Our Final Report for the Sustainable School Leadership study, published this week, includes a focus on Scotland and the findings from our 3-year study.
We looked at two sides of sustainability:
i. The sustainability of leadership (i.e. supply and succession planning)
ii. Leadership for sustainability (i.e. meeting present needs without compromising future needs)
The research in Scotland included an analysis of the leadership workforce, a survey of 332 leaders, and interviews with 28 leaders across two contrasting localities: a City and a Coastal-Rural region.
The average age of heads dropped by 2.4 years between 2010 and 2023, from 50.9 to 48.5. However, succession risks remain given a large cohort in their early 50s and low rates of leaders staying to their late 50s.
Scottish heads painted a more challenging picture than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK. Nearly a third described themselves as sinking, while 35% said they were thriving.
Staffing issues topped the list of drains, followed by poor work-life balance and the challenges of special needs and inclusion. Behaviour challenges ranked higher in Scotland than elsewhere.
The Scottish education system is proud of its coherence and commitment to equity, but this research highlights challenges for leadership sustainability. It also highlights risks around the appetite of future generations to step up into roles that look increasingly challenging.
Read the full report here
Read the National Technical Report for Scotland here
Sustainable School Leadership 