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More than half of secondary heads 'consider quitting' Secondary heads 'have to walk on water''
(about 4 hours later)
Over half of secondary heads are considering quitting because of "toxic" government rhetoric, a survey suggests. By Judith Burns BBC News in Birmingham
The Association of School and College Leaders blamed a barrage of unfounded criticism for low morale, as its annual conference begins in Birmingham. Secondary head teachers are "expected to be able to walk on water" the demands on them are so high, school leaders have heard.
ASCL general secretary Brian Lightman said heads felt angry, frustrated and on the verge of being bullied. President of the Association of School and College Leaders Joan McVittie told her union's annual conference that pressure on heads is so great that many may leave the profession.
A government spokesman said it wanted to work with head teachers to achieve a world class education system. Ms McVittie said expectations of heads had never been higher.
The survey also showed more than 60% of the heads questioned felt government policies were having a detrimental effect on their pupils' education. The Department for Education said the vast majority of heads did a good job.
About nine out of 10 said they thought the government did not recognise the work they did and was not supportive of the teaching profession. Ms McVittie told the conference in Birmingham that heads were required to be moral leaders, risk takers, media experts, creative accountants, prophets and networkers.
They were also expected to have an overview of the system and all the time were faced with an "apparently endless volley of criticism" from government.
'Values'
Earlier she told journalists that heads were also leading schools that were the last bastion of "old fashioned values and discipline", teaching children "rational and restrained ways of dealing with conflict".
Secondary school staff were increasingly having to become role models for pupils who were often more influenced by what they saw on television than their parents, she said.
In the area of London where she is head, four fifths of pupils have English as an additional language and different ways of settling disputes.
Brian Lightman, general secretary of ASCL, added that instilling these values into pupils was part of a hidden curriculum which was vitally important in terms of their employability.
But a survey for ASCL and the Times Educational Supplement (TES), has suggested that more than 90% of heads thought the government did not recognise the work they did, and was not supportive of the teaching profession.
The figures also indicated that over half of heads were considering quitting because of "toxic rhetoric" from the government.
Mr Lightman said heads felt angry, frustrated and on the verge of being bullied.
The survey also showed more than 60% of 1,800 heads questioned earlier this month felt government policies were having a detrimental effect on their pupils' education.
A new lowA new low
More than 1,800 secondary school leaders, including 1,000 head teachers, took part in the survey for ASCL and the Times Educational Supplement (TES).
The union said the figures showed morale amongst secondary school leaders had reached a new low, with half of those surveyed saying they would not recommend headship to a colleague.The union said the figures showed morale amongst secondary school leaders had reached a new low, with half of those surveyed saying they would not recommend headship to a colleague.
More than a third were actively looking to quit now, it added.More than a third were actively looking to quit now, it added.
And more than three quarters of deputy and assistant heads said they were less likely to go for headship than they were a year ago. And more than three quarters of deputy and assistant heads said they were less likely to go for headship.
Mr Lightman said ASCL's members were professionals who were absolutely committed but could only take so much of what he called "toxic rhetoric".
He added: "They want to work with the government to continue to improve standards but instead they are being treated as part of the problem.
"The government has cherry-picked international statistics, made sweeping generalisations and painted a caricature of schools as failing in order to justify its policy decisions. This must stop."
'Skills vital'
A spokesman for the Department for Education said it could not ignore concerns about standards.A spokesman for the Department for Education said it could not ignore concerns about standards.
"We have slipped down the international performance tables and we must rectify this."We have slipped down the international performance tables and we must rectify this.
"We know that the vast majority of heads are doing a good job, often in challenging circumstances. We're undertaking a major reform programme and their skills and experience are vital.""We know that the vast majority of heads are doing a good job, often in challenging circumstances. We're undertaking a major reform programme and their skills and experience are vital."
The spokesman added that government reforms would give heads more control over teaching, pupil development and discipline and less paperwork.The spokesman added that government reforms would give heads more control over teaching, pupil development and discipline and less paperwork.
Commenting on the survey, Gerard Kelly, editor of the TES, said the figures were "bad, really bad ... for a government that sets such store on competent leaders driving an autonomous system".
Labour's shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg said: "As well as tackling underperformance, we need to celebrate excellent performance. If we don't support this generation of head teachers, there is a real danger they could leave the profession in droves."
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