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https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/dec/31/heart-attacks-headteachers-uk-quit-cuts
Having read this article I can say that this chimes a lot with what I hear from my partner, the head of a large primary. Next year pay enhancements are coming in for newer teachers but there's no increase in budget for the schools to cover this. My partner's (LA) school, graded outstanding, has historically run a substantial budget surplus but faces a substantial shortfall next year. She's already covering caretaker, minibus driver, nursery staff, canteen staff roles on an ad hoc basis in an environment where they're competing for staff with macdonald''s and the like and often paying less.The budget changes next year will mean redundancies among support staff.
It’s a near impossible job. In some ways worse for primary as there are less people to cover statutory tasks that don’t scale. Also at head teacher level job security isn’t great. Oh and demanding or unsupportive families is apparently on the rise.
My wife too; is / was a Headteacher of a large Primary School. She retired last week. Probably a few years too soon, but the pressures from all sides were just crushing. Legally she relinquishes control of the school at midnight tonight!!! Six hours Ten minutes to go before she releases herself from all the stress and hassle.
For the first time in many generations the future looks worse than the past on many fronts. Sadly this isn’t limited to public servants or headteachers. I could insert my own private sector job title into that article and it wouldn’t be far off. For public sector cuts, insert the private sector’s endless craving for more profit which puts an equal stress on resource and workers.
I am 15 long years from any chance of retirement so for those getting out, best wishes you lucky b#*tards!!!!!
But it’s New Years Eve so let’s look forward with optimism for friends, family, health and riding. The rest is a bit of a depressing crock of sh1t but it does focus the mind on what actually matters.
I can believe it. My SiL is a head of department in a large inner city 6th form. Her average week is about 70 hours, including at least a couple of 7am - 9pm days, and when she takes a 'half day' it usually means starting at 7am and finishing at 3pm. She's paid reasonably well, but as far as hourly wages go, she's probably below the average rate.