The National institute of Economic and Social Research and the Education Policy Institute have recently published research on the recruitment and retention of senior school leaders, commissioned by the Welsh National Academy for Educational Leadership. Below, we summarise some of the EPI team’s headline findings on the recruitment difficulties facing Welsh schools.
Recruiting school leaders in Wales, and across the UK, can be difficult. As the job of senior leadership becomes less attractive, there is a shrinking pipeline of middle leaders progressing to senior leadership and headship, which risks creating a shortage of senior leaders. Fewer middle leaders are aspiring to become senior leaders, and more teachers are leaving the profession following the Covid-19 pandemic. In one study of headteachers in Wales, over 60 per cent reported stress levels that are associated with a negative effect on one’s health.
Wales has particular challenges both because schools can teach in either Welsh or English, and because of the geography of the country. Finding Welsh speakers to lead schools further narrows the pool of potential applicants. There are also very rural regions in Wales that can struggle to attract applicants, simply because there are fewer people living nearby.
Measuring shortages of senior leaders, and particularly headteachers, is not straightforward. A shortage could mean several things: it could mean there are fewer applicants than there are vacancies. Alternatively, a shortage could occur if the applicants are not suitable for the role, perhaps because they don’t have the right skills. However, candidates may still be appointed into the role if the school has no good alternative.
