System Change: Realizing the Fourth Way

This article outlines how the work of Andy Hargreaves has significantly and substantially informed our understanding of educational change, particularly systemwide change, by drawing upon his most recent research and writing to consider what is known about the process of successful, large-scale reform. It focuses on some of the “fallacies of change” derived from a recent project of high performing organizations the author has co-directed with Andy Hargreaves and then considers an alternative way of realizing and sustaining large-scale reform—described as the Fourth Way by Hargreaves and Shirley (The fourth way: The inspiring future for educational change, Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks, 2009). The article reflects upon the current reform process in Wales in relation to Fourth Way principles and considers the development of professional learning communities as a deliberate strategy for building and sustaining the capacity for systemwide change.