Express & Star

Blog: Where have all the Heads gone?

Published
Last updated

Last week the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) predicted that there will be many schools without Heads in the next five years,

writes education blogger Kit Field.

Last week the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) predicted that there will be many schools without Heads in the next five years,

writes education blogger Kit Field.

This is partly due to the ageing population – Heads will be retiring, and due to worries about diminishing pensions in the future, so will deputy heads.

As it is, there are a number of deputy heads, suitably qualified with the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers, who have opted not to seek promotion. The argument is that the training programme has made them even more aware of the demands of the role, and many just do not simply see it is worth it!

One of the big worries associated with this is that there is a wealth of research evidence showing that the key contributory factor underpinning the success of effective schools is strong leadership.

All this has prompted a few thoughts. I wonder if the OfSTEd push towards 'outstanding', and the shift in understanding of 'satisfactory' (once meaning achieving what a school should achieve, to not doing well enough) makes prospective headteachers shy of taking on a new responsibility when they are likely to fall short. It is, of course, the Headteacher who is in the firing line!

Following the social unrest in the summer, and the fact that many feel youth unemployment may lead to more, means that the non-academic side of schooling may also come under attack. If young people leave school with no jobs to go to, somehow schools are often blamed for young people's lack of drive and ambition.

In addition the removal of funding for Further Education, and the new fee system for Higher Education, all make education seem an expensive option – even more so if jobs are hard to come by at the end of it.

For the first time ever, Headteachers took industrial action over the pensions issue in November. We are told that the general public have little respect for the claim that public sectors workers are to experience severe cuts in pension levels and increases in contributions.

Interesting, too, that Headteachers have not complained about salary levels, when we know that many in equivalent leadership posts in the private sector earn considerably more.

A study a few years ago, by HayMcBer noted that Headteachers display more sophisticated leadership and management skills than others operating at the same level.

Headteachers have huge levels of responsibility. Education serves the individual, the family, the community, and society. Industry expects school leavers to be ready made for jobs, whereas in the past industry offered a greater amount of apprenticeships. Society expects young people to behave and comply with social norms, when the very same young people feel that society is letting them down.

Headteachers oversee financial and budgetary management systems, whereas a generation ago this was supported by Local Authorities. Site management is also the responsibility of the Headteacher, and the Headteacher must continuously improve examination outcomes.

Schools and Headteachers have legal liabilities, set high moral standards, enforce social expectations, prepare young people for the future, and manage them in the present.

Michael Gove has just announced that the NPQH s no longer a mandatory qualification for new Headteachers, but it is available to individuals at a cost. The new 'levels of leadership' recognise the importance of leadership in education, beyond the school, leading systems, networks and federations of schools.

Perhaps new Headteachers will recognise that they will not in fact be leading schools, but managing them in the future.

When you look at all the responsibilities a Headteacher has, and also consider the uncertainty and apparent lack of support for and faith in Heads of the future, is it a wonder that we are heading for a shortage?