The principal’s role in professional learning community in a special education school serving pupils with autism

• Learning communities regarding teaching/learning issues is a core organizational feature in special education schoolwork. • The study explored the principal’s role in developing and sustaining professional learning community in a special education school for pupils with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). • Principals need to orchestrate accessible times and places for learning communities that would meet the needs of heterogeneous staff members and pupils. • Principals are key players in both introducing learning forums into the school structure and promoting a learning culture necessary for productive collaborative learning.