SCHOOL LEADERSHIP - HEADS ON THE BLOCK? IBD

Sinopse

Most teachers become heads for idealistic reasons, wanting to make a difference to the lives of children and young people. Yet serving heads suggest the job is getting harder, talking openly about stress and leaving the job. Many teachers now see headship as a risky business, and succession planning, while necessary, will not on its own be sufficient to attract the diverse range of applicants required to satisfactorily fill leadership positions. School Leadership: Heads on the Block addresses this shortage. It suggests there is no crisis in supply per se, but that schools in some locations find it difficult to attract the âÇÖright people with the right stuffâÇÖ. The book examines the expectations of heads, the hours they are expected to work and the nature of everyday demands. It proposes that âÇÖsudden deathâÇÖ accountabilities act as a major disincentive to potential applicants, and outlines a series of policy measures to tackle the kinds of daily pressures heads now experience.áKey features of the book:draws on a wide range of material, ranging from published research, interviews and media clippings to popular films and childrenâÇÖs novelsmakes extensive use of headteachersâÇÖ words and storiesbased in the authorâÇÖs own experiences of headship, tackling issues that leadership books often ignore.áThe book will be of interest to headteachers, headteachersâÇÖ professional associations, teachers and those who study teaching. It will be useful to policy makers, those responsible for the education of potential heads and for headteacher professional development.