Rethinking Headship
SSAT’s Rethinking Headship is a brand-new, evidence-informed offer aimed at the deserving but under-served cohort of experienced headteachers within our education system.
Start date
TBC
Format
Online and in-person
Cost
TBC
Need more information?
Get in touch or call 020 7802 2300
Our Rethinking Headship work has two key aims:
- Supporting headteachers who are looking to rethink their approach to headship.
- Shaping how our education system rethinks headship to better support those in the role.
Head Cases: Exploring Complex Headteacher Challenges
This programme of webinars will use case study methods and Socratic dialogue to explore the complex practical and philosophical challenges facing headteachers. In doing so, the ‘Head Cases’ programme of webinars offers a ‘signature pedagogy’ for aspiring and current headteachers to help them develop wisdom of practice in addressing these challenges (hulman, 2005).
Labouring to Love Headship: Overwhelming Challenge and Underwhelming Support
Almost half of experienced headteachers feel ‘stuck’ or plan to leave their role because of overwhelming challenges and a lack of effective preparation, induction, training and support.
This July 2024 report is a summary of the findings from a survey of 236 serving and former headteachers who, between them have almost 2,000 years of headship experience. The survey questions drew from 26 reports into headteacher retention published since 2017.
Read Labouring to Love Headship
Read our Rethinking Headship Blog
Keven Bartle, a Senior Education Lead at SSAT and headteacher for 9 years has written a blog on the musicality of rethinking headship. This blog outlines the key messages from research evidence into headteacher retention.
Our headship expert
Dr Keven Bartle, Senior Education Lead, SSAT
Keven has been a teacher for almost three decades and was headteacher at a richly diverse secondary school in London for nine years. Through his career, Keven has been committed to the power of education for social justice and transformation, working in schools where staff make a difference to the lives of children, families and communities.
Share Your Experiences of Rethinking Headship
We are looking for headteachers who would like to contribute a guest blog or video about their experience of rethinking headship and/or their views on how the education system could or should rethink headship. Please contact Keven.Bartle@ssatuk.co.uk if you would like to get involved with our work in this area.
Stay Informed about Rethinking Headship
Sign up if you want to be kept updated with our Rethinking Headship work. You can do so either by completing the form at the end of our survey or by clicking on this link.
Research Summary and Synthesis
SSAT’s Rethinking Headship has been shaped considering the insights from 26 recent research reports into headteacher retention.
Any questions?
Contact us or call 020 7802 2300.
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