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| Call for more women head teachers | Call for more women head teachers |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Women are taking fewer of the top jobs in teaching in England and Wales, an annual recruitment survey says. | |
| Among head teachers appointed to secondary schools in the last year, only 32% were women, compared to 40% in the previous year. | Among head teachers appointed to secondary schools in the last year, only 32% were women, compared to 40% in the previous year. |
| The survey commissioned by head teachers' unions also found that adverts for primary heads drew fewer than five applicants on average. | The survey commissioned by head teachers' unions also found that adverts for primary heads drew fewer than five applicants on average. |
| This meant that many schools had to readvertise to try to fill vacancies. | This meant that many schools had to readvertise to try to fill vacancies. |
| The recruitment survey found that when headships were filled, it was usually to candidates living in the local area. | The recruitment survey found that when headships were filled, it was usually to candidates living in the local area. |
| Workload | Workload |
| John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said that it was too early to say whether the decline in the number of women getting head teachers' jobs in secondary schools was "a blip or a trend". | John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said that it was too early to say whether the decline in the number of women getting head teachers' jobs in secondary schools was "a blip or a trend". |
| But he called for action to tackle obstacles that could explain the under-representation of women in the top jobs in school. | But he called for action to tackle obstacles that could explain the under-representation of women in the top jobs in school. |
| "The government must urgently address those issues, like excessive workload, that may be discouraging highly qualified women, in particular, from taking on headships," said Dr Dunford. | "The government must urgently address those issues, like excessive workload, that may be discouraging highly qualified women, in particular, from taking on headships," said Dr Dunford. |
| In primary schools, 75% of head teachers appointed during the school year were women, a lower figure than the female proportion of the teaching staff. | In primary schools, 75% of head teachers appointed during the school year were women, a lower figure than the female proportion of the teaching staff. |
| The Annual Survey of the Labour Market for Senior Staff in Schools across England and Wales, examined 2,236 senior posts in state schools between September 2007 and the end of May 2008. | The Annual Survey of the Labour Market for Senior Staff in Schools across England and Wales, examined 2,236 senior posts in state schools between September 2007 and the end of May 2008. |
| It was carried out by Professor John Howson on behalf of ASCL and the National Association of Head Teachers. | It was carried out by Professor John Howson on behalf of ASCL and the National Association of Head Teachers. |
| Unfilled vacancies | Unfilled vacancies |
| Against a background of concerns about a shortage of head teachers, it shows how few people apply for vacancies. | Against a background of concerns about a shortage of head teachers, it shows how few people apply for vacancies. |
| It found that for vacancies for primary headships there were only 4.6 applications on average, leading to interviews with 2.6 candidates on average. | It found that for vacancies for primary headships there were only 4.6 applications on average, leading to interviews with 2.6 candidates on average. |
| In secondary schools, there were 15.7 applications, leading to 4.5 candidates on average being interviewed. | In secondary schools, there were 15.7 applications, leading to 4.5 candidates on average being interviewed. |
| There was greater interest in applying for deputy headships - on average 7.7 applicants for primary and 19.1 applicants for secondary schools. | There was greater interest in applying for deputy headships - on average 7.7 applicants for primary and 19.1 applicants for secondary schools. |
| The survey shows the problems schools have in finding enough suitable applicants, with 32% of primary and 21% of secondary vacancies failing to be filled after the initial round of advertising. | The survey shows the problems schools have in finding enough suitable applicants, with 32% of primary and 21% of secondary vacancies failing to be filled after the initial round of advertising. |
| "Too many headships remain unfilled when first advertised and a significant minority remain so after a subsequent advertisement," notes the survey. | "Too many headships remain unfilled when first advertised and a significant minority remain so after a subsequent advertisement," notes the survey. |
| When schools are successful in finding heads and deputy heads, the candidates are usually from within the local area. For primary schools, 72% of appointed heads have come from the same local authority and 57% in secondary schools. | When schools are successful in finding heads and deputy heads, the candidates are usually from within the local area. For primary schools, 72% of appointed heads have come from the same local authority and 57% in secondary schools. |