摘要:Changes in schools are aimed at changes in organisational school development and in pedagogical leadership. This presupposes a logical demand for the intense professionalisation of headteachers and for their standards of competence. Are the head teachers of today ready to meet these demands and do they possess appropriate competences for effective leadership in school development? This study searches for answers to the above questions. The paper attempts to answer the question about how teachers and school counsellors perceive the quality of school leadership, and it considers the hypothesis of the relations among the variables: leadership, school atmosphere, organisational effectiveness and job satisfaction. The empirical research was conducted on a sample of 265 respondents: 85 expert associates – school counsellors, and 180 teachers from 48 primary schools in the area of eastern Croatia. An instrument was applied in the research consisting of four scales: for the evaluation of leadership effectiveness; for the evaluation of school atmosphere; for the evaluation of organisational school leadership; and one question was posed for the evaluation of satisfaction with relationships and the job at school. Considering the results, the existing qualifying system and the system for developing head teachers are analysed, and solutions for educational models in the area of educational and pedagogical leadership are suggested.