Successful schools are led and managed by effective leaders. This research sought to explore the stakeholder’s perspectives of leadership practices in a challenging climate and the best practices successfully employed to overcome the challenges in an inner city school. The research utilized a qualitative case study that purposively selected 10 participants.

The purpose of the research was to monitor the roll out of the Schools Positive Behaviour Management Programme (SPBMP), an approach which emphasises the reinforcement of positive behavioural norms as a means of building student-centred school environments. At each of the 16 schools (10 primary, 6 secondary) in the sample, data were collected from five sources: surveys with a sample of teachers, one-on-one interviews with principals and School Focal Points (SFPs), a school audit, and classroom observations.