"Building Culture" by Lekha Sharma is a guide for school leaders who want to improve pupil outcomes by building a positive school culture. Lekha draws on her experience as a senior leader and on psychological principles beyond cognitive psychology, showing how leaders can use them to create conditions for learning.
The book's strength is linking theory to practice. Sharma sets out what makes an effective school culture and gives practical strategies to build one. Case studies and real examples show how small changes in leadership approach and school ethos affect pupil engagement, motivation and achievement.
Sharma argues that culture is not a by-product of school life but its foundation: from relationships between staff and pupils to how learning is valued and celebrated, everything a school does shapes its culture.
What does HeadteacherChat think?
It makes you reflect on how you lead, and gives practical strategies for a culture that supports both teachers and pupils.
Who it is for
Headteachers and senior leaders who already have their curriculum, assessment and pedagogy in view and want to work on the "how" of leading staff teams. The publisher frames the book around one question: which parts of psychology beyond cognitive psychology, and which elements of human nature, can leaders use to build stronger school teams. At 112 pages it is a short handbook rather than a research survey.
About the book
- Full title: Building Culture: A handbook to harnessing human nature to create strong school teams.
- Author: Lekha Sharma, writing from her own experience as a senior leader (publisher description).
- Publisher: Hachette Learning (Hachette UK). Paperback, 17 March 2023, 112 pages.
- ISBN: 9781915261410.
Sources: Hachette Learning listing and Hachette UK listing, checked 13 October 2026.