School heads feeling the pressure

Head teachers are increasingly feeling the pressure of their profession

Headteachers in Wales have warned of the mounting pressure they are under ahead of their annual conference.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) Cymru is expecting a record number of delegates at the event with more than 100 due to attend.

The union said this showed the huge pressure heads are under with so many set to use the conference as a forum to express their views on the profession.

Education Minister Jane Hutt will be at the event to answer their concerns.

As part of the one-day event at the Towers Hotel in Swansea, incoming NAHT president Cheryl Wheldon will talk about the issue of school leaders' excessive workloads in her conference address the issue in her address to conference.

"We've got more than 100 delegates this year and that is the most we've ever had," explained the union's acting director Iwan Guy.

"I think that shows the pressure that head teachers are under and that they are looking for a forum to express how they feel which is what the conference will provide them with.

We like Jane Hutt as a minister and we want to work with her and want her to succeed Iwan Guy - NAHT

"Some headteachers, especially the younger heads, can feel isolated and this conference gives them a chance to get together and realises that they are not on their own."

Mr Guy explained how much of the pressure was being generated by the changing role both primary and secondary heads and their deputies find themselves taking up.

His said primary school leaders often found themselves in very difficult positions having to cover for teachers who need to prepare for their lessons.

"For example, 10 per cent of a primary school teacher's time is meant to spent carrying out what they call PPA - planning, preparation and assessment - ready for their lessons," he explained.

"In many cases, primary heads are undertaking the cover themselves and that is totally unacceptable."

However, the union hopes the presence of Ms Hutt at the conference will go a long way to addressing some of the profession's concerns.

"We like Jane Hutt as a minister and we want to work with her and want her to succeed," explained Mr Guy.

"We're not antagonistic and we want to work with her and are very grateful that she is taking the time to come along to our conference and answer our questions."

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