Turning around the fortunes of a struggling school is an unenviable task. And for many headteachers who do rise to the challenge, failure is not an option. According to the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, Brian Lightman, headteachers can face the axe if the school does not improve within just a few weeks.
Lightman claims that taking on a headship at a failing school is "career suicide". He also criticises politicians and inspectors for treating headteachers as "commodities you can throw away".
But what do you think? Are headships at struggling schools career kryptonite? What incentives should there be to attract talented heads to work in struggling schools? And how do we entice more teachers into leadership roles in some of the worst performing schools?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
