School leaders' perceptions of fear: an interpretative phenomenological study

The importance of well being for school leaders has become an area of growing concern for researchers and policy-makers alike. This interpretative, phenomenological study contributes to the research around school leadership and emotion: in particular, school leaders’ perceptions of fear as experienced in their professional roles. School leaders were interviewed about their lived experience of fear, and themes of control, expectations and support were identified. Recommendations from the study include an increased emphasis on the emotional aspects of school leadership in principal preparation programmes, and a continued focus on the well being of Australian school leaders.