Collaborative inquiry networks: the challenge to promote network leadership capacities in Chile

A challenge to support school networks in Chile is the competitive culture promoted by market-oriented educational policies that have harmed school leaders’ capacities to work and learn together. This is an empirical research about a Collaborative Inquiry Networks (CIN) strategy to support the development of networked leadership capacities of headteachers and curriculum coordinators from one district during a 1-year educational period. Each session of the program was systematised, local authorities were interviewed and a survey was conducted with participants at the beginning and at the end of the year. Findings indicate that leadership team members improved their inquiry abilities and collaborative practices with others. This type of work has contributed to increasing achievement expectations of their teachers concerning their students, highlighting that it is possible and useful to advance from a culture of competition to a culture of collaboration. This paper offers a concrete and practical methodology to develop leadership capacities to lead collaborative inquiry projects between and within schools in a South American context such as Chile.