‘Can They Walk on Water?’: professional isolation and the secondary headteacher

There seems little doubt that, as far as leadership in general and headship in particular is concerned, the most senior role in an organisation is one which carries with it a degree of isolation, an isolation which is captured by the saying the headship is lonely. This article seeks to build upon this idea by analysing interview data obtained from 39 secondary headteachers in the North East of England. It suggests that the legislation of the last 15 years had been responsible for an increase in this isolation in terms of groups with which the headteacher traditionally has had strong links—other headteachers, the Local Education Authority, Boards of Governors and teaching staff. Such an effect is particularly unfortunate at a time when research would indicate that it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract teaching staff to the top post in schools and the article concludes by suggesting ways in which we might go about tackling the problem.