This article begins charting the field of leadership with respect to English Educational Psychological Services within the context of unprecedented and externally imposed change within local education authorities, including Best Value legislation and increasing market forces. It draws upon the work of Brighouse and Woods (on shared leadership and school improvement) and reports on the outcomes of a service improvement framework utilized in three Educational Psychology Services (City, Shire County and Metropolitan Borough). The data were triangulated with results from LEA OFSTED inspections and a short Business Excellence questionnaire. It was concluded that the adapted framework provided a valid and reliable tool that could be used to support service improvement initiatives. The study also enabled an initial exploration of leadership and psychology within modern Educational Psychology Services.
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