Aspire for Headship

There is a gentle default in our psyche as headteachers to sigh and say, "being a headteacher is a tough job".  I am as guilty as others in emanating phrases like 'the buck stops with me' and 'the higher you climb the further you fall'.  

The pressures of headship can so easily be lauded by headteachers when speaking with staff and the wider education community.  This blog aims to reflect on the role of headteacher and consider how we, as headteachers, senior leaders and aspiring leaders make a genuine difference to our pupils, parents staff and wider communities.

Being a headteacher is both humbling and deeply rewarding.  It can be tough; but we can't expect to make a difference with our feet resting on the desk. 

I decided to apply for my first headship after speaking to a headteacher in the staff room at Canterbury Christ Church University. I was on a secondment to the university to lecture teacher trainees in primary science for one year and was uncertain as to whether I wanted to stay in teacher education or find a new path.  

During a coffee break while interviewing prospective students, I spoke with the departing headteacher of a small three class primary school in Kent. She spoke about her role as headteacher and the joys of leading her school, I was hooked. 

I was 26 years old, hiding my youth and inexperience under a goatee beard, and full of optimism and enthusiasm but lacked experience in school leadership.  I looked at the job description for the headship at Goodnestone Primary School and thought the job sounded exciting and the kind of challenge I would relish; I was right.  

I visited the school and was drawn in by the charm of this rural primary school.  The school was housed in a Victorian building situated in a small village in the Kentish countryside.  The children were independent and individuals, as were the staff.  The school motto was "Small is Beautiful" with a logo of a wooly mammoth holding a learner plate.  

Fighting against every little voice of doubt in my mind, I decided to apply for the role of headteacher.

The interview came and went and the governors appointed me, battling against the will of the Local Authority officer who argued that I lacked experience for the post (she had a point!).  I was both elated and terrified in the same breath.  The staff team at Goodnestone were amazing, from the bubbly Mel as school secretary/bursar to the compassionate Jan a teacher who lived in School House at the entrance to the school.  I was welcomed in as the new custodian of the school in September 1998 and spent three joy fuelled years cutting my teeth as a headteacher; welcoming Ofsted, building community links, starting a family, tussling with the BBC (a whole other story), and laughing, laughing a lot.

I moved on from Goodnestone after three years to be appointed as headteacher of Deal Parochial CE Primary.  This was a single form entry primary school. I now had my own office, a SENCo and designated car parking space.  

With the larger school came increased flexibility to engage in work beyond the school.  I became a Consultant Leader for the National College and developed my skills in Mentor-Coaching as a trainer with the London Centre for Leadership in Learning. I met a host of interesting professionals who helped forge a deeper understanding of my role as headteacher.

I spent the next seven years at Deal Parochial with the wonderful children, staff and governors.  I learnt about myself, managing staff, mentoring colleagues, leading change, inspiring children and I laughed, I laughed a lot.

I then reached a point where I was either going to stay at Deal Parochial for a long time, or move to a fresh challenge.  I chose the latter.  

I moved to another school in Deal, Warden House in 2009.  The school was led by a good friend and colleague.  The school is situated in a council estate in Deal and faced a looming inspection as a vulnerable school; I relished the challenge.  

I was visited by Ofsted twice who confirmed the school to be satisfactory and then RI.  I converted the school to become an academy to take charge of our own destiny in 2013 and our third Ofsted visit in 2014 confirmed an outstanding status. 

Again, I find myself principal of an amazing school filled with wonderful children, passionate staff and dedicated governors. The school is now a National Support School and my amazing staff are supporting across a range of schools. The job is great and both challenges and excites me on a daily basis.  

My senior team and staff are an amazing bunch of professionals who make a deep and lasting difference to the lives of our children and families. I am still learning more about myself, the role of principal, the value of research, the need for collaboration, the challenges of headship and still laugh, I laugh a lot.  

It is such a wonderful feeling being a headteacher, being allowed to have an idea and see it through.  You become embroiled with the lives of those you work with, the children you teach and the families across the community.  Everyone knows you and looks to your support in times of need. 

The post of headteacher affords you great honour and with this, the ability to make a genuine difference in supporting others when times are hard and celebrating when times are great.  The ride is energising, inspiring, challenging and exhausting; but it is a ride worth taking. Maybe, just maybe, Vic Goddard is right when he writes that this is indeed the best job in the world. If you are aspiring for headship, my advice is believe in yourself, take a deep breath and dive in.

You may be interested to read how Hayden found his passion, "From Behind the Camera to the Front of the Classroom".