Women headteachers are seriously underrepresented in schools, according to The Future Leaders Trust.

Analysing government data, the charity explained that this means that around 1,500 women leaders are therefore “missing” from English schools.

This is all the more concerning for the fact that while women dominate the profession (74 per cent of teachers), the high number isn’t reciprocated at a headteacher level.

“Women heads can face discriminatory attitudes from governors who are expecting to employ a middle-aged man but they can also self-deselect,” said Kate Chhatwal, chief programme officer at The Future Leaders Trust.

“Those with young children often feel the job of a headteacher is incompatible with their family life or they may lack the necessary confidence.”

Baroness Sally Morgan, chair of the board of trustees at the charity and former chair of Ofsted. Explained that schools need to be led by the “best people”

“It’s a waste of talent to have exceptional women working beneath their full potential,” she continued.

“Too many challenging schools struggle to recruit a headteacher and this event will encourage more women to step forward confidently to play a part in improving our education system.”

In related news, Helen Fraser, chief executive of the Girls’ Day Trust, said that young girls need to have a mix of role models and “real models”.

“Senior leaders do provide inspiring role models, but for some young women it can seem quite daunting to reach that level of success," Ms Fraser elaborated.

"In my opinion, we also need access to role models who are just one or two steps ahead of where they are now. So as well as role models – high-flying women who’ve reached the top of their professions – we also aim to find real models; women at an earlier stage of their career paths, who can share their experiences.”