Headteacher resigning - how is that going to go !!

[HappilyEducateme]

Just a quick one.
Our head had just resigned, what is involved in the process of the new head coming in. What are people experiences, do they find the new one has a cross over period, do they change a lot just to put their stamp on the role and do OFSTED get more involved on the school through this period ??

What's your experience ?

OFSTED don't get involved at all, every school my DD has attended has changed Heads at some point and all the replacements already worked at the school, two of them were Deputies already and covered the vacancy before being appointed to it.

When this happened at our school, the deputy became head so there wasn't a massive difference tbh

Up to the governing body or MAT to appoint a new head. No overlap- maybe a deputy stepping up if the process takes a while. And new heads usually bring change.

Well they will start the recruitment process.
A nee head will be appointed, possibly internal depending on school. New head will come. A good new head will wait at least a couple of terms before making any drastic changes (this does depend a bit on why they’re leaving in the first place)
ofsted will not be involved.
How do you know they’re leaving? If you just a parent then most of this eight already have happened and a new head decided upon before they’ve told you.

They will try and recruit. They may not be able to and the deputy may become the head while a head of another school becomes the executive head.

DS's headmistress retired a few years ago - they just advertised and recruited in the usual way. The current one hasn't made any dramatic changes, and Ofsted haven't been near the place in years.

They often get the deputy to step up or a head from another school will come and act as the head temporarily while still running their own school. In my experience, the first thing they’ll do is change the uniform 🙄 probably to a very expensive, only available in one shop kilt for girls…

Sorry, I am staff within the school so from a staff point of view.

Is there normally a big shake up?
Some of our staff have already said well this means we will be off as a new head is never a good thing
I'm new so I was interested why this would be response, these staff may just not like change I suppose, but just wondered if this is a standard response

A new head will bring their own ideas, but hopefully share the same value and ethos. Whenever there is change, some won't like the change, others will stay and adapt. Sometimes the head will have a handover period. When do they leave? If handed notice in at half term earliest they will leave is Feb half term but more likely Easter. There may not be time to recruit for Easter, so will be September start, with temp head for a term.

The head won't do any big changes quickly, but rather start the process of setting up their new ideas to prove they'll be good at their job. If they got rid of you all straight away obviously they'd look bad.

Be prepared for change, and to change yourself to fit in but ultimately if you're doing your job well you should be safe.

I think our new head is better and more well liked by the parents, as far as I can see. Primary school.

Well, the head changes the way the school is run don't they. Not worth leaving until you see what the new head was is like. Imo.

It really depends on what sort of state the school is in atm. Is there an experienced and organised senior management team? Is the deputy ready to take on headship roles? Do the finances add up ( as far as they can these days) ? Is the school well regarded locally, are all the classes full with children whose parents have chosen the school ? Are children meeting and exceeding national expectations? It might be time for a radical shake up, or it might be time for a consolidation of present standards and practices.

There is a huge issue with HT recruitment in many parts of the country, especially for smaller schools who are not attractive financially to experienced head teachers, so unless there is an experienced Deputy who has done the training and is happy to step up then recruiting a suitable candidate might be an issue, and might take some time.

I can pretty much guarantee though that the first thing a new head will do is to try to get staff to reorganise the staffroom…….it always is!!!!!

Ps if many of the staff are saying they will leave rather than work under a new head then that rings a few alarm bells to me, sounds as though they could be aware that the school is coasting a bit and they have no interest in either furthering the schools improvement or their careers. Some schools do stagnate especially if a not terribly effective but personable head teacher has been in post for a long time.

I agree with Viques
I@ve know quite a few schools where there has been quite a high turnover after a new HT has started, and they have tended to very much be the ones where the previous HT had been there some time and was coasting down to retirement and not really doing half of what should have been happening. Staff have got used to that and then not wanted anything to change.
In a good school though (as in a good school in most people's eyes, nothing to do with OFSTED) things evolve all the time and there won't be much difference when the next HT arrives.
IME there is usually a period without a HT, when the Deputy becomes Acting HT, before the new one is appointed.
It doesn't affect OFSTED.

We've been through 4 headteachers and a couple of stand ins at our local village school since my now 15 year old started there (my youngest still attends). It's a great school, one of the best in the county. It's just set in a very small village away from everywhere else and outsiders tend to move on after a few years. I can't say it's been an issue at all. Smooth transitions and the new heads usually introduce something new eventually, shaking things up. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The newest one has just got rid of school bells so that it's not upsetting to some children. Unfortunately it is upsetting other children on the spectrum who actually rely on the consistency and routine of the bells and the parents aren't happy. Oh dear.
New heads being new ideas and new ways of doing things. The school might benefit from a shake up. If it's something that the parents and teachers know won't work, they need to let the new head know. Sign up to PTAs and parent councils etc.

I have been through this a few times and changes have been slow and steady. I have been lucky and liked all of the heads. You can't predict what it will be like but I would not panic!

Yes I'm not concerned for my role, just interested to see how others have seen changes.

Yes it's a Feb leave date. I hadn't realised heads are that hard to recruit,I know it's a tough job with lots of responsibility and pressure.

The school is quite well regarded as is she, but does have its issues with challenging and SEND children with no additional support staff, as I'm assuming all schools do.

We've just advertised for a new HT - one form entry school. We've had 9 applicants and a strong field. Change is inevitable with new leadership but if you choose the right candidate then tge change is good. Sometimes HTs reaching retirement avoid tackling issues that need tackling.

Feb leave date? That's unusual!

I would be surprised if you have a handover period if its a new head coming in, simply because most schools can't afford to double up their most expensive employee. Ime, it has been change for the better and staff have stayed and are happy.

A new head is a trigger for OFSTED.

Within 3 years of my DC primary getting a new head teacher, every single member of teaching staff had been replaced, some left when the old head retired and some moved on over the next couple of years.
TBH it was the best thing that could happen, the old head was coasting along until he retired. The new head came in with a flying start and changes were made within the 1st term.

Depends where the school is and where they want to be.
Depends on the Governing Board and what sort of Head they think will do the job.
Depends on expectations and what the evidence says
Are they looking at an experienced Head or a deputy ready to move up.
Do they have a skilled SLt team already to cover?
Depends who applies and if there is anyone suitable.
Depends on the dates they can give their notice in and if the old school will release them early or not, or give time for a settling-in period and if they find the SEF is accurate or not.

Does the deputy want the job and do they have a good relationship with the head? If so, they may step up and make a smooth transition.
If not, the local authority sometimes step in and place somebody from another school temporarily whilst they recruit.
In this case, and/or in the case of a newly recruited head then yes they'll want to put their stamp on things and for a while it can be a little bit turbulent with staff leaving, big changes happening and sometimes (if none has happened recently) an OFSTED can be triggered.
The key is to try to be as flexible as possible. Listen to the new head and be open to change and new ideas. A new head can be a really positive thing for the school.

@HappilyEducateme
Feb is an unusual leaving date. To leave on December 31 a head must resign by 30 September. So the head might have agreed an extra half term or the governors have not stuck to the standard contractural arrangement in that heads leave at the end of term.

The governors will advertise the job. To be a head, an ideal candidate would be qualified with an NPQH but this is not mandatory. Schools might appoint a deputy but really should look for broad experience at several schools. However a great deputy could be a good fit for headship if they are ready to step up.

Yes. New heads can change how schools work (with good reasons and for the better) but that is their job. They might require different ways of working and, for example, demand high quality teaching and instil rigorous assessment of Dc so data is accurate. Some teachers want the status quo. Others like a challenge.

If a school cannot recruit, the deputy might step in or they might be managed by another local head. These solutions are treading water at best. Getting the right head can be tough but in fact all they need is one outstanding applicant! They cannot appoint more than one head! Choice is ideal but it’s a luxury for many schools. The new head is unlikely to work alongside the old head due to money constraints but should visit.

There can be staff changes when a head arrives. But not always. Very much depends on what the new head wants and how keen the school staff are to make necessary changes. I’ve not seen a new primary head make uniform changes. That’s more a secondary thing (God knows why?).

Staff will feel unsettled at the prospect of a new head but it’s also a time to review practice and improve. Some staff won’t want to do it can lead to turnover. Stability is usually around the corner when the new head settles in and everyone else sees they are a good head. Of course if they are useless……..