Developing a culture of trust in schools from the perspective of principals. Communication from qualitative research

This article looks at the mechanisms for building a culture of trust in the school environment, as described by the leaders of selected schools. Trust, like other phenomena of social life, is relational in nature and is a key value that determines the quality of interpersonal relationships. The school is treated as a place for the accumulation of trust resources for the multiplication of social capital. A culture of trust is a dynamic system of values, norms and behaviours that are the source of people’s sense of security and willingness to support others. The text takes the form of a research communication and aims to present ways of understanding, developing and sustaining good relationships at school based on a foundation of trust. The practices of creating a trusting environment have been reconstructed from the statements of headteachers of four schools in and around Warsaw. In this way, a kind of anatomical model (structure) of trust was obtained, consisting of the competence and professionalism of principals and teachers, teachers’ freedom and autonomy, the priority role of cooperation, and organisational transparency. The principals of the schools selected for the study are developing their own practices for building a critical culture of trust.