Attack on mandatory leadership qualification for Scottish headteachers

The First Minister said the qualification, which is being developed by the independent Scottish College for Educational Leadership, would help ensure schools have "excellent leadership".

However, a number of organisations have now warned it might have the unintended consequence of reducing the number of potential headteachers at a time when there is already a shortage.

The Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS), which represents primary headteachers, warned there were fewer applicants for headteacher vacancies and local authorities often had to re-advertise posts.

A written submission to Holyrood's education committee said: "This shortage of headteacher applicants is unlikely to be improved upon by putting more hurdles in the way of application for headship.

"So while we support the efforts to provide good training and development to prospective headteachers other efforts will be required to reduce the

disincentives to pursue the role.

"Without such action we will risk reaching a point where there are no suitable candidates in some areas. If this came to pass with the legal obligation to only appoint those with the qualification, what then?"

AHDS said exemptions could be made for promoted staff who had been working effectively as assistant headteachers. The organisation also warned that the cost of the qualification was £1,000.

The submission added: "This seems wholly unreasonable in the circumstances. Not only does it further reduce the apparently inadequate financial incentives to take on headship but it may, when combined with the study requirements, raise equality concerns. Will there be equality of access for single parents, sole earners and possible candidates living in different parts of Scotland."

The Association of Directors of Education Scotland (Ades) also issued a warning over the new policy.

Its submission states: "We support the principle of all headteachers being well qualified in their roles. However, given the shortage of candidates for vacancies across Scotland and the difficulties being experienced in making headteacher appointments..... a phased introduction over a longer time scale is required before the qualification becomes mandatory.

"Careful consideration should be given to the local authority’s frequent need to cover temporary, short-term or unplanned cover for headteachers in the absence of staff who do not hold the qualification and to the implications of this."

Ades also warned that the Scottish College for Educational Leadership, had no representation from council employers or education directors.

In a separate submission the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (Scis) also rejected the need for all headteacher to have the qualification.

Scis said: "Making it a requirement for independent school headteachers in Scotland to have the qualification would impose a restriction on schools which are independent of the state sector, operating according to their own curriculum and funded entirely by fee paying parents.

"The qualifications, experience and attributes of the headteacher..... should remain strictly a matter for independent governing boards to determine. The proposal would certainly be a barrier to recruitment from outside Scotland."

Scis said it would be "unreasonable" to expect private schools to meet the requirements of the new qualification describing the rationale as "unclear" and the potential negative impact as "significant".

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Head teachers are crucial. By introducing a new qualification for headship we are ensuring prospective candidates have a high quality and supportive professional learning opportunity to prepare them for it. We believe a well supported route to becoming a Head Teacher will make the post more attractive, helping us to get the right leadership in the right place across all our schools.”