ABSTRACT

Being an effective headteacher requires a combination of leadership skills. What does an aspiring head need to know to win the ‘headship game’?

Tessa Atton and Brian Fiddler focus on particular pressure points and key issues that can be particularly problematic and suggest ways of dealing with them. Comparisons are made between headships and chief executive roles of other organisations and extensive examples are included from current headteachers to illustrate aspects of the job which they find most challenging.

The authors also examine the career of headship from application to retirement and emphasize the need to learn about leadership before becoming a head. Using examples of current headship practice, they suggest ways of developing good practice further. Some of the issues covered in this practical guide include:

* development of leadership thought
* achieving headship
* selecting and supporting headteachers
* understanding the demands of contemporary headship
* after headship.

The Headship Game will be a valuable resource for current and aspiring headteachers, deputy heads and those on NPQH courses.

chapter |1 pages

Introduction

chapter |9 pages

Origin of the book

part |2 pages

PART I History and theories of leadership

chapter 1|8 pages

Recent developments in headship

chapter |6 pages

Leadership in schools

part |2 pages

PART II Learning and playing the game

chapter 4|9 pages

Understanding the external demands

chapter |10 pages

OFSTED inspections

chapter 5|7 pages

Understanding the internal demands

chapter |2 pages

Leadership team

chapter |17 pages

Managing staffing changes

chapter 6|19 pages

Selecting and supporting headteachers

chapter 7|5 pages

Achieving headship

chapter |11 pages

Recent developments/trends

chapter 8|16 pages

The career of headship

chapter 9|8 pages

Life cycle of a head

Becoming a head

chapter 10|20 pages

Life cycle of a head

Being a head

part |2 pages

Part III

chapter 11|21 pages

Keeping moving

Successive headships, revitalisation and work after headship

chapter 12|1 pages

Stresses and challenges

Trio of tensions – governors, school and head

chapter |10 pages

Headteacher stress

chapter |4 pages

Heads leaving under pressure

part |2 pages

Part IV

chapter 13|2 pages

Where next?

The future

chapter |3 pages

Pressure in post

chapter |7 pages

Solutions