Heads are missing out on training opportunities because of heavy workloads

Headteachers are not able to go out on training opportunities as a result of heavy workloads and funding shortages, research shows.

According to a study by CooperGibson Research on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE), budget constraints, staff shortages and heavy workloads are preventing headteachers from accessing training.

A number of multi-academy trusts and teaching school alliances involved in the research stated that the cost of accessing external courses was forcing them to work on developing new ways to deliver training in-house instead.

Researchers suggested a number of potential improvements to current leadership development programmes, such as adapting the content to keep up with the evolving demands of leadership roles in education and the “fast-paced” changes to national policy and the curriculum.

Researchers also recommended that more collaborative approaches to working and learning were introduced.

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