In the article, the author tried to reveal the theoretical aspects of the development of the institute of directorship within the framework of the university - school collaboration based on a comparative analysis of international experience, best practices, successful models of directorship and links with the Kazakh context, describes the approaches, principles, and model of the development of the institute of directorship within the framework of the university - school collaboration. The article identifies a number of important patterns of effective systems and features of country models that can become guidelines for the development of the institute of directorship and leadership in education in Kazakhstan, taking into account the realities and challenges of modern society.As a result, the author comes to the conclusion that the development of the institute of directorship should be considered as a response to the key challenges of modern education and it is necessary to focus on the formation of school principals in such areas of managerial leadership as strategic and systemic thinking, pedagogical and innovative leadership., digital and analytical management, leadership in human resource management, communicative leadership, leadership in the university–school interinstitutional collaboration.