Most Scottish headteachers work more than 50 hours a week and worry about the impact the job has on their home life, a new study shows.

The long hours and emotionally demanding nature of school leadership has been highlighted by research commissioned by the Scottish Government.

Academics from the universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cambridge found some 66% of heads worked more than 50 hours a week, while nearly one-quarter worked more than 60 hours.

Their most common concern was managing their work/life balance, with many working at home in the evenings and at weekends.

The demanding nature of headship was a concern for 70% of those surveyed, while a further 72% said “public grading of school performance” was a concern.

Some 60% said the possibility of being exposed to litigation was another worrying issue, while the limited influence over recruitment and dismissals was a concern for 53%.

Among the report’s recommendations was the call for increased headteacher autonomy “instead of constant downwards accountability pressures and upwards compliance”. The report also called for more support.

Recruitment and Retention of Headteachers in Scotland was commissioned in December 2007 amid widespread concern over the lack of high-quality candidates applying for leadership roles.

Unions argue that the increasing bureaucracy of the jobs, heavy workload, low pay compared to counterparts in England and restructuring by local authorities have contributed to the shortage.

In the past, headteachers and deputes were paid on a sliding scale dependent on the size of the school roll, but a much more complex arrangement now takes into account factors such as the number of pupils on free school meals, staff numbers and health and safety responsibilities.

The result is that there is a confused career structure which can mean that, in some cases, the deputy head of a large primary school could earn more than a headteacher in a neighbouring, but smaller, school.

Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “For all teachers – and in particular headteachers – the role can at times be emotionally demanding and this report highlights the pressure they experience.

“We need to ensure they are properly supported and developed to help them thrive and encourage more teachers to see the benefits senior positions offer.”

Ms Hyslop said a more flexible training route to headship will ensure there is no national shortage of qualified applicants for leadership posts in future.

Greg Dempster, general secretary of the Association of Headteachers and Deputies in Scotland, which represents primary heads, welcomed the report and said officials would be studying its recommendations.

Ken Cunningham, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, representing the secondary sector, added: “The report highlights genuine concerns and it is important that action is now taken.”

Liz Smith, education spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservative party, also welcomed the report.

“This confirms exactly what we have been saying for a long time – namely that headteachers across Scotland would like to have far more control over the running of their own schools,” she said.

“Only 20% of headteachers questioned feel that they have a considerable degree of autonomy when it comes to major decisions and one-third feel they have very little at all. It is time to give schools back to our headteachers.”