What motivates someone to become a head teacher of a school? What puts people off headship?
This week, I had an unplanned conversation with former head teacher @KennyGFrederick, who is working on Teacher Rounds - a coaching model - with staff in our school as part of her PhD project. One conversation led to another, then Frederick - as all good head teachers do - asked a probing question:
Question:
..."So, what about you? What professional development are you doing? Do you want to be a head teacher?
I'd like to
Future Leaders discuss being personally and professionally ready, which I think is a great way to look at it. We work until we are 68 so there is no need to rush into headship. It’s all about being personally and professionally ready to apply.
Looking back at Stephen’s advice, which I first heard when I was a newly appointed Deputy, it is excellent.
Interesting to read this, and Jude’s comment too. I’d agree it’s about timing and match. As long as we also appreciate the ‘build the bridge as you walk on it’ principle that you can only continue your preparation for headship by actually being a head – and you may feel you’ve never absolutely cracked it!
I’d also recommend listening to the stories of those who have made the leap, such as Chris Hildrew and Helena Marsh in these posts, each reflecting on their first term of headship:
https://chrishildrew.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/the-reality-of-headship/
http://staffrm.io/@helenamarsh/pmmzweq804
(Hoping you might write one in due course too, Jude!)
And just one thought about your comment, Ross: “I also know there will become a day when I may become frustrated and/or bored and in need of a new challenge.” I enjoyed being a deputy and never felt bored or frustrated in the role, but I got to the point when I started to feel ready for the next step – part of it was realising how I felt when my head was out of school and people looked to me. I think it started in year three of my deputy headship, I got my headship in year four (my fourth headship interview) and started as a head after five years as a deputy. That worked for me.
Good luck – to Jude too!
Hi Jill. Thanks for your comment. I knew you’d pick me up on this one and thank you for doing so. As I say, I’m in no rush.
Not ‘picking you up’ – just commenting!
It’s also about developing a system for people to go onto headship. Coming from Cumbria, Headteacher or deputy jobs are non existent and you see about two or three a year. This leads to people staying in schools for longer periods of time and provides less opportunities for career development.
Yes, that’s a fair point. Definitely been blighted by the ‘London bubble’ in my career. On my travels I can understand why some people have stayed in their schools for 20-30 years if a) their happy b) too far to travel and c) fewer job opportunities.