Headteacher Recruitment and Retention Working Group

Overview

The purpose of this group is to develop an action plan to help improve the recruitment and retention of headteachers in Scotland. 

The action plan will act as the driver to made sure the group achieves its goals. It will operate collaboratively and be innovative in its approach to its work. 

Group members commit to taking a collective approach. They will be responsible for ensuring that any activities the members’ individual organisations carry out on behalf of the group are completed according to the action plan. 

The group will take a long term perspective on the following key issues: 

• attractiveness and appeal of the headteacher role (including workload and sustaining headteachers in post)
• career journey
• data sharing
• system resilience

As well as these, the group will take into account supporting headteacher wellbeing, diversity in the teaching profession and the education workforce.  

The group will work with sector practitioners so the outcomes of the plan are informed by best practice.  

The working group reports to the Strategic Board for Teacher Education. It is chaired by the Association of Directors of Education Scotland. 

The group meets every quarter. The first meeting of the group was in January 2022. 

The Scottish Government provides secretariat support for the group.

Members

• Jen Crocket, Association of Directors of Education Scotland (Chair )

• Tim Wallace Association of Heads and Deputes Scotland

• Lindsey Stanley , ADES Personnel Network

• Shagufta Nasar, The Scottish Association of Minority Ethnic Educators 

• Stuart Bain COSLA

• Lesley Whelan, Education Scotland

• Archie Glen , Community Trade Union

• Andrene Bamford, Educational Institute of Scotland

• Victoria Smith, General Teaching Council for Scotland

• Nik James, NASUWT

• Graham Hutton , School Leaders Scotland

• Barbara Coupar, Scottish Catholic Education Service

• Stuart Robb, Scottish Government

• Seamus Searson, Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association

• Zoè Robertson, Scottish Council of Deans of Education 

• Aleksandra Jonca, Scottish Government

• David Leitch, Scottish Government

Publications