If there is one thing that school leaders need to get right, it is school culture. When they do, children learn more and colleagues have a stronger sense of purpose - they are more motivated and ultimately more fulfilled. Creating a strong culture and a positive climate requires an understanding of the complexity of school life and this begins by building knowledge. This book supports leaders to do just that.


Drawing on ideas from different domains, Nick Hart examines the role of concepts such as autonomy and trust in school improvement. Each chapter sets out the specific knowledge and expertise required by school leaders for great cultural leadership and offers practical examples and case studies to show how they can be applied in different school contexts.


What do we think?

"Creating a Culture" is a must-read book. It offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the factors that shape school culture and provides practical strategies for building a positive and supportive climate for all students and staff."

What the chapters cover

Routledge lists ten chapters in three parts:

  • Part 1, why leaders need to pay attention to culture and climate: what culture is and why it matters; the domain-specific knowledge needed to create a strong culture; setting the school's strategic direction.
  • Part 2, what leaders need to know: what high-performing teams have in common; the power of expectations; harnessing the drivers of motivation; why high levels of trust are needed to improve outcomes for children.
  • Part 3, how leaders go about culture change: influencing culture as a new leader; influencing culture as an established leader; why measuring culture is futile and evaluating it is not much better.

Who it is for

Headteachers and senior leaders, including those new to a school, who want a structured way to think about staff culture alongside curriculum and behaviour. Part 3 separates the moves open to a new leader from those open to an established one. It is a companion to Hart's book Impact, which deals with planning for and recognising impact rather than culture.

About the book

  • Full title: Creating a Strong Culture and Positive Climate in Schools: Building Knowledge to Bring About Improvement.
  • Author: Nick Hart, Executive Headteacher of the Alwyn and Courthouse Primary Federation in Maidenhead (publisher biography).
  • Publisher: Routledge, 1st edition, 162 pages.
  • ISBN: paperback 9781032168845.

Source: Routledge listing, checked 13 October 2026.