Ethics and Leadership

Few would contest that teaching is an ethical and moral endeavour. Using an ethical lens ensures that we are considering a range of perspectives, checking our own areas of bias and living out our leadership in line with moral expectations.

“No written word, no spoken plea
Can teach young minds what they should be.
Nor all the books on all the shelves
But what the teachers are, themselves. ”

— Rudyard Kipling

We draw on the work of ASCL's Ethical Commission, now residing with the Chartered College of Teaching and the UK NHS Ethical Mentors guide in this section.

We present the Ethical Framework for Leadership in Education itself, along with the Nolan Principles for Public Life, and a short reflective self-coaching guide, for leaders seeking to navigate an ethical way through a dilemma.

You may wish to download either or both of these as documents to use, either for personal reflection or staff development.