Making Middle Leadership Visible: Representations of Identity and Influence in Australian Independent Secondary Schools

Academic middle leaders in independent secondary schools in Queensland often do their role with no formal training. This qualitative study explored how middle leaders learn to influence others on the job and develop their identities as academic leaders. Data were gathered from 8 Queensland middle leaders through interviews and visual metaphors and theorized using Bourdieu’s sociological concepts of habitus, field and capitals. Representations of the multifaceted social capital of middle leaders led to a new definition of middle leader influence and recommendations for professional learning.