'Champions league of heads' to be sent to schools in need
High-performing headteachers will be asked to work in schools that need new leaders, but have previously struggled attracting top teaching talent.
Schools minister David Laws believes this "champions league" of heads will help turn struggling schools around, but he accepts that in order to set it up, the jobs will have to be rewarded with better pay and relocation packages.
Speaking at the North of England Education Conference in Nottingham, he explained around 100 heads would be needed to make the elite pool work and they would be sent to the schools where their particular set of skills would be the most effective.
Only the day before, Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw told the same conference he was concerned there was an unequal spread of quality teachers in the UK, while a recent report from the education watchdog highlighted that seaside towns and remote locations have a dearth of classroom talent.
In response, Mr Laws said: "It is about helping schools who want a new outstanding head to find one, providing support to ambitious and aspiring leaders who want to make a real difference by taking on a new challenge and getting outstanding leaders to the areas of the country where that talent can have the biggest impact."
Speaking about the idea, the head of the Association of School and College Leaders Brian Lightman said the correct spread of teachers was one of the most important issues in education and it was good to see the government is working to take action.
He explained the current climate often discourages good school leaders from working where they are most needed.
However, Dr Mary Bousted, Association of School and Lecturers head, said the plan as it is will face "huge" challenges and rather than "parachuting" outsiders into struggling schools, the coalition should focus on supporting these establishments to develop their own effective leaders.
As someone who has been looking for a teaching job in London or the south east, would you move further afield for better pay? Do you think this is a good idea?
