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35 Things Great Headteachers Do


Reading time: 4
Leadership Team

John Dabell

I trained as a primary school teacher 25 years ago, starting my career in London and then I taught in a range of schools in the Midlands. In between teaching jobs, I worked as an Ofsted inspector (no hate mail please!), national in-service provider, project...
Read more about John Dabell

Is your headteacher a people person?

Not all headteachers have their heads screwed on. But those that do, make their staff feel valued. They put relationships first and they get the most from everyone.

Can your headteacher communicate?

We've all worked with different types of headteachers who adopt a range of leadership styles but there is one constant. Of all the leadership skills used in headship, communication is the most essential. Sir John Dunford, the former general secretary of ASCL, said that successful leaders at all levels need four Hs:

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16th February 20192nd March 2023 by John Dabell
Posted in Basic Account, Leadership (Senior), Staff Well Being, Staffing (HR)Tagged @southgloshead, Andrew Moorish, Andy Buck, Dan Buettner, Expectations, fellowship, Headteacher, leadership, Relationships, School Community, Sir John Dunford, staff, Wellbeing

7 thoughts on “35 Things Great Headteachers Do”

  1. Dr Jill Berry says:
    16th February 2019 at 4:34 pm

    Enjoyed this, John – thanks. In last week’s slow #SLTchat, one of the questions was: ‘What do the best leaders do?’ My response was ‘The best leaders lift us rather than ground us down’. I kept thinking of that as I read your post.

  2. VASSILIKI PLOMARITOU says:
    19th February 2019 at 4:42 pm

    A GREAT post! Thank you!

  3. Nina KM says:
    25th April 2020 at 10:50 am

    Thank you for that. Just what I needed to read after a very long week of Remote Leading! Real food for thought.

  4. Roksana Hussain says:
    10th July 2020 at 10:24 pm

    So lovely to read this!
    I’ve worked with two Heads and they have both been brilliant. Caring, supportive, kind, motivating and they really know to lead a school. #EmmaNicholls #LisaWilliams

  5. SueH says:
    21st July 2020 at 10:09 am

    Lovely to read an article which is so true and not just a tick list of do and don’ts. Loved it and totally agree.

  6. Isaac says:
    28th June 2021 at 7:19 pm

    Reading this articIe is encouraging.I have work with a headteacher who is always seeing the bad side of me,

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