It seems that there is a shortage of headteachers.
Link
Schools cannot fill vacant headteacher posts despite offers of six-figure salaries and perks, a study has revealed.
A dire shortage of applicants has made it far harder for state schools to recruit teachers to the top job than it was a quarter of a century ago, analysts at Education Data Surveys have found.
Their study of headteacher recruitment reveals that it is rare for academies, the government's quasi-independent schools, to offer a salary below six figures to potential heads - regardless of the school's location or how many pupils it has. At least 60 secondary schools have advertised a six-figure sum to lure potential heads in the last year, the study shows. The average secondary head earns £74,000. Several schools are offering the maximum salary possible - £109,658 for inner London and £102,734 for elsewhere. (This revelation really does beg the question how did Anne, Dave & Moira get their £135K offer past these restrictions doesn't it?
It also begs the question why weren't there "suitable candidates" around when the £100K offer was on the table?)
This sometimes comes with a relocation allowance and private health insurance.
Scores of posts are being filled by temporary and acting heads, the analysts found. Last year, one school in London had to advertise for the same headship six times. In inner London and the east of England, where it is particularly hard for schools to find heads, more than 40% of all headships were readvertised last year. In primaries, more than a third (35%) of all posts for heads had to be readvertised last year, compared with just under 20% in 1993. Over a quarter (27%) of posts for secondary heads had to be readvertised, almost double the 1993 figure.
In October last year, Ed Balls, the schools secretary, said: "We know that the most important ingredient in great schools is excellent leadership."
London was the region that struggled most to recruit heads, with the east of England close behind. Schools with a declining numbers of pupils, or a high proportion of deprived families, find it hardest to recruit.
A spokesman from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, said: "Heads' vacancy rates have been low, stable, and below 1% for the past 10 years. More teachers than ever before have their sights set on becoming a head. Pay and training is now better than ever before. We've brought in ground breaking measures to cut workloads, and leadership teams have never been stronger in supporting heads."
Schools cannot fill vacant headteacher posts despite offers of six-figure salaries and perks, a study has revealed.
A dire shortage of applicants has made it far harder for state schools to recruit teachers to the top job than it was a quarter of a century ago, analysts at Education Data Surveys have found.
Their study of headteacher recruitment reveals that it is rare for academies, the government's quasi-independent schools, to offer a salary below six figures to potential heads - regardless of the school's location or how many pupils it has. At least 60 secondary schools have advertised a six-figure sum to lure potential heads in the last year, the study shows. The average secondary head earns £74,000. Several schools are offering the maximum salary possible - £109,658 for inner London and £102,734 for elsewhere. (This revelation really does beg the question how did Anne, Dave & Moira get their £135K offer past these restrictions doesn't it?
It also begs the question why weren't there "suitable candidates" around when the £100K offer was on the table?)
This sometimes comes with a relocation allowance and private health insurance.
Scores of posts are being filled by temporary and acting heads, the analysts found. Last year, one school in London had to advertise for the same headship six times. In inner London and the east of England, where it is particularly hard for schools to find heads, more than 40% of all headships were readvertised last year. In primaries, more than a third (35%) of all posts for heads had to be readvertised last year, compared with just under 20% in 1993. Over a quarter (27%) of posts for secondary heads had to be readvertised, almost double the 1993 figure.
In October last year, Ed Balls, the schools secretary, said: "We know that the most important ingredient in great schools is excellent leadership."
London was the region that struggled most to recruit heads, with the east of England close behind. Schools with a declining numbers of pupils, or a high proportion of deprived families, find it hardest to recruit.
A spokesman from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, said: "Heads' vacancy rates have been low, stable, and below 1% for the past 10 years. More teachers than ever before have their sights set on becoming a head. Pay and training is now better than ever before. We've brought in ground breaking measures to cut workloads, and leadership teams have never been stronger in supporting heads."
You will find that the shortage of heads is in mainly schools facing challenging circumstances and national challenge schools. In these, failure tn attract good staff and unruly behaviour plus constant scrutiny by edward ballsup make the job impossible.
Alfs was a sfcc and when dr potts went for the job she was one of only two applicants.
So the comment about doug being the highest paid head in the country is true then. Truly astonishing. I just cannot believe it. And that is before the mother of all payrises!
Doug is being twice the average so why do we end up with half a principal?
And I am not referring to his height!
Sorry I messed up.
Doug is being PAID twice the average so why do we end up with half a principal?
And I am not referring to his height!
The salary is unbelievable, even superheads who have turned a series of schools around don't get this salary. Not an ex-deputy with a 3rd rate music degree who had been suspended!
Liz moffatt, head of dowdales, is paid sixty thousand pounds less than that man!
It's a shame that Liz Moffatt didn't go for the job as principal for the academy; her record in education speaks for itself; she turned Dowdales into one of the best schools in the county and was also involved in getting Thorncliffe School out of special measures.
Any one who has met Liz knows how commited she is in ensuring that ALL the kids in her school recieve the best education they can. Certainly she should give Doug some tips on how to do this and then we might actually see Academy kids in school instead of all over the town during the school day.
Well the whole of north site staff have had dowdales intervention. Perhaps the staff at south site may also experience this in the future. One thing is certain, the leadership team are not up to the job.
As our friend is the highest paid head in history, i suggest a double page spread in the times in which he sets out his vision for the future of education! However i consider the back of a postage stamp would provide him with more than enough space to impart his wisdom.
The wheels are coming off. Its a mess.
Burns, richardson and swann are more unrepentant than bliar at the iraq inquiry. How do they sleep at night?
The academy leadership team are working hard to develop a truly world class education system for the people of barrow. The previous schools were not doing enough to realise the life chances of our younp people. In two years, you will all be choking on your words.
If the leadeship team are doing so well, why hasn't one of them got the guts to stand up and tell the people of this town the truth.
Are the figures of 500 exclusions true? How many supply teachers are holding the fort? Why was the lucrative post filled by Douglas Blackledge's paramour not advertised? The list of unanswered questions is endless. Little wonder Kelly, Burns and other leading players in this shambles are keeping their head down!
Shame on you Dave.
'The academy leadership team are working hard to develop a truly world class education system for the people of barrow. The previous schools were not doing enough to realise the life chances of our younp people. In two years, you will all be choking on your words.'
Are you joking? Where exactly is the evidence for this?
'The academy leadership team are working hard to develop a truly world class education system for the people of barrow. The previous schools were not doing enough to realise the life chances of our younp people. In two years, you will all be choking on your words.'
Parkview was a brilliant, excellent school who cared about their pupils and parents and COMMUNICATED with them. With Blackledge at the helm (when he bothers to turn up) my child's education has been ruined along with countless others. He is the joke of Barrow along with our now so called "world class education". The sooner he goes we may stand a chance but earning over £200K he will stand his ground - it begger's belief.
I can see nothing to suggest the academy leadership are working flat out to provide a world class education for it's students. Never mind in two years time, WHAT ABOUT NOW?? You patronising idiot.
The wheels have never been on from the start. The academy is a joke,and its only going to get worse with the leadership team we have.
I tell you what Douglas and I have said this many times - I for one would be very happy to be choking on my words if all the promises made are kept. But will you have the grace to admit the problems that exist now and communicate fully about the real agenda behind this latest "consultation"?
Not just Parkview - Thorncliffe had been turned around - raising standards AND providing a caring and supportive environment for all. Staff knew the students as individuals - now any student (or staff for that matter) who doesn't toe the line and guarentee a clutch of top results is ignored or met with so much negativity that they vote their feet. And of course this quickly leads to exlusion...
Its obvious from the comments here that the ship is in troubled waters. The only way to steer a safe course is with a new captain. Bring in ofsted before it is too late.
Head post at dowdales is offering much lower salary than DB's:-
"The salary is Leadership Pay Spine Points 31 – 37 (£76,537 - £88,664). For an exceptional candidate further negotiation may be possible.
A relocation package of assistance up to £2,000 is available."
but if the 2 academy VP's apply they'll still be getting a big "payrise" - same as what they got when they were "promoted" to ineffective VP's
it'll be interesting to see if they both get interviews... maybe try and get an appointment with one of them on the dowdales interview days - feb 22nd 23rd!
If academy staff including vp's previous salary was higher than their new salary, they get to keep it for 3 yrs. Consequently, wilson is still being payed his previous headteacher salary. Over and above the huge new salaries, there are still around twelve staff being paid nearly 50k for being normal teachers. Sadly even this is not enough to keep them. Four more staff going soon.
Take it from me, when mr. Sinton gets the dowdales headship and his deputy job comes up, you will be hard pressed to get an interview with any of the academy leadership team.
Trust me, i know! Comments about this already been bandied about!
The predecessor school heads held a meeting about the incompetence of mouchel and mc2. They are not fit for purpose. Doug did not have to use them when their contract ran out. However, like vivo miles, it is a lazy and ineffective way of doing things. He must have a bottomless purse.
Doh!! Having a private firm to manage publicity frees the leadership team up to do their job. It is more cost effective!! You are determined to see the negative in everything.
There are full time staff teaching less than part time. Timetables cant be filled. I reckon it is looking like a 40 pc redundancy rate.
Pointless having meaningful comment with such closed minds. Carry on bickering, exaggerating the truth and failing to see what a fantastic opportunity the academy has brought. Gone!
Ps it was anne atwood who said when the academy came into being, all its doubters would be looking foolish. I rest my case! Gone.
Previous schools completed their own timetables in house, suited to strengths of staff and needs of kids. Can the academy confirm that this job has also been farmed out at huge expense to a private firm?!
Is that the same Anne Atwood who said "If I knew how this was going to turn out I would not have got involved?"
That comment was off the record and more to do with people like those on this site that want the academy to fail.
Suggest you calm down and talk to Dave Kelly.
Veteran
Douglas is blog troll and knows nothing about what has gone on.
Derek
I have it on good authority that Rob Plant is Douglas, Douglas 2 and Dave!
Derek
Strange as it may seem, several members of the same family can share a single computer. They can also have totally opposing views of the situation. As said earlier I have fundamentally different views on what is going on and shall not be making further remarks.
getting back to the original question here, the shortage of headteachers is an issue which will have to be addressed. Around 45% of current heads are aged 55 or over and looking to retire in the near future
Anyone with children in this school does not want it to fail.
I have fully supported this school.
When is it going to support my child and give it permanent teachers?
When are they going to communicate with us?
Who can we turn to now, with our problems?
This first class academy never will or ever could be for the children attending now, that is why people are complaining. Not because they have a hidden agenda or are sulking because they did not get their way and retain the old schools.
They don't want to know it will be brilliant after their children have left.
These problems of accountability and governance are issues which really need to be taken on-board asap.
As a parent of a child at the Academy I DO NOT WANT IT TO FAIL. But it is failing the children NOW. Never mind about the future. Why should my child's education be sacrified for something they will never benefit from. The Academy was rushed through and should never have come into existence until the school had been built in all it's shining glory. Money makes the world go round.
3 Years is for Teaching Staff, 1 Year only for Non-Teaching Staff (substantial salary cuts on the way for a lot of these staff).
Can someone shed any light on the role of the university of cumbria. They put in a third of the sponsor monez, but when simco left they did not replace him and doug/anne kept up the image. Is the university still involved? If so why the silence.
Hello Pauline
I've been digging and getting nowhere except finding out that the University is just one step away from going out of existence. If I get time later on I'll post a couple of articles about how its "top brass" are chasing millions of pounds of "emergency funding" to get it through its cash crisis which it reckons is caused by the recession but as we all know its actually caused by CCC and the DCSF deciding that Cumbria needed a University to lead regeneration!
The chosen path for Cumbria kids was Cumbrian Academies, Cumbrian Colleges and a Cumbrian University. It never occurred to Moira and the DCSF that if either the colleges or the University didn't have the courses the kids required they would automatically go to institutions outside of Cumbria to get the education they wanted.
This is precisely what is happening and so the University of Cumbria cannot meet its wildly optimistic intake target and thus becomes bankrupt.
I've also read a report that as far as the established Universities are concerned they would be happy for all of the New Labour creations to go to the wall as they simply dilute the amount of money available without doing anything to raise the nations standard of education. If I can get time I'll post that as well.
Naturally one or two of these articles are in the northern CN group titles but NOT in the North West Evening Mail Furness Academy Limited Newsletter which will come as no surprise to anyone who reads the NWEM!
Who is Rob Plant?
According to Radio Cumbria this morning, the university is losing £800k each month. Total debt could be well in excess of £12 million.
More mistakes from the North west furness academy evening mail.
Tonights mail states that the consultation meetings will be on the 10th at the south site and 11th at North site when in fact they are the opposite.
At this rate there'll be no one there...oh, but of course, that'll be what they want.
yes who is rob plant and what is a blog troll???
Thanks derek. The reason for asking was that the university of cumbria, aka simco lead a lot of the staff consultation. He led the discussion of the two site/one site debate at parkview when doug made his first lacklustre appearence. He said he had led institutions which had 14 sites and some with a single site and that the site debate is wholly irrelevant.
A comment was made earlier regarding substantial pay cuts for support staff. Has this come direct from doug or is it hearsay?
There was an English teacher at Alfred Barrow Comprehensive called Mr Plant and I am sure his first name was Rob. If it is him I am stunned he would pull a trick like that.
It seems the Evening Mail peeps read this blog!!
http://nwemail.co.uk/news/university_bosses_in_bid_for_bail_out_1_667411?referrerPath=news
How is this for an Assembly at the Academy...
Mr Gill stood in front of Ramsden House this morning. He asked if they knew what a pesamist was and if a glass was half empty or half full. Then Mr Gill said you do unto others as you do to yourself and went on to say selfish people are PARASITES and then explained what a parasite is. Selfishness is a part of being human. At various times in our lives we are all selfish so we must all be parasites!
Who the hell are they to preach this garbage to our kids??? Mr Gill, the Evangelist. The hypocritical b******s. I could name at least two parasites taking more money into their household than any one of us ever will in our lifetime.
Is this really the type of school you would choose for you child to attend. NO I THINK NOT!!!!
I have had some dealings with said gentleman and though he is an excellent planner, he is not a team player and finds communication with students difficult. I was most surprised to see him chosen to lead a site without much experience. I hear his job applications are amongst the most prolific at the present time.
Do most children listen in assemblies?
From what I have heard both vice heads are more than lacking in people skills - pupils, teachers and parents.
Speaking personally I cannot remember anything that was said in any school assembly I ever attended. Never understood the point of them other than to get over school wide information that the head had decided was important.
Still if Mr Gills was as bad as the comment suggests then I feel sure ridicule would have reverberated through the Academy corridors and classrooms and not just from the staff either!!!!!!
Mine certainly listened to what Mr Gill had to say. My childs concern was the younger years who are more easily influenced by their high ranking peers.