| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of headteachers' leadership styles on students' performance of K.C.P.E examinations in public primary schools in Kikuyu district. Five research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted ex-post facto research design. A sample of 27 out of 55 headteachers and 154 out of 770 teachers were sampled from 27 primary schools in the district. The findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between headteachers' leadership styles and students' performance. It was revealed that headteachers rarely met teachers to discuss school performance. There was no significant relationship between headteachers' gender, age, teaching experience, and marital status. In all cases, the p values which were greater that .05 degree' of freedom. It was also revealed that teachers perceived their headteachers as autocratic.
Based on the findings the study concluded that there was a significant relationship between headteachers' leadership styles and students' performance. It was also concluded that headteachers rarely met teachers to discuss school Performance. The study also concluded that although the headteachers and teachers discussed school matters which included performance and discipline, the number of times that they met may not have been very adequate since there is need for continued meetings for planning and monitoring academic progress of the pupils. In addition the study concluded that there was no significant relationship between headteachers' gender, age and teaching experience, and that there was no significant relationship between headteachers' leadership styles across marital status.
This implies that the courses attended were not leadership oriented and hence could not have influenced the leadership styles of the headteachers. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that head teachers should use the most appropriate leadership style that facilitates collective responsibility and which creates a conducive teaching and learning environment in schools. It was also recommended that there was need for facilitating headteachers' leadership styles as they had a direct relationship with pupils' academic performance. The study recommended that there is need to involve teachers and parents in matters of students' performance in schools. Lastly the study recommended that headteachers should be in-serviced in areas of management so that the teachers can also view them as democratic which is a recommended style of leadership.
Taking the limitations and delimitations of the study the study suggested that a study on the relationship between headteachers' level of motivation and students' academic achievement was suggested. A study is also recommended on teachers' perception of headteachers' leadership styles and their job performance. A study on effects of students' characteristics on performance of KCPE was also recommended. Lastly it was suggested that a study on the effect of headteachers related factors and students' performance should be conducted. | en_US |
