Evidence showing the impact effective headteachers have on GCSE outcomes and staff turnover has highlighted the importance of retaining experienced school leaders and shoring up leadership supply.
A study investigating the influence of headteachers on their schools has found that replacing “ineffective” secondary headteachers with effective ones can improve pupil performance by two GCSE grades and reduce staff turnover and absenteeism (Zuccollo et al, 2023).
At primary level, effective headteachers can achieve the equivalent of an additional three months of learning for pupils and also have a positive impact on staff turnover.
However, the study warns that experience in the job is a key factor in becoming an effective leader, throwing into sharp focus on-going concerns about leadership retention and supply.
