This article maps the key features of the community contexts in which a range of challenging urban schools are located, highlighting the community-related issues facing school leaders. Whilst recognising the growing demands on school leaders and the need to reconfigure leadership, the author also identifies steps which they can take to strengthen connections with communities and build trust in ways that will benefit children and young people. The article concludes by offering some of the key features of a community-orientated approach to leadership. (Contains 3 figures and 5 notes.)