I have spent the past week interviewing recruitment agencies to help find a new Headteacher in one of the schools I am responsible for. It has provided me with the opportunity of reflecting on how the role of Head of School has changed over the past ten years.

The changing nature of headship

Two recent reports (both from the UK) suggest that school leadership has changed significantly over the past ten years, with Heads needing new skills and support to face increasingly complex and challenging environment. These reports have implications for the recruitment and retention of Heads of School.

New challenges

“Society itself has drastically changed … and so headship has changed alongside this. The main issues are that Heads manage a range of stakeholders, and all stakeholders’ expectations have changed….I feel that, as Heads, we are still dealing with the impact of the Covid period on our society.”

The new challenges and responsibilities of headship include:

• Complexity, urgency, and emotional burden: increasing pressure to deal with a greater number of things outside one’s control.
• Increasing strategic and financial pressures: Heads must navigate these financial challenges while maintaining the school’s educational quality and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
• Parental expectations: Heads face the task of managing increasingly demanding parents who prioritize “value for money” and are more likely to raise contentious issues and submit complaints.
• Retention and recruitment of staff: Evolving staff attitudes and expectations, necessitating focus on their wellbeing and transparency in decision-making.
• Student wellbeing: Addressing rising student mental and emotional health challenges.
• EDI: Schools are increasingly diverse in terms of student backgrounds, abilities, and identities. Challenge: Heads must lead on EDI and create an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity. Their leadership must also be inclusive.
• Social media: Leading in the age of social media, where the Head / School is so often in the digital spotlight.
• Artificial Intelligence: Technology is rapidly transforming education. Heads must embrace digital tools and adapt teaching methods.

What skills are needed?

As you consider recruiting into your leadership team – or recruiting for a new Head of School – which skills are you looking for?

The top skills increasingly required include:

• Business acumen
• Strategic leadership – creative strategic thinking
• Horizon scanning
• Resilience and self-management
• Developing the Senior Leadership Team and delegating to others (coaching style)
• Resilience and self-management
• Understanding technology and its uses
• Understanding regulations
• Ambassadorial skills
• Handling complexity

References

The full report, titled “The New Art of Headship,” is available as a free digital download on the RSAcademics website. Interested readers can also access the Executive Summary and a summary poster for display.

The changing nature of Headship in HMC schools