Building High Performing Schools - The Impact of Academic Coordination Curriculum Leadership and Quality Assurance on Student Achievement

Abstract

Effective schools rely on strategic leadership and regular processes that facilitate the improvement of teaching, learning and learning outcomes. This paper explores the importance of academic coordination, curriculum leadership, and quality assurance as tools to develop high-performing schools and enhance student achievement. Academic coordination assists in consistency of lesson planning, teaching schedules, assessment, communication and teacher collaboration. Curriculum leadership is the linking of curriculum planning and implementation, instruction, assessment, professional development, and responsiveness to students through curriculum. Continuous improvement is also promoted by monitoring, assessment, internal evaluation, feedback, performance review, accountability and curriculum review which all support quality assurance. The literature reviewed suggests that leadership, curriculum practices, teacher collaboration and quality assurance mechanisms can support better academic achievement, but may not work as effectively in every institutional and contextual setting. From a general perspective, the integration of these mechanisms can reinforce the quality of teaching, student engagement, learning results, and academic progress, which in turn can be used as a continuous improvement process.