Heads’ Strategic Leadership Practices on Academic Performance in Public Senior High Schools in Ghana

<p>Every educational institution’s goal is to provide quality education to the learners to be globally competitive in the world of work. Strategic leadership plays key roles in influencing the academic performance of learners. The relevance of leadership in school academic performance cannot be over emphasized. Leadership strategy influences stakeholder management, resources generation and deployment, motivation of teachers, strict adherence to maintaining school discipline system, and policy formulation. This review examined the strategic leadership styles on academic performance in public secondary schools in Ghana. The study was guided by the following objectives; to examine the effects of leadership styles on academic performance in public senior high school, to determine how stakeholder involvement affect academic performance in public senior high school, to find out how resource allocation affect academic performance in public senior high school and to find out how school laws and regulations affect academic performance in public senior high schools in Ghana. The study revealed that leadership styles, stakeholder involvement, resource allocation and school laws and regulations have significant relationship with academic performance. The study also found that allocation of resources, including financial, infrastructure, teacher support, and educational materials, have direct impact on the standard of education and the opportunities accessible to students. More importantly, educational authorities should ensure the appointment of competent school leadership. It also recommends that school leaders and policymakers should move ahead to engage in institutionalizing structured, inclusive, and empowered participation frameworks for all key stakeholders. Strategic leadership practices are not merely administrative function but a core strategic capability that directly drives academic excellence. Also, active stakeholder engagement fosters a culture of shared accountability, enhances resource mobilization, and strengthens the home-school link.</p>