Where schools working in adverse conditions are achieving outstanding learning outcomes, what is it that these schools do to achieve these outcomes? Are there common factors here which could apply everywhere, or at least in the vast majority of circumstances?Drawing on a range of research, including interviews with children, parents, teachers and school leaders in rural and urban contexts in England, Greece, India, Malaysia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, and the USA, the authorship team explores these important questions.The excitement and enthusiasm for, and a commitment to, learning in which every single person there was involved seems to underpin the achievement. While this often sprang from the school’s leaders, who set the tone and were highly visible inspirations to everyone else, leadership was found at every level of these schools with people feeling empowered to lead and manage in the way that worked for ‘their’ learners. The book is filled with case studies, showc