According to recent analysis from the government, an alarming one-third of secondary school headteachers are departing from their roles within only three years of their appointment. This information has surfaced through new retention statistics published by the Department for Education (DfE).
The newly released data indicates a concerning trend where headteachers are less likely to remain in their position after four years compared to previous years, although there has been a slight increase in the number of leaders who stay in their roles for one or two years.
The DfE’s report, available through their official statistics, tracks the percentage of headteachers who began their roles between 2019 and 2023 and are still in those posts, or have moved up to a more senior position, as of 2024.
It’s important to note that the DfE specified that their workforce census does not account for leaders who are centrally employed by trusts. Hence, those who transition from leadership roles to these positions are statistically counted as lost to retention.
In examining the teacher pension scheme data, the findings indicate that the number of headteachers still serving but not reflected in the workforce census has seen an uptick in recent years. This factor has significantly affected the trends noted in the DfE’s release.
1. One in Three Secondary Heads Depart Within Three Years
The latest report reveals a worrying statistic: only 64.7% of secondary headteachers who took on their roles in 2021 remained in the same position or advanced to a more senior role by 2024. This marks a decline from 72.6% retention for heads appointed in 2020, representing the lowest retention rate recorded since 2011.
Thus, 35.3% of headteachers appointed in 2021 either resigned or were elevated to a trust position within three years. The data also indicates a decrease in retention rates after four years, yet there has been a marginal increase in the number of leaders remaining for five years.
Interestingly, retention rates for one-year (85.6%) and two-year (78.2%) tenures have improved, though this improvement follows a significant drop for those who started in 2021.
For primary school headteachers who commenced their roles in 2023, the retention rate after one year stands at a robust 89.7%, which is a slight increase from 88.9% for those who started in 2022. There has also been a minor enhancement in the two-year retention metrics, although there were small declines in three or four-year retention rates, with five-year statistics staying the same.
2. Primary Heads Show Stronger Retention Rates
The latest data derived from the 2024 school workforce census highlights that leaders in primary schools exhibit significantly higher retention rates when compared to their secondary counterparts.
Retention after three years for primary heads stands at 79.3%, in stark contrast to 64.7% for secondary heads.
3. Overall Retention Rates Remain Below 2010 Standards
The DfE has pointed out that overall retention rates for leaders in state schools have been on a downward trend since 2010. Despite recent fluctuations, the percentage of secondary heads still in their roles, or at a higher level, dropped to 85.6% in 2024, down from 91.2% a mere decade ago.
The one-year retention rate among secondary heads showcased some variations over the years, momentarily peaking in 2021 during the pandemic at 90.2%, but then falling to 83.9% in 2022. Fortunately, it has been recovering over the subsequent two years.
Data indicates a more significant positive movement in two-year retention rates, which increased by 5.6 percentage points recently, although it too remains below 2010 rates.
On the other hand, retention rates for primary heads have displayed a more stable trajectory over time.
4. Stability in Deputy Head Retention
Retention figures for deputy heads at both primary and secondary levels have remained relatively solid throughout the years. Almost 90% of deputy heads continue in their roles or progress to higher positions after one year, while around 80% maintain their positions after three years.
5. Longer-Term Retention is Superior at Primary Level
Nevertheless, when it comes to long-term retention, primary school deputy heads outperform those at secondary schools significantly. A commendable 80.3% of primary deputies remain in their roles or progress to higher positions after three years, compared to just 74.8% among their secondary counterparts.
Furthermore, over seven in ten (73.7%) primary deputy headteachers maintain their positions or advance after five years, in contrast to only two-thirds (66.7%) of secondary deputy heads.
