This document summarizes key points from a workshop on leading innovation in schools. It discusses two types of innovation - breakthrough and disruptive. An activity defines innovation as "an idea that has been made to work that makes a difference." A model of the innovation process is presented involving 8 steps - sensing opportunities, envisioning solutions, offering ideas, adopting practices, sustaining changes, executing routinely, leading others, and embedding innovations as norms. Common barriers to school innovation are identified as lack of confidence, peer support, funding, fear of failure, and rigid curriculums. School leaders are advised to think ahead, lead across departments, and deliver innovations within their schools to enable change.

1. Leading for Innovation
in Schools
Workshop 2
Stephen Murgatroyd, PhD FBPsS FRSA

2. About this workshop…
Two kinds of innovation and a
definition..
Innovation in education and where it
comes from
An innovation process
Barriers to innovation at the level of
the school
Making innovation happen…

3. Write down a definition of
innovation
Activity 1

4. Two Kinds of Innovation
 Breakthrough and
Disruptive
Innovation
Adopt and
then Adapt
5%
95%

5. Our Definition
from Rethinking Innovation
Innovation is
an idea that
has been
made to work
that makes a
difference.

6. What examples do you have of
innovations that don’t work?
Activity 2

10. A Model of the Innovation
Process

11. 1: The Work of Invention
1 Sensing Sensing that there is an opportunity to
undertake things differently - looking and
seeing what others are doing, engaging with
others in different parts of the world, taking
a note of developments in other sectors (e.g.
health, non profits, business)…Sensing also
that there is a need to do something
differently…that we could do better.
Developing the sense of knowing.
2 Envisioning Being able to share a compelling story about
doing things differently – “selling” a vision,
opportunity and showing “how” it works for
you with passion. Showing the courage of
conviction.

12. 2: The Work of Adoption
3 Offering Making the offer to work to change an
outcome by using the process/ work
shared in the envisioning process.
Showing the courage of the offer.
4 Adopting Overcoming resistance to change by
doing what you said you would do with
the new process/work and continually
improving what you do to produce
improved outcomes. Showing resilience.
5 Sustaining Gaining commitment to keep doing the
“new” work and securing the support of
one or more first follower. Showing
determination.

13. 3. Creating the Environment and
Conditions for Next Practice
6 Executing Making the “new” way of working routine
and effective, such that it produces reliable
and consistent improvement in outcomes.
Demonstrating professional effectiveness.
7 Leading Being proactive in mobilizing others within
the school (and elsewhere) to adopt the
emerging practice and supporting them
when their commitment falters or when they
need additional support. Showing
professional leadership.
8 Embedding Establish the “new” practice as the norm for
your school and embody the spirit of “we can
change”. Showing that change can work and
stick.

14. Some Quick Observations
 Innovation is not linear, its messy
 Sometimes, you start doing A and end up doing W –
this is where the journey takes you
 Unlearning to innovate is as difficult as learning to
innovate
 Anyone can be an innovator – you just have to attend
and engage in authentic listening to “catch” the dream
 Those nearest to the learner are more likely to
innovate than those in the Ministry charged with
innovation
 Resources can get in the way

15. What Gets in the Way?
Activity 3

16. Six Barriers
 Confidence and Courage – innovation is
about risk taking
 Peer support – within the school, within
the district, within the discipline
 Cost – most things cost something
 Fear of Failure – falling at the first hurdle
 Assuming “others” must be better
 The overbearing curriculum

17. What Can Leaders Do to
Enable Innovation?
Activity 4

19. 3 Enabling Roles for
Renaissance Leaders
Think Ahead
Lead across
Deliver within

20. Rethinking School
Leadership
J-C Couture &
Stephen Murgatroyd
Available on
Kindle and at
lulu.con