Cluster School of Excellence (CSE), a school base administrative system was introduced to ensure autonomy to school leaders to excel schools in both academic excellence and non-academic performance. This implied leadership changes and innovative practices for educators and policy makers, as active participation was expected in academic and co-curricular excellence at state, national and international events. Yet, limited literature is available on leadership competencies, practices and style expected of school leaders in aspiring CSE, which have potential to be awarded with a CSE status through its academic and curriculum evaluation by the Malaysian Education Quality Standard. For this exploratory study, face to face interviews were conducted with four selected staff in two aspiring schools of excellence in Perak region to understand the personal aspirations, practices and challenges faced by such administrators in its pursuit for excellence. The locality was chosen to ascertain the viable leadership qualities in such schools targeted to be future CSE. The findings signify the importance of leadership qualities; leadership style; personal human values; knowledge of personal and social environment; close rapport with stakeholders; active planning and innovative practices in academic and nonacademic excellence via active community engagement sessions. Leaders voice the need for unwavering varied engagement and motivational sessions despite financial and individual challenges as the way forward in attaining the said educational excellence in both academic and non-curricular activities. It reaffirms the importance of innovative and creative leadership practices and leadership styles for leaders to in such aspiring schools to attain the CSE status. © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press