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Original poster

Do primary DC know who headteacher is

59 replies

helpmelosemybigbelly · 30/04/2026 13:42

As per title. Just got me thinking as I doubt my 5yo in year 1 knows who the head teacher is, what about your kids. What age of year did they start becoming aware? Just curious and bored as u can prob tell 🫠

OP posts:
CeciliaMars · 30/04/2026 16:37

Yes, definitely! She does all the assemblies and speeches at special occasions such as sports day, Easter, harvest festival…

KirstieKaren · 30/04/2026 15:36

It depends on the head teacher. I knew of a school where the majority of kids thought the deputy was the head, but only because the head didn’t do assemblies or make any effort to know the children.
Happily I do think that is unusual though. (And the deputy is now the head)

Clefable · 30/04/2026 14:45

tightfit · 30/04/2026 13:43

As soon as they started. She stands at the gate most mornings to welcome them.

Yes same here. My 7yo is always greeted by name by the head teacher, deputy head, etc. as are the rest of the kids.

tnorfotkcab · 30/04/2026 14:42

they should know in the first few days .... does your headteacher not greet in playground / lead assemblies / teach etc?

Isekaied · 30/04/2026 14:39

Everyone knows

Thought you meant from year 3 onwards.

But even in reception mine know the head teacher was.

She would be at the front gate everyday greeting us.

ForWittyCoralPoet · 30/04/2026 14:37

When I was at Junior school, our HT went on long term sick leave, the temporary HT was only in post for a term and a half but we all knew her name.

PatsFishTank · 30/04/2026 14:34

Yes although my DC went to a tiny primary where the head also taught them. I definitely knew my headteacher as they led assemblies.

ForWittyCoralPoet · 30/04/2026 14:29

From Day 1. Head Teacher visits every class every week, even if just for 5 minutes and is at School assembly every week. I knew who my head teachers were and can even naje my Infant school head Miss Wanless.(I started school in September 1969).

Elizabeta · 30/04/2026 14:29

Yup. DD knows the head of infants and the overall head of the primary well.

Moveoverdarlin · 30/04/2026 14:27

Yep after a day in reception they would. Her name is quoted all the time in our house ‘Oh Mrs Sutton wouldn’t like that behaviour!’ ‘C’mon we can’t be late, Mrs Sutton will tell us off.’

Every morning the Head teacher greets parents and children at the gates. Every day they have assembly. I would find it odd for a child not to know their head teachers name.

Overthebow · 30/04/2026 14:25

Yes of course. My DC is in year 1 and has known since she started reception. The head teacher stands at the gates in the morning to welcome everyone in, and also takes assemblies and has a good presence in the school.

Sanch1 · 30/04/2026 14:24

Mine do. He’s very involved with the kids, at the gate in the morning, does all the assemblies etc

thehistorymum · 30/04/2026 14:18

DS knew from week one. As others have said, ours is very visible and greets the kids by name. My son explained to us “Mrs X is the boss of the school” 🤣

Dalmationday · 30/04/2026 14:16

Yes my son in reception does

VickyEadieofThigh · 30/04/2026 14:15

Younger children in all schools will know the headteacher, but they might not properly understand what her role is. At the two small village primaries where I'm a governor, all staff are out at the gate morning and afternoon and all take turns in doing assemblies - so the little ones in particular might not know which one is the head.

DappledThings · 30/04/2026 14:15

From day 1. He's very visible, knows every child by name and visits all the classrooms etc. He runs assembly at least twice a week. I'd be surprised if any of the children at our school didn't know who he was.

insomniacalways · 30/04/2026 14:12

Yes they definitely would. Our Head is out on the playground most mornings and evenings. He does assemblies, etc. He also knows all the kids by name and there are over 400 of them, he even knows the stuff they are interested in and talks to them all.

bugalugs45 · 30/04/2026 14:01

nutsfornuts · 30/04/2026 13:48

The Head Teacher at our infant school stands at the front gate and says hello to every kid every morning, so they definitely know who she is,

Same , calls them by their names too! All 180 kids

mambojambodothetango · 30/04/2026 13:56

If you think your child wouldn't know something like this perhaps you need to have more conversations at home. We always chat about stuff over dinner, about school and people we know etc, so this is the kind of thing that they would pick up from us at home if they'd not realised from school.

PippaPug · 30/04/2026 13:51

They knew who the HT was when they were in reception - he comes and has lunch with them when they first start, he also comes round and spends time in each class, takes assemblies, hands out star of the week etc

SparkyBlue · 30/04/2026 13:51

Of course they know him. He is at the door every morning and would lead school assemblies amongst lots of other stuff. He would also be in to greet them all and introduce himself on their very first day.

Blarn · 30/04/2026 13:49

Straight away. Ours was on the front gate in the morning, popped into the classes a lot, ran most assemblies. If they didn't I would question how the school was ran.

nutsfornuts · 30/04/2026 13:48

The Head Teacher at our infant school stands at the front gate and says hello to every kid every morning, so they definitely know who she is,

newuser9090 · 30/04/2026 13:48

Have you actually asked your child if they know the HT? I would be incredibly surprised if they didn’t.

WellyBellyBoo · 30/04/2026 13:47

From the start, very visible at the gate, in assembly etc