Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

A Review of Recent Research Regarding the Practices of Teaching Research Group Leaders in Chinese Secondary Schools and Their Alignment with Global Contexts

Bibliographic Data

ID22426649
AuthorsManqi Mikki Shi (0009-0002-2327-7582, University of Auckland, corresponding author), Camilla Highfield (0000-0001-8896-1989, University of Auckland), Pauline Thompson (0000-0003-2258-5962, The University of Melbourne)
Year2026
Pages1-14
Publication date2026-06-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLeadership and Policy in Schools (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1570-0763 • E-ISSN: 1744-5043
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15700763.2026.2685172
OpenAlexW7163919999
LanguageEN
References cited59

This systematic review examines the instruction-oriented middle leadership role of Teaching Research Group (TRG) leaders within Chinese secondary schools. Drawing from both Chinese and international contexts, the study investigates the impact of TRG leadership practices on teachers’ professional development, instructional practices, and professional resilience. In the Chinese context, Confucian cultural values, particularly the emphasis on harmony and collectivism, underpin the TRG structure and shape leadership dynamics. The findings reveal that TRG leadership in China aligns with the Western middle leadership theory in areas such as fostering collaboration and supporting professional development. However, unique cultural factors, including high-stakes examinations and Confucian principles, result in distinctive challenges and opportunities in the Chinese secondary school context. The review highlights the need for further research to understand how TRG leaders navigate instructional and cultural complexities in their unique educational settings. These insights offer valuable implications for international scholars and practitioners interested in the role of middle leaders in enhancing teaching and learning.

Educational research · Group dynamic · Qualitative research · Research methodology · Teaching method · Educational Assessment and Improvement · Educational Strategies and Epistemologies · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

  • Towards a theory of leadership practice

    Open Access•James P Spillane, Richard Halverson et al.•Journal of Curriculum Studies•2004

  • Professional learning communities and system improvement

    Open Access•Alma Harris, Michelle Jones•Improving Schools•2010

  • Exploring the relationships among instructional leadership, professional learning communities and teacher self-efficacy in China

    Open Access•Xin Zheng, Hubin Yin et al.•Educational Management…•2019

  • Towards a theoretical model of middle leadership in schools

    John De Nobile•School Leadership and Management•2018

  • Bringing context out of the shadows of leadership

    Open Access•P Hallinger•Educational Management…•2018

  • The PRISMA 2020 statement

    Open Access•Matthew J Page, Joanne E McKenzie et al.•BMJ•2021

  • Thematic analysis

    Victoria Clarke, Braun•The Journal of Positive Psychology•2017

  • Curriculum Middle Leader Practices and Teachers Perceptions of Their Effectiveness

    Open Access•Camilla Highfield, Pauline Thompson et al.•Education Sciences•2024

  • Middle leadership practices in secondary schools associated with improved student outcomes

    Camilla Highfield, Christine Rubie-Davies et al.•School Leadership and Management•2022

  • Instructional leadership in school middle leaders

    Open Access•Haim Shaked•International Journal of…•2023

  • How middle leaders support in-service teachers’ on-site professional learning

    Open Access•Darren Anthony Bryant, Yiu Lun Wong et al.•International Journal of…•2020

  • 'Are principals instructional leaders yet?' A science map of the knowledge base on instructional leadership, 1940–2018

    Open Access•P Hallinger, Sedat Gümüş et al.•Scientometrics•2020

  • Teacher effectiveness and teacher growth from student ratings

    Open Access•Huijuan Chen, Mingyao Li et al.•Studies In Educational Evaluation•2021

  • Learning to teach with mandated curriculum and public examination of teaching as contexts

    Open Access•Jian Wang, Lynn Paine et al.•Teaching and Teacher Education•2003

  • Developing a model of instructional leadership in China

    Open Access•Allan Walker, Haiyan Qian•Compare A Journal of Comparative…•2020

  • Contrived collegiality versus genuine collegiality

    Ting Wang•Compare A Journal of Comparative…•2014

  • Educational Leadership and Context

    Simon Clarke, Tom O’donoghue•British Journal of Educational…•2017

  • The effect of department leadership on teacher professional learning in China

    Open Access•Shengnan Liu, P Hallinger•Educational Management…•2026

Citation velocityhistorical
Highly citedNo

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae