<P>This book examines the subject of school leadership as a profession. It tackles questions of what it means to be professional and to work within a profession, and how school leadership fits within these definitions. </P><P></P><P>The book analyses five areas which, in the sociology of professions, are considered important for an occupation to qualify as a profession: knowledge base, education and training, ethics, working conditions, and formation of a professional identity. Based on these criteria, the book offers a comprehensive analysis into a sociological definition of the professional status of school leadership. The authors argue that school leadership is an emerging profession characterised by development and efforts across different areas. </P><P></P><P>Contributing to the discussion and theorisation of professionalisation, this book will be valuable reading for scholars, researchers, and students in the field of educational leadership and educational policy.</P>