Recruiting Headteachers and Senior Leaders; NCSL Guidance for Governing Bodies

The CES is very pleased to be working closely with the National College for School Leadership as a member of its Advisory Board on Succession Planning, and in other collaborative activities.  Members of the CES are, therefore, very aware that appointing a new Headteacher or senior leader is quite a challenge.  The difficulties for any maintained school are exacerbated for us with our particular Catholic requirements.

The NCSL has noted the present demographics which mean that we are all facing high levels of Headteacher retirement (over 50% of Headteachers are over fifty years of age and will be hitting retirement at the same time).  The apprentiship for becoming a Headteacher is longer than in most other professions, i.e. typically lasting twenty years, comprising fifteen as a classroom teacher and five as a deputy.  Along with this there are issues around the perceptions of the job on the part of teachers where this is shown to be a miss-match between how teachers perceive the job of head and the reality as seen from the point of view of Headteachers.  The job itself has also changed dramatically, for example, with the introduction of children’s services, new models of school and new routes to leadership. 

The NCSL is aware that governing Body perception of what leadership requires is also crucial.  NCSL are, therefore, concerned that Governing Bodies should be supported in knowing the reality of the present situation re recruitment, what the job involves and how to secure the next generation of new school leaders. 

Catholic schools benefit from the additional advice of their diocesan officers who provide support and guidance to Governing Bodies.  Nevertheless, Governing Bodies, Headteachers, and diocesan officers may find two recent publications from NCSL helpful.  These are;

i.                    Recruiting Headteachers and Senior Leaders (Downloadable at www.ncsl.org.uk/recruitingleaders )

ii.                  Leadership Succession: An Overview (Downloadable at www.ncsl.org.uk/publications )

Both publications can be ordered in hard copy at £2.50 each.  The NCSL phone number is 0870 0011155.  Unsurprisingly, neither of these publications totally addresses the Catholic situation but both provide useful background information and some helpful triggers for planning and for checking perceptions.

Oona Stannard

Chief Executive and Director