Recent migration patterns have had a profound impact on education systems becoming more diverse in their student body but also influencing school climate and resource provision. A multisite case study approach and semi-structured interviews with 13 principals and 17 teachers were used to identify the challenges and opportunities for culturally responsive leadership in schools in Ireland and Spain. The findings provide an overview of the complex situations faced by school leaders in both countries in terms of professional development for school leaders and teachers. At the heart of the findings is the argument that any efforts to enhance the culturally responsive capacities of school leaders will depend on the enhancement of current professional development opportunities and the creation of new ones. The data indicates that imperative applies not only to school leaders but to the school community as a whole. As with all comparative papers, there are points of similarity and points of divergence, and it is through exploring these that we can see a possible way forward for the development of school leaders in Spain, Ireland and other international contexts.