Enchanted Headteachers: Sustainability in Primary School Headship
by Ronnie Woods
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Overview
This Research Associate report from the National College of School Leadership looks at the notion of ‘enchanted headteachers’. Such principals are defined as those who have successfully led their schools with commitment and enthusiasm. The author conducted a series of interviews with long-standing primary principals and examined the characteristics that have made them successful.
The principals talked about aspects of their work that helped to sustain their enthusiasm, as well as issues that make the job so demanding. Based on this work, the author suggests that the principals who have managed to sustain their love of the job (their ‘enchantment’) over time have these characteristics in common:
- a pride in the school, its people, and their achievements
- closeness to the students and an awareness of their needs
- a passionate commitment to teaching and learning
- an awareness of what is going on
- respect for and sensitivity to the needs of others
- ability to build teams and develop people
- an optimistic view of change as a challenge
- good listening skills
- a view of themselves as nothing ‘special’.
Reflective questions
These reflective questions might guide you in your reading of this report:
- If you are a principal, are you still ‘enchanted’ by your job?
- Would others describe you as enchanted?
- Look at the list on p.14 of the full report, Learning Lessons from Enchanted Heads. Taking each characteristic, reflect on two examples of each from your own practice.
Reference
Woods, R. (2002). Enchanted headteachers: Sustainability in primary school headship. Nottingham: National College of School Leaders (NCSL).
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