Professional development of school leaders in Cyprus: is it working?

School heads and assistant headteachers in Cyprus attend in-service training programmes as part of their professional development, after they are promoted to their new leadership post. A review of the literature highlights the significance of a needs analysis when designing and/or reforming in-service training programmes. Nevertheless, there seems to be a lack of studies focusing on the leaders' views regarding their own professional development and needs. The present study investigates school leaders' views regarding the in-service training programmes they formally attend in Cyprus (both with regards to content as well as organizational aspects of the courses), and whether specific personal characteristics of school leaders are associated with their views. The research was based on both interviews with school leaders (assistant heads and school heads) and also a semi-structured questionnaire. Content and statistical analysis of the participants' views revealed that they prefer specific training, especially designed for their needs and according to their specific leadership post. The study contributes to the fields of educational leadership and professional development, since it provides insights into the perceptions of school leaders about the continuing professional development they receive and offers useful information for the organization of professional development programmes for school leaders. Finally, some specific suggestions for improvement in the field of training for school leaders are provided.