THE PREDICTIVE ROLE OF CRITICAL THINKING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN TEACHER LEADERSHIP AMONG PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS TEACHER CANDIDATES

Backgrounds: In the contemporary educational environment, leadership has become an indispensable component in establishing effective schools. Every teacher must assume a leadership role in their institution. This study examines the concept of leadership, with a special emphasis on critical thinking, which is considered the most important intellectual ability of the 21st century. It also emphasises the importance of leadership and communication skills in facilitating a professional educational process. Purpose: This study examined the effects of critical thinking tendencies and communication skills on teacher leadership among prospective Physical Education and Sports Teachers. Method: The present study employed a descriptive survey model. The research group consisted of 157 candidates (96 male, 61 female) enrolled in the 2024-2025 academic year of the Physical Education and Sports Teacher training program. The data were collected using the Critical Thinking Tendency Scale, the Physical Education and Sports Teacher Communication Skills Scale, and the Teacher Leadership Behaviour Scale. Multiple linear regression was performed to analyse the data. Findings and Conclusions: The tendency toward critical thinking did not significantly influence teacher leadership. However, communication skills had a moderately positive effect on teacher leadership. Although the tendency toward critical thinking did not significantly influence teacher leadership, it was assumption that rote learning in the Turkish education system might be a contributing factor. Additionally, the homogeneity of the sample and the fact that it was drawn from a specific undergraduate program may have led to a limited range of critical thinking scores, thereby reducing the relationship with the dependent variable and making it could be difficult to identify a significant effect. The current literature indicates that critical thinking disposition is an important concept for teacher leadership.