Abstract
Most educational institutions are facing challenges and are unable to deliver quality services. This study will assist school leaders in adding value to their organisation and able to think of creative methods which can be implemented in their institutions. Educational leaders are unaware of professional development that could help them to implement school culture. Therefore, this study will help them to develop the essential skills that will help them to implement and create a positive culture in their institutions.
This study will focus on challenges experienced by leadership within educational institutions in promoting a positive school environment to improve learners’ performance and to ensure students’ success. Interpretivist paradigm and a qualitative case study methodology was used in this study. The study scrutinised a single high-performing school in Soweto. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants from this school. The findings from the study illuminated the various barriers experienced by the school leadership and the various strategies that could be used to overcome them. These strategies could help other schools, high-performing or non –performing schools, to encourage an ethos of academic excellence and promote a positive school culture that creates learning organisations.
Keywords: high-performing school, school culture, learning organisation, leadership initiatives