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Supporting Head Teachers to lead our schools
05/11/2009
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 per cent satisfied or very satisfied with this aspect of their role.
- The position can be emotionally demanding and 72 per cent 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, Government and headteachers themselves to consider, with the aim of improving the recruitment process and ensuring headteachers are better supported and developed.
Speaking ahead of the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) Annual Conference, Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:
"Headteachers have a key role to play in ensuring that Scotland's young people are fully prepared for life and work in the 21st Century. What this report shows is that, overwhelmingly, headteachers see their position as a privileged opportunity to encourage pupils in their learning and to help them develop.
"For all teachers - and in particular headteachers - the role can at times be emotionally demanding and this report also highlights the pressure that they can experience.
"While there is not a headteacher shortage in Scotland - the number of posts vacant for more than three months has fallen in 2009 compared with last year - we need to ensure they are properly supported and developed to help them thrive and to encourage more teachers to see the benefits that senior positions can offer.
"That's why the Scottish Government is supporting more teachers to achieve the qualifications necessary to become a headteacher. In addition to the Scottish Qualification for Headship, more teachers will soon be able to take part in the Flexible Route to Headship, which is being rolled out across Scotland following a successful pilot.
"The Flexible Route to Headship offers an alternative approach that takes account of flexible working patterns and learning preferences and will increase the pool of teachers able to take up headteacher posts.
"Many of the report recommendations are for local authorities to consider and the Scottish Government will work with councils, unions, the Association of Directors of Education Scotland, professional associations and other partners to take these forward."
Greg Dempster, AHDS General Secretary, said:
"AHDS has been raising the important issues investigated in this research for some time. We were delighted when the research was commissioned and are pleased that the findings will now go into the public domain. The suggested actions flowing from the research are challenging and AHDS looks forward to being involved in exploring next steps with Government and other key players."
The researchers surveyed 1218 teachers and 1137 headteachers across Scotland with follow up interviews carried out with a total of 99 teachers and headteachers.
The Flexible Routes to Headship pilot was positively evaluated by the universities of Cambridge and Glasgow with 27 participants successfully achieved the Standard for Headship.
The Scottish Government provided Teacher Support Scotland, the charity that provides practical and emotional support to teachers, with funding in October 2008 to produce Staffwise - an effective and practice online guide for local authorities to support school staff.