What is it about?
There is a two-fold challenge in secondary education; deputy and assistant headteachers are not taking the expected steps into headship and thousands of graduates are leaving the profession within the first five years. This study explores the lives and experiences of 14 senior leaders in secondary education in Birmingham, England and their experience of headship. Socialisation experiences, career character/type, career support and lifestyle desires are some of the factors that can influence the decision-making processes of senior leaders in secondary education.
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Why is it important?
This study is important because there is a dearth of literature on the lives of deputy and assistant headteachers. The study allows for the complexities within the deputy and assistant headteacher role to be voiced which is important. The findings show that deputy and assistant headteachers display 'Bridger', 'Bonder' or 'Leaver' categories which impact on whether a senior leader remains, moves up the hierarchy or leaves the role.
Perspectives
Writing this article has been an enjoyable experience. It has drawn me to see the importance of biography in hearing the voices of some of the roles in education that are sometimes overlooked along with the multifaceted experiences within senior leadership. In preparation for 21st-century education and meeting government demands with regards to providing a stable schooling system, it is important for us to consider the barriers that are deterring assistant and deputy headteachers from entering into the headship role
DR JUDITH BRUCE-GOLDING
University of Birmingham
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Career Trajectories of Deputy and Assistant Headteachers and Their Perceptions of Secondary Headship, Journal of Education, April 2019, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0022057419834923.
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