Head leaving, what happens if the deputy leaves too (smallish primary)?

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Our head is leaving soon and there are rumours that the deputy will go too to work with her at the new school.

I know these are only rumours and it might not happen but it seems very possible as the head will be recruiting there. IF it did happen what would the situation be? Ours is a small one form entry school that struggled to appoint a head last time and there is no teacher on the staff with anywhere near the appropriate amount of experience to step up to the plate of a deputy job, never mind a headship.

There has been very high teacher turnover in the last few years and they are all young and not very experienced. The head was not very popular with parents but that's irrelevant now.

Would the local authority step in and appoint someone if the deputy left too? Or are there long term supply headteachers out there? Who would run the show?

Not in a panic, but curious.

Should say, this assumes that the governors didn't appoint a new permanent head in time/ quickly.

The LA can put in an acting head. This is either an experienced head who is recently retired or seconded from elsewhere or a deputy that is thinking about permanent headship. This is exactly how I had my first taste of headship and is a really interesting experience! Some "actings" apply for the post and others just fill the post for between a term and a year until a permanent head can be found. Another route they might go down if they really struggle to appoint and it is a small school is federating with another school and sharing their head.

Thank you Gruffalo.
Sounds reassuring that someone will step in.