How influenced are you by the head when looking at schools

[Harbourly]

I know schools are giving a sales pitch on open days, but have you ever seen a head that’s really put you off (as a parent)? I’m looking at schools in the Barnet area.

I was put off by HTs speech that was all about the high achievers, rather than helping all children do the best they can.

I think this of a school can make a big difference.

Oh yes. The head at Stowe sent me running to the hills. Total dinosaur but beloved by parents at the school.

I have pulled my kids out of a school because I thought so little of the head. Twice. (Once primary, once secondary -- for secondary the head changed during our time there.) It was the right decision both times.

Very. The head is very important.

At the Head’s talk when looking at a girls’ school, I asked about girls and STEM. The Head had no idea what I was talking about. Rather confirmed my unease when the Maths department was deliberately omitted during the earlier, pupil-led tour.

Absolutely. We visited a very prestigious public school in Dulwich when my daughter was approaching secondary transfer. We didn’t like the headteacher to start with but one of the parents asked what the school did to support girls with special needs. The head said that they had a few children with additional needs, including one who was ‘as blind as a bat’, one who had a disability affecting her leg and another with an arm problem. She went on to say that ‘floppy arms, wobbly legs, we’ve got it all here’. We walked out at that point, so goodness knows what else she said. I would have sent my daughter there if it had been completely free.

Yes, Winchester College. Finally hearing from the (previous) Head made us start doubting the school so much we eventually pulled our DS out. We weren't given an opportunity to meet him until after places were awarded.

I feel really uncomfortable with what I’ve seen of a head at what will be my local school (Barnet).

I sent my children to secondary based on the head and he has now left. I loved everything he stood for and the ethos he upheld. I am not as happy with the new one. But the kids are now there.
In primary the head was lovely, she was replaced by someone that ruined the school. In the end I pulled the youngest 2 out.
The head is very important but you can't bank on them being there the whole time - so weigh up other things too

Yes I think a Head can make a big difference. From the open days I’ve been to, there have been a few times the head has tilted my impression of the school as a whole but it’s by no means every one:

state secondary: head left a very poor impression. Was all over the place and could barely string together a coherent presentation. People said that he was better to work for as a manager but I think the head is such an important public role that if you can’t manage that side of things, it’s always going to be a challenge.

private secondary: one of the best schools in the country but the Head left me feeling a bit cold. She seemed all about the very elite children and I felt the open day in general wasn’t as welcoming.

private secondary: wasn’t expecting to love the school but really did at open day and part of that was the Head. Likely to be our second choice. Head was very business like and professional but also spoke passionately about getting the best out of every child, working with them to celebrate strengths etc.

current prep head: found her impressive and warm. Now I’m in the school I still do.

I discounted a school because of the speech the head teacher did at Open Evening. He misrepresented statistics to make his school sound like one of the top schools in the country (I am a statistician and had already looked at published results!), and was just generally unbelievable in the things he said. It made me wonder why he couldn’t find anything true to be proud of in his school.

We were lucky that there were other choices though! If there’s only one school option the you’d just have to hope the head leaves soon!