Do primary DC know who headteacher is

[helpmelosemybigbelly]

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 🫠

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

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).

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

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.

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.

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

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

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)

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

Mine did - but the Head played a very active role in school (and was the biggest kid out there so would be found playing football on the playground given half the chance).

Yes (well, they did when they were at Primary school) and yes, from when they started.

Might be slightly different if they are in a 5 or 6 form entry Primary School and the EY Lead might do some of the things a HT would do in a smaller school, or, similarly, if in a tiny school where they might only be 2 or 3 adults and there is no perceivable difference to small dc as to who holds each role.

Children understand hierarchies in school at a scarily young age. I'm an unofficial third in command as the most experienced teacher and the children can describe how Mr X is in charge, then Mrs Y then me - for a role I don't get paid for or have a job title for! You have to work very hard in schools to get children to treat all staff with the same respect.

Both mine knew who the Head was before they started school, as they went to the school nursery the year before and the head would come and visit them in the nursery. DD loved the original head as he would come and read them stories and do a puppet show for them.

This

My kids know for sure, from reception.

He is like a minor celebrity. They spent a significant chunk of their holidays pretending to be him (generally involves one "reporting" another to the third who is in character as Mr Y).

Yes, of course.

Yes, of course. It was a small village school and DD knew who all the teachers were.

I volunteer with children from y2/3 - I find it utterly bizarre that they can't tell me their teachers names. Some of them do have 2 part timers sharing a class though, and they have a TA. Most can tell me the head teacher's name.

Head Teacher at my DCs’ primary used to read a story to reception once a week to make sure they knew him and he got to know them a bit.

Our head teacher doesn’t do the assemblies, it’s often the deputy head or assistant head that does them. The head does stand in the playground a lot of mornings but sometimes it’s other important ppl like deputy head etc

Just asked my child and he doesn’t know. Next time we see her in the playground I’ll introduce him to her

Even with not doing assemblies it's pretty unusual that after almost 2 years at the school he doesn't know who the head is. Does he know any other staff members names?

Mine definitely know who she is, she does the gate twice a week and they have assembly once a fortnight that she leads. We also talk about the people in school so we talk about the office manager, the caretaker, the crossing patrol person, as well as the Head and class teachers.

In nursery for DD2, and I am pretty certain reception for DD1 (she didn't go to school nursery)

At Christmas, when DD2 was in nursery, we took them to a local event. After the event, DD2 was asked if she saw anyone special there - the expected answer being Santa. Nope, DD2 responded 'Mrs Headteacher.'

Yes - DS knew from reception. He was on the door morning and night, knew all of their names and would call out incorrect uniform and any inappropriate language - you couldn’t get away from the man (said affectionately as he was lovely).