ABSTRACT
I am delighted to have the opportunity to produce a new edition of A Handbook for Headteachers (formerly The Headteacher's Survival Guide). A person who handles the first stages of headship well can usually look forward to ongoing success. The demands on headteachers have grown rather than lessened since the first edition appeared in 1996, and although new headteachers have an entitlement to mentoring and training under the Headlamps system, making your mark as an effective new headteacher requires a lot of thought and hard work. This book is all about how you manage your first headship. It is a practical and, I hope, easily readable handbook. Although it is aimed particularly at new headteachers and deals with the kinds of problems and situations you might have to face when you take up your first appointment, it could also be useful for more experienced headteachers, who want to reflect on their practice. It remains true that the most successful schools are learning organizations. The third group for whom this book is intended is aspiring heads. Whilst not telling you how to fill in your application form or what interview questions you will be asked, reading this book could help you formulate answers, particularly to the 'What would you do about?' questions, and clarify your approach to management issues.
