School Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast: Why Culture Shapes School Success
In the realm of education, a familiar adage rings true: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” This sentiment, attributed to Peter Drucker, has echoed through countless organisations, yet it holds particular weight in schools. As schools strive to implement policies, programs, and curricula, many overlook the silent but powerful force that drives—or derails—those efforts: school culture.
What is School Culture?
School culture encompasses the norms, values, beliefs, and behaviours that shape the day-to-day atmosphere of a school. It is often invisible yet deeply felt by both students and staff. A healthy school culture fosters an environment of safety, belonging, and motivation, while a toxic culture breeds disengagement, fear, and disconnection.
New research into youth engagement and motivation, including studies on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), highlights the significance of culture in fostering student engagement. SDT emphasises three core psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When these needs are satisfied, students are more motivated, engaged, and ultimately more successful. Conversely, no strategy—no matter how well-crafted—can fully compensate when a school's culture fails to meet these needs.
John Hattie’s latest research (2023) evidences that Collective Teacher Efficacy is highly influential on student achievement and school culture. It states that a shared belief amongst teachers in their collective ability to positively influence student outcomes is crucial to achieving those outcomes. Collective Teacher Efficacy is correlated to school culture and a crafted environment of support, connection, and belonging.
Why Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast
A school's strategy might outline ambitious goals for academic achievement or student well-being, but if the culture does not support those objectives, success is unlikely. A strong strategy might say, “We will improve student performance through X, Y, and Z,” but if students don’t feel safe, supported, or motivated, those initiatives will falter.
School culture directly impacts motivation, the key driver of engagement. Motivation is the foundation upon which successful engagement is built. In a school where students feel connected (relatedness), capable (competence), and free to express themselves (autonomy), they are more likely to engage deeply with the curriculum and their peers. These elements of culture are far more influential than any policy or program alone.
Consider, for instance, how autonomy-supportive environments encourage students to take ownership of their learning. When students feel they have control over their choices, their motivation soars, leading to better educational outcomes. A rigid, controlling environment, on the other hand, stifles creativity, participation, and enthusiasm.
The Role of Leadership in Shaping Culture
School leaders play a pivotal role in crafting and maintaining a positive culture. Their approach to leadership—whether nurturing and inclusive or authoritarian and detached—can set the tone for the entire school community. As facilitators of culture, school leaders must prioritise creating an environment where both staff and students feel valued and supported.
As educators, we know the importance of nurturing safety and belonging in any educational setting. Facilitators and teachers alike are encouraged to foster environments where vulnerability is welcomed and students can explore ideas without fear of judgment. By doing so, they create spaces where culture and strategy align, maximising the potential for meaningful engagement.
Building a Legacy of Engagement
To truly thrive, schools need to go beyond one-time initiatives and build a culture where engagement is woven into the fabric of everyday interactions. As schools and educators, the focus should shift from just implementing new strategies to nurturing the underlying culture that sustains them.
Strategies will evolve, and programs will change, but culture—when carefully cultivated—can create a lasting legacy of engagement. Schools that prioritise the psychological well-being and motivation of their students through a supportive culture will not only achieve better outcomes but also foster generations of curious, passionate, and resilient learners.
While strategies are vital, they must be rooted in a culture that supports their implementation. Without the right cultural foundation, even the most well-designed plans can crumble. When we focus on cultivating a strong, positive culture, the strategies will naturally follow, and success will flourish.
Learn more about meeting students' core psychological needs through Youth Engagement Project and their professional development workshops.
