Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme

Helene Arlestig; Susanne Sahlin

doi:10.30828/real.1680227

Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme

Abstract

The Swedish National Principal Training Programme (NPTP) plays a central role in shaping principals' roles and competencies in a rapidly changing educational landscape. This study aims to examine how the National Principal Training Programme Leaders (NPTP Leaders) navigate, understand, and lead a well-established principal training programme. Drawing on theories connected to enactment and sensemaking, seven NPTP Leaders were interviewed to explore their perspectives on the principal’s role and mission, the NPTP today and in the future, and their leadership responsibilities. Findings indicate that while the programme successfully balances theory and practice, tensions exist between national policies, university autonomy, and local needs. NPTP Leaders recognise the evolving complexity of principal leadership, but their approach remains centred on stability and development within the existing structure rather than proactive innovation. They emphasise pedagogical leadership while acknowledging that administrative burdens often restrict principals’ capacity for school improvement. Additionally, discrepancies between programme content and participants' diverse realities indicate a need for more tailored learning experiences. The study concludes that while the NPTP prepares principals for their roles, there is potential for greater collaboration and policy engagement among NPTP Leaders. Strengthening their influence within the governance framework could enhance the programme’s adaptability to future educational challenges.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

We have folllowed the recomendations of the Swedish research council

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Leadership in Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Helene Arlestig ^*
0000-0003-1981-7806
Sweden

Susanne Sahlin
0000-0003-3481-1648
Sweden

Publication Date

June 27, 2026

Submission Date

April 20, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 31, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1680227

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA64MS63GR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Arlestig, H., & Sahlin, S. (2026). Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 11(2), 290-326. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1680227

AMA

1.Arlestig H, Sahlin S. Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme. REAL. 2026;11(2):290-326. doi:10.30828/real.1680227

Chicago

Arlestig, Helene, and Susanne Sahlin. 2026. “Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 (2): 290-326. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1680227.

EndNote

Arlestig H, Sahlin S (June 1, 2026) Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 2 290–326.

IEEE

[1]H. Arlestig and S. Sahlin, “Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme”, REAL, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 290–326, June 2026, doi: 10.30828/real.1680227.

ISNAD

Arlestig, Helene - Sahlin, Susanne. “Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11/2 (June 1, 2026): 290-326. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1680227.

JAMA

1.Arlestig H, Sahlin S. Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme. REAL. 2026;11:290–326.

MLA

Arlestig, Helene, and Susanne Sahlin. “Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, vol. 11, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 290-26, doi:10.30828/real.1680227.

Vancouver

1.Helene Arlestig, Susanne Sahlin. Shaping Tomorrow’s School Leaders: Governance and Practice in Sweden’s National Principal Training Programme. REAL. 2026 Jun. 1;11(2):290-326. doi:10.30828/real.1680227