What is Heads Count?
Whether you are new to headship or a long serving headteacher, you will recognise the demands of the role impact at professional and personal levels.
Heads count is a group of headteachers who are willing and available to invest in other headteachers.
Heads count recognises that all headteachers face crisis points when they need to talk freely about the situation they are handling, their own reactions and their choices for future action. Many headteachers have sought out their own network of informal support.
Heads Count is not intended to replace:
- existing family headteacher groups
- area headteacher groups
- induction cohorts
- individual networks of former and current colleagues.
Instead it can offer an alternative when a headteacher feels it appropriate.
Training
Those headteachers who have volunteered to be an active part of Heads count have elected to take part in a training programme. The training will offer insights and strategies for supporting colleagues whether they be colleagues in the same school or colleagues from within the heads’ community. We refer to those heads who offer their services as peer supporters.
It is our intention to offer more training to headteachers through the Heads count development in the hope that this would help sustain headteachers':
- resilience
- personal support strategies
- strategies for supporting others.
Accessing support
Each area has a link headteacher, should you wish to access support please contact a member from the steering group.
If you are unsure which headteacher to contact, or would welcome some help in identifying an appropriate person, please feel free to contact Hilary Craik on 07733 332665 or discuss with an Education Improvement Adviser at Lawn View House on 01623 434000.
Ongoing developments
The ongoing development of headteachers is monitored and managed by the Heads Count steering group. This group meets regularly each half term and is currently comprised of the following people:
Headteachers:
Adrienne Allcock (Walkeringham Primary)
Denise Bryant (Arnold View Primary)
Richard Cooper (Hawtonville Junior)
Kim Wakefield (Greenwood Primary)
Jeanne Wilson (William Lilley Infant and Nursery)
Local Authority:
Hilary Craik (Independent Adviser reporting to John True, Service Director Planning Support and Improvement)
