What now?

[BurnedOutAndUsedUp]

I'm a long time lurker, but now a first time poster. I'm a headteacher and am burning out. I love so many parts of my job, but equally find so any parts boring and awful. I love the children, but am struggling with the lack of support for abuse victims, children in care, families on the breadline, mentally ill parents who won't or can't see the damage they're doing to their children, keeping my teachers from burning out and the epic red tape I struggle through and more. I don't see how I can keep going for the next 20 years til retirement. My children are still young and I am the breadwinner for my family. My partner works but flexibly to be able to do the childcare in the week, and I then do the school holidays. We can't afford for me to take a pay cut (I am not a super head on a massive salary either). I guess I'm just asking if any other SLT or heads have escaped and lived to tell the tale? I'm so beaten down I can't even think of what else I can do. Any ideas welcome!

Sorry you feel like this, it must be very stressful. Could you look around at different opportunities in different schools? The school I work in and the school my ds attends are 2.5 miles apart yet worlds away from each other in terms of issues the head would encounter. Otherwise could you look for a move into working in an advisory capacity for the local authority or even becoming an ofsted inspector. It might help you in the short term if you had an idea of where you were aiming for in the longer term. Good luck!

I went into the LA. I don't get school holidays off any more (but my husband does). The hours are so different and I think I've halved my working week 😲 I can't imagine going back to headship now.

If you are not too far up the leadership scale, could you consider a deputy role in a larger school. We are a big primary and our two non teaching deputies are on more than most heads of small schools.
It very different when you’re not the one who is ultimately responsible. Depends if you could handle having a boss though.