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A life in the day of a headteacher: practitioner report

This research report provides evidence about working practice among headteachers and the underlying issues that shape their working lives.

Headteachers in the study compiled a journal of headship, were observed at work and took part in interviews. The report focuses on the concepts of wellbeing, work-life balance, stress and job satisfaction for headteachers.

Key findings

Descriptions in the journals showed that participants' working lives are demanding and pressured, with a fast pace and involving long hours. The variety of their work was also evident, with participants needing to be flexible and responsive to unexpected challenges. Indeed, half of the participants in this study highlighted the fact that there was no such thing as a typical day.

The majority of those who said that they relish the challenges and enjoy the variety of the role, and achieve a positive work-life balance, were more often those who:

• had effectively distributed leadership across and within the school
• could prioritise their personal and professional lives
• could deal confidently and comfortably with negative staff, parent and pupil issues
• fostered and were part of supportive networks or collaboratives
• had a positive and active life outside school

These strategies offer us insights and implications into how and why some headteachers manage to achieve a work-life balance, and find satisfaction and reward in their role.

A more detailed full report is also available.