Glatthorn et al. (2019) and Fullan (2016)'s work on Strategic Curriculum leadership 18/11/25

1. Glatthorn, Jailall & Jailall (2019): Strategic Curriculum Leadership

Glatthorn et al.’s Curriculum Leadership: Strategies for Development and Implementation (5th ed., 2019) is one of the most influential texts in curriculum studies. Their contribution is foundational because they frame curriculum leadership as both technical and strategic, involving long-term direction, collaborative planning, and continuous improvement.

a. Curriculum Leadership as Strategic Direction

Glatthorn et al. argue that curriculum leadership is not simply curriculum management. Instead, it must be a strategic enterprise that:

  • anticipates future societal and educational needs;

  • uses evidence to guide decisions;

  • aligns curriculum aims with teaching, assessment, and institutional mission.

They stress that curriculum leaders must establish a clear, coherent vision that provides direction for teachers and ensures unity across subjects and grade levels. This vision should guide policymaking, resource allocation, and professional development.

b. A Systems Approach to Curriculum Development

The authors emphasise a systemic approach, where curriculum design, development, implementation, and evaluation form an integrated cycle.
They propose models for:

  • curriculum planning committees,

  • stakeholder involvement,

  • school-wide curriculum mapping,

  • instructional alignment,

  • continuous curriculum review.

Strategic leaders must analyse needs, prioritise improvements, and maintain coherence across the curriculum system.

c. Collaborative and Participatory Leadership

For Glatthorn et al., effective curriculum leadership is shared.
They stress:

  • teacher involvement in curriculum decisions,

  • collaborative planning structures,

  • team-based curriculum writing,

  • opportunities for shared problem-solving.

This participatory strategy builds capacity, reduces resistance to change, and ensures that the curriculum is realistic and teachable.

d. Emphasis on Curriculum Coherence and Alignment

A major contribution of Glatthorn’s work is the concept of curriculum alignment—ensuring that learning outcomes, instructional strategies, assessments, and resources are in harmony.
Misalignment leads to curriculum fragmentation, poor outcomes, and teacher confusion.
Strategic curriculum leaders therefore:

  • align curriculum with standards,

  • create coherent learning pathways across grades,

  • ensure assessment validity.

e. Continuous Evaluation and Improvement

Their model emphasises ongoing curriculum evaluation loops using data, teacher feedback, assessment results, and community needs.
Improvement is cyclical, not a one-time event.
Strategic leadership requires staying attentive to shifts in technology, student needs, and workforce requirements.

2. Fullan (2016): Educational Change as a Strategic Leadership Process

Michael Fullan’s The New Meaning of Educational Change (5th ed., 2016) is one of the most authoritative sources on educational change and organisational transformation. Although not exclusively about curriculum, Fullan’s insights deeply shape the understanding of strategic curriculum leadership.

a. Change Leadership and Moral Purpose

Fullan argues that strategic educational leadership must be grounded in a strong moral purpose—improving learning and equity for all students.
Curriculum leadership, therefore, cannot be reduced to documents and plans; it must address inequality, learner diversity, and social change.

Leaders must inspire commitment through:

  • clarity of purpose,

  • modelling ethical behaviour,

  • ensuring fairness in curriculum provision.

b. Understanding the Complexity of Change

Fullan’s work highlights that educational change is not linear but complex, unpredictable, and dependent on human relationships.
Strategic curriculum leaders must:

  • anticipate resistance,

  • understand school culture,

  • manage competing interests,

  • build momentum gradually.

Effective change requires understanding the system, not merely imposing reforms from above.

c. Building Capacity Rather Than Mandating Reform

Fullan emphasises that change fails when leaders focus on “innovation adoption” instead of capacity building.
His model stresses:

  • teacher professional learning,

  • collaborative cultures,

  • opportunities for experimentation and reflection,

  • leadership development.

Thus, curriculum leaders must invest in teacher learning and create the conditions for sustainable implementation.

d. The Power of Collaborative Cultures

One of Fullan’s most influential ideas is that collaborative cultures drive improvement.
Successful curriculum change requires:

  • shared decision-making,

  • peer support,

  • open communication,

  • collective problem-solving.

He argues that strategic leaders must deliberately shape these cultures through structures such as professional learning communities (PLCs).

e. Coherence as the Core of Strategy

Fullan (2016) introduces the Coherence Framework, which is now widely applied to strategic curriculum leadership.
It consists of four components:

  1. Focused direction (vision and priorities)

  2. Collaborative cultures

  3. Deepening learning (pedagogical improvement)

  4. Accountability (internal and external)

These components help leaders build a shared understanding of what matters and how to achieve it—essential for curriculum alignment and strategic improvement.

f. Strategic Communication and Transparency

Fullan argues that leaders must communicate constantly, explaining:

  • the purpose of curriculum changes,

  • expected benefits,

  • roles for stakeholders,

  • timelines and expectations.

Poor communication undermines even well-designed curriculum reforms.

How Their Contributions Combine

Together, Glatthorn et al. (2019) and Fullan (2016) provide complementary understandings of strategic curriculum leadership:

Glatthorn et al. (2019) Fullan (2016)
Focuses on curriculum processes and systems Focuses on change dynamics and leadership
Provides practical models for curriculum planning, alignment, evaluation Provides theory of change, culture, moral purpose
Emphasises structure, coherence, design Emphasises people, relationships, culture
Curriculum leadership is technical + strategic Change leadership is moral + cultural

Combined, they show that successful curriculum leadership requires both strong structures and strong relationships, both coherent design and effective implementation, and both strategic vision and collaborative culture.

References

  • Fullan, M. (2016). The New Meaning of Educational Change (5th ed.). Teachers College Press.

  • Glatthorn, A. A., Jailall, J. M., & Jailall, J. K. (2019). Curriculum Leadership: Strategies for Development and Implementation (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.