Book excerpt: This book examines the nature of successful school leadership - what is it, what does it look like in practice and what are the consequences for schools and pupils. As well as providing a contemporary overview of international research and thinking about successful school leadership, it identifies similar and distinguishing features of successful leadership in different sectors; between heads of different experience; and between schools in different socio-economic circumstances. It introduces the notions of 'layered leadership' and 'progressive trust' as key features of successful leadership. Additionally it discusses issues of sustainability and resilience in successful school leadership. Finally it considers how successful school leadership connects to pupil success, exploring the leadership strategies used by successful heads in a range of primary and secondary schools whose pupil attainment results had improved over a three year period during their headship.