Headteacher Isolation

🤔 Headteachers, do you ever experience isolation in your role?

Research* focused on headteacher isolation in UK schools highlights several key findings:

Headteachers in both rural and urban settings report feelings of isolation and loneliness due to the weight of responsibility, limited peer support, and increased accountability demands.

The issue is worsened in rural and coastal schools, where resources, opportunities for professional development, and collegial networks are scarce, contributing to a heightened sense of professional isolation.

Isolation can negatively impact decision-making, job satisfaction, and wellbeing.

Studies indicate that isolation can also affect leadership effectiveness, resilience, and retention, with some headteachers considering leaving the profession as a result of prolonged isolation and stress.

🌻 However, supportive interventions such as coaching, mentoring, and establishing professional learning communities are shown to help reduce these negative effects, foster collaboration, and improve retention.

---------

🌻 That's why 'Performance, Resilience and Support' is coming to #Devon this academic year. It's a three-day programme which combines a support network with coaching, mentoring and taught content to enable leaders to boost performance and strengthen resilience.

🌻 PRS is already supporting 90+ heads in Oxfordshire (where the programme is oversubscribed for 2026).

🌻 Three days of training and support:

4th Nov 2025 | 24th Feb 2026 | 22nd June 2026

🌻 Share real challenges without fear of judgment

🌻 Problem-solve with peers who truly ‘get it’

🌻 Learn from different perspectives outside your own trust or school

🌻 Strengthen resilience and leadership strategies for the long haul

📍 Mill House Retreats, Tiverton

🌻 Maximum of 10 participants

🌻 £530 for all three retreat-style days (including lunch and refreshments)

At only £177 a day, this is great value for reducing your isolation and building your resilience as a school leader.

👉 Tickets now live: Book here

References:

*Ovenden-Hope, T. and Passy, R. (2019) 'Educational Isolation: a challenge for schools in England', Plymouth: Plymouth Marjon University and University of Plymouth