School leadership has become a priority in education policy globally. Leadership is important for school andpreschool performance because it affects teachers' motivation and capacity as well as their working environment.The purpose of this article is, through interviews with head teachers and preschool directors in northern Sweden, tomake visible school leaders’ understanding of the work that takes place in schools and preschools and how thataffects children's and students' conditions and opportunities to learn and develop. The results of the study show thatschool leaders are aware of the value of their educational leadership and the importance of collegial learning, butthere are other barriers that prevent the realisation of the ambitions decided at high level.