More Female Heads Than Men

11 September 2008

The General Teaching Council for Wales’ annual statistics digest has revealed for the third year running that the number of female headteachers continues to increase and there are more women in the post than men.

The number of female headteachers has risen from 897 in 2007 to 919 and 52.5% of heads are female. Despite the broadly equal gender split among headteachers overall, in secondary schools men dominate headships with 84% being male.

The digest shows that the trend continues for most headteachers to be 50+ in age (65% of the total number of heads). However, this statistic is not new and has always been the case among headteachers. Before embarking and undertaking headship, teachers need to build experience and complete the national professional qualification for headship (NPQH), which the statistics on headteachers’ age reflect.

The NPQH is held by 436 of headteachers with more females holding it at 251 compared to 185 men. NPQH is for aspiring heads and it is mandatory to hold and NPQH will ensure there are sufficient high quality heads in the profession in the future.

Speaking on what the statistical data on headteachers reveals, Hayden Llewellyn, GTCW deputy chief executive said: “The data shows that headteachers continue to be drawn from the most experienced in the profession. This has always been the case and parents and teachers would expect nothing less. The numbers completing and working their way towards achieving the NPQH show that those coming through the profession are preparing themselves to step up when senior posts become available.”