Reflections on developments in school governance: international perspectives on school governing under pressure

Debates about governance, across the public sector, including education, continue to generate a substantial literature. The intention of this article is to engage with these debates by reviewing the articles in this special edition. In this review article, we first consider the wider context of the articles by revisiting some of the central debates in the governance literature. We then consider some of the themes that emerge from the articles, which are: the significance of improving school performance and pupil attainment; the dynamic nature of governance and the problematic nature of managing change in school governance; difference and variety; the contested territory of school governing and the conflicting roles and responsibilities; the complexity of school governing especially the complexity wrought by diversity of provision; the complex and demanding capabilities required for, and participation in, governing; micro-macro issues; and joint modes of institutional governance.