Succession planning has become increasingly important because of the shortage of headship applicants in England, and in many other countries. Leadership development is a central part of any succession planning strategy. This article compares the findings from two longitudinal studies, in England and South Africa, where the governments are seeking…

Discusses the research underpinning the articles in this special issue of "Compare" that focus on how schools in the Shaanxi province in China are managed and explains that the researchers conducted case studies within the province. Provides background information on the management structures and finance in Chinese schools. (CMK)