Chapter 4: School Improvement—it is Achievable: A Case Study from a South African School

The school where the research was carried out is situated in a rural area of South Africa. Built in 1999, the school had no electricity, running water, or proper toilet facilities on its site. The learners came from a very deprived socioeconomic background. However, even against this background, the school is achieving in all areas including academics, athletics, and fine arts. The school could be typified as a family school where the learners, teachers, and parents have respect for each other, and there is good cooperation among all. Five broad areas are discussed in this chapter that may have contributed to these achievements, including the following: (1) instructional leadership; (2) teaching and curriculum arrangements; (3) school climate and ethos; (4) extracurricular activities, and (5) school infrastructure and buildings.