Cambridge Scholars Publishing The Two Directions Formulating a Crisis in Primary Catholic School Leadership

Since the year 2000, there has been a statistically high proportion of head teachers leaving the profession. While there have been studies conducted to predict when this exodus would conclude, the actual reasons for why senior people are leaving their positions have not been explored so far. Schools have found replacing head teachers increasingly difficult and the inevitable leadership crisis has been well documented by both scholars and the media. The leadership crisis has been most noticeable within the Catholic Primary School sector, where statistics have consistently shown an issue with recruiting people to headship positions. This book considers the reasons for the crisis and looks at potential solutions. It identifies what the leadership crisis encompasses from the negativity of the education system (including headship accountability, the work-life balance, and salary), whilst also offsetting this with possible supporting solutions, such as the value of acting headship, succession planning and talent spotting from the beginning of a teacher’s career. About the Author Rachel Gould has extensive experience in the Catholic education system as both as pupil and a teacher, and has served as subject leader, assistant head teacher, deputy head, acting head and head teacher throughout her career of 23 years. She completed her teaching degree in English at Newman College at the University of Birmingham, UK, in 1994, her Masters degree in Catholic Education at Coventry University, UK, in 2001 and her doctorate in Leaders and Leadership at the University of Birmingham in 2016.