School leaders today face a tough challenge: balancing the everyday demands of the education system while navigating an increasingly complex landscape. From shifting student needs to changing expectations, the role of school leadership has never been more important—or more demanding.
Since 2019, the Menzies School Leadership Incubator has been working alongside educators to explore new ways of supporting school leaders to thrive. Driven by the belief that strong leadership is key to improving student outcomes, the Incubator has been developing insights, tools, and strategies to help leaders build stronger, more collaborative school communities.
At the heart of this work is collective efficacy—the shared belief that a team can achieve its goals together. Research shows that when teachers and school leaders feel confident in their collective ability, student outcomes improve. By focusing on this idea, the Incubator has supported schools to develop new ways of working together that empower leaders, educators, and students alike.
Key Achievements
New Tools to Measure and Build Collective Efficacy
To help schools strengthen collaboration, the Incubator created the Collective Efficacy Tracking Tool and the Elements of Collective Efficacy Scale. These resources enable schools to assess and develop their collective efficacy, providing practical ways for leadership teams to track progress and build stronger, more effective teams.
Rising Team for Schools Platform
In partnership with a technology company, the Incubator developed the Rising Team for Schools platform. This scalable tool helps leaders and teams collaborate better, with step-by-step guidance, pulse checks, and AI-powered coaching. Following prototyping in 2023 and testing in 2024, the platform is set for commercial release in 2025. With pilot programs underway in Australia and the United States, real-world feedback will help refine its capabilities.
Redefining Leadership Roles and Career Pathways
The Incubator’s work has also highlighted the need for clearer leadership pathways in schools. By mapping technical and adaptive leadership capabilities, the Incubator has created a pathway model that helps leaders build essential skills and track their development. Future plans include a Digital Leadership Platform to provide ongoing, context-specific support for leaders navigating complex school environments.
Rethinking School Strategic Planning
The Incubator’s research has shaped a fresh approach to strategic planning in schools, with collective efficacy positioned as a core driver of improvement. This strategic shift is designed to help schools align efforts, strengthen collaboration, and improve learning outcomes at scale.
Looking Ahead
The Incubator is set to expand its partnership with the Complexity Leadership Lab at the Australian National University. This collaboration will delve deeper into how leaders and teams can develop the collaborative capacity needed to navigate complexity. Insights from this research will inform new leadership development strategies tailored to the unique challenges faced by educators and school systems.
The Menzies School Leadership Incubator remains committed to empowering school leaders with practical tools, innovative ideas, and scalable strategies—ensuring Australian students and educators are equipped to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming launch of the Rising Team for Schools platform and other exciting developments.
The Menzies Leadership Foundation aspires to amplify a leadership movement which encourages citizens to clarify their purpose, deepen the collective understanding of our responsibility to each other and motivates all to act for the ‘greater good’.
Our work emphasises the imperative of building a non-siloed coalition of the willing to explore and build a new leadership paradigm which engenders confidence in our leaders, builds collaborative capacity and best positions each of us to step forward with the attributes and ability to navigate the complexities of an increasingly challenging and polarised world.
We invite you to join us in this quest.
