Supporting headteachers to lead our schools

Headteachers find their jobs both highly rewarding and highly challenging, according to new research into their recruitment and retention.

The research, carried out by the universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh and Glasgow on behalf of the Scottish Government, found that:

• most headteachers see their job as a valued opportunity to make a difference to children's learning, with 88% satisfied or very satisfied with this aspect of their role
• the position can be emotionally demanding and 72% of headteachers have concerns about their work-life balance
• factors identified as deterring teachers from pursuing headteacher positions include high job satisfaction in their current teaching role and workload concerns.

The report makes a number of recommendations for local authorities, Scottish Government and headteachers themselves to consider, with the aim of improving the recruitment process and ensuring headteachers are better supported and developed.

Scottish Government news release:  Supporting Head Teachers to lead our schools

TESS article: School leadership crisis

The Scotsman article: Heads unhappy with school inspections

The Herald article: Stress of heading a school is at heart of report