Union states case for headteacher flexible working

May 02 2008

Allowing headteachers to work more flexibly could lead to an improvement in schools, a teaching union has claimed.

According to the National Association of Head Teachers, headteachers should be encouraged to work at home for at least one day every two weeks to concentrate on running their school, the Independent reports.

Mick Brookes, the general secretary of the organisation, claimed that the measures would allow school leaders to concentrate on headship issues.

He told the publication: "Sometimes, though, they can come in at 8am, the phone goes, a teacher wants a piece of your time and you end up not standing still until 5.30pm - and you have to take home all that planning you wanted to do."

Mr Brookes added: "Headteachers should take their dedicated headship time. If it means spending half a day a week or a day a fortnight at home, they should do it.

"When a school leader leaves the building there should be no more than a shudder in the edifice. If it collapses, the headteacher is taking too much upon him or herself."

Recently, schools secretary Ed Balls unveiled plans to draft the country's top headteachers into underachieving schools, paying up to £200,000 to help them improve performance.

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