Action needed to solve head teacher crisis - Teather

8.24.04pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Sep 2006

Responding to a survey by the General Teaching Council showing that only one in 25 teachers wants to become a head within the next five years, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Sarah Teather MP said "It is ridiculous for the Government to continue to claim there is no crisis in head teacher numbers.

"The fact is they are reaping the rewards of a decade of bureaucracy, league tables and exam pressure that has demoralised the existing workforce and put off new talent from entering our schools.

"Over the last decade heads received a new piece of guidance from the government every 2 ½ working days on average. What manager in any other industry or sector could be expected to get on with their job with that level of interference?

"More must be done to reduce the paperwork burden on head teachers. A qualified teacher should always be in charge of teaching and learning, but bursars and human resources managers could handle pay roll and personnel for instance.

"Bright young teachers should be allowed move into management more quickly so the average age of heads is reduced from 50. And any remnants of a glass ceiling that prevents mothers returning to the workforce from ascending into leadership roles must be shattered."