration and profound inquiry.
Drawing inspiration from Machiavelli’s timeless work ‘The Prince’, the contributors offer diverse perspectives on leadership, agency, and professionalism in Further Education. Through insightful analysis, they navigate the complexities of the sector, addressing adult education and FE systems across the UK, Ireland, and Australia.
With a shared dedication to the advancement of Further Education, the authors present a thought-provoking narrative that is essential reading for anyone invested in the sector’s trajectory and leadership dynamics.
Creators Unveiled: Meet the Minds Shaping This Work
Maire Daley is the former Programme Leader for Teacher Education at the City of Liverpool College.
Kevin Orr is a Professor of Work and Learning at the University of Huddersfield.
Joel Petrie is a doctoral researcher at the University of Huddersfield.
Echoes of Praise: Reviews and Testimonials
“Engaging and enlightening, this book offers a wealth of insights for anyone involved in Further Education, from students to senior staff.”
“A fresh and insightful collection that illuminates the relevance of Machiavelli’s principles to contemporary FE leadership.”
“Thought-provoking and essential, ‘The Principal’ navigates the complexities of FE leadership with optimism and critical analysis.”
“An ethical and cultural challenge to the status quo in Further Education, offering a vision for dynamic and ethical futures.”
“A gripping exploration of power dynamics in colleges, offering hope amidst the challenges.”
“An audacious alternative prospectus for Further Education, setting the stage for transformative change.”
“A direct and provocative challenge to FE leadership, offering a refreshing perspective seldom heard.”
Journey Within Discovering the Book’s Depths
CONTENTS: Preface, by Geoffrey Elliott; Introduction: FE’s Machiavellian moment and its Promethean promise, by Joel Petrie; PART 1: Introduction: Power and Principals, by Mike Aiello; 1. Area reviews and the end of incorporation: A Machiavellian moment, by Rob Smith; 2. ‘Il Principe’: A handbook for career-makers in FE; Geoff Brown; 3. A letter from Niccolò: Machiavellian indulgences and strategic myths, by Carol Azumah Dennis; 4. ‘For one will always find malcontents’: In defence of the principal, by Damien Page; PART 2: Introduction: Princes and Principalities, by John Field; 5. Mixed messages (or how to undermine your own policy): ESOL provision in the Scottish FE sector, by Steve Brown; 6. No music in the principality of song: De-professionalization in Welsh FE, by Peter Jones; 7. Under the sovereign’s baleful gaze: Space, power and policy in the making of Irish further education and training, by Fergal Finnegan; 8. The prince and English apprenticeships, by Simon Reddy; 9. The former principal–agent problem in Victorian technical and further education: Principals with principles, by Gavin Moodie; PART 3: Introduction: The Body Politic: Citizenship, community and professionalism, by Maire Daley; 10. The renovation of Machiavellian innovation: A return to a celebration of the good, by Gary Husband; 11. The prince and the paupers: The mean end of the stick, by Alex Dunedin; 12. Principalities of people: Destabilizing the prince’s power through acts of connection, by Jim Crawley; 13. Better to be feared than loved? The terrors of performativity in FE, by Rajiv Khosla; 14. The Prince, principals and their principalities, by David Powell; 15. Transforming the prince to a Prince of Hope: Emancipatory adult education empowering students and communities, by Vicky Duckworth; PART 4: Introduction: FE Utopia: Towards a new republic, by Kevin Orr; 16. Machiavelli, tactics, and utopia?, by Craig Hammond; 17. Seeking emancipation in a world of online emancipators, by Peter Shukie; 18. Inside the Trojan horse: Educating teachers for leadership, by Rania Hafez; 19. Exiled to Sant’Andrea: The excluded voices of FE, by Rob Peutrell; 20. Social purpose leadership: A new hope, by Lou Mycroft and Jane Weatherby; 21. Beyond cynicism, comfort radicalism and emancipatory practice: FE teachers, by James Avis; Conclusion, by Ann-Marie Bathmaker; Coda: Student voice: At the heart of policy but silent in practice?, by Shakira Martin; Index
