Creating a Positive Culture within Primary Schools: Whole School Initiatives to Foster Effective Social Learning Relationships

This chapter focuses upon the importance of developing a positive culture for learning and how relationships and opportunities for social learning support that goal. Drawing upon examples from a research project focusing upon developing the 'whole child', this chapter aims to explore relational leadership, the contribution of everyone in a school community and the teacher as relationship builder in the classroom. The key themes emerging from the chapter are how values-driven leaders, relational environments, deliberate decisions about the school culture and a commitment to developing the 'whole person' can all contribute to a positive school environment.