How important is the head of a school?

[southernsoftie]

We recently went to the open day of a possible school for the dcs. The children who showed us round were fab: polite, articulate, and enthusiastic. I want my dcs to be like that when they grow up! We also liked the teachers that we met. Only real reservations were a lack of emphasis on academics (school has only recently expanded from up to 13 to GCSEs so no track record on results)and the head who seemed to be on a different planet, very old-fashioned.

So, mnetters, how much does the head matter? And can a bright child do well at a non-selective school rather than one that goes all-out for the league tables?

It is really important - I love our head. However, a head can leave (as our's is ) - I think the new one will be good too, she seems very nice, but you can't guarantee anything with heads!

You don't have to like the head. If the result is motivated staff and lovely children then (as long as the head has been there some time and is not basking in the afterglow of a previous great head) the head is doing their job well.

My primary school went from fanstastic to average in a single year when the old (fashioned) head left and a new (trendy young guy) head came in, despite not one other teacher leaving.

Thanks for all the posts. I may be confusing a good head with one I like (it would be nice if that could be the same thing). Things that worried me was the head not being able to answer when asked what kind of child would suit the school, name-dropping major public schools all in the south when we are in the north and had already said that we weren't considering boarding, and although the school has recently expanded from a prep school to one that goes to GCSEs he more or less said that a bright child might be better off elsewhere from 13 onwards. Having said that the children who showed us round thought he was great so maybe it is just me.

If you liked the children and they liked him then surely that's the best thing.