ABSTRACT
It is clear that a poor OFSTED report has been a major factor in schools having a change of headteacher. What is less easy to establish is a correlation between the two in terms of the headteacher’s performance. The HMI briefly interviewed as part of the initial feasibility project on the subject of headship today, was clear in his view that poorly performing schools suffer from poor leadership and that a change of leader is necessary if a school is to move out of a cycle of poor performance. Whatever her qualities the head may become the victim of the necessary public relations exercise in the aftermath of a poor OFSTED inspection. In order to retain the confidence of other stakeholders, changes must be seen to be made and the most obvious sign of changes is a change of headteacher. This in itself is not evidence that the headteacher is incapable of performing satisfactorily: there are other reasons for a school’s weaknesses that may be beyond the headteacher’s control.
