In the article the theoretical framework of leadership in higher education of England and Wales has been studied. The main objectives of the article are defined as analysis of scientific and pedagogical literature, which highlights different aspects of the problem under research; characteristic of the theoretical fundamentals of educational leadership, and presentation of classification of leadership models in educational sphere. Leadership in higher education has been studied by foreign and domestic scientists: methodology of comparative education (C. Bargh, N. Bidyuk, N. Mukan, A. Sbruyeva); continuous professional education (J. Barge, A. Kuzminskyy, N. Nychkalo, P. Lorange); leadership in education (J. Bareham, L. Danylenko, L. Karamushka, N. Kolominskyy, O. Marmaza); leaders' training (A. Borysova, V. Ilromovyy) etc. In Ukraine this problem has not been studied yet. The research methodology comprises theoretical (comparative and historical method, logical method, analysis and synthesis), and applied (conversations and dialogues) methods. The research results have been presented: the comprehensive integration of leadership theories in the sphere of philosophy, sociology, psychology, pedagogy, management has been justified; the definition of leadership and distributed leadership, and their characteristic have been provided; the leadership models in higher education of England and Wales have been determined.