Last updated 06:38, Sunday, 16 November 2008

CO-HEADS: Kate Waplington, left, and Michelle Sharpe

WITH the increasing demands on headteachers schools are finding it difficult to recruit new leaders when heads retire or move on.
This term Holy Family Catholic Primary School went one better and introduced one of Cumbria’s first co-headships.
Kate Waplington and Michelle Sharpe are trialling the job-share model for a year to make sure it is the right decision for the Barrow primary.
Nationally there are only about 40 permanent co-head partnerships.
Co-headships can help heads improve their work-life balance, and, with a growing number of heads taking early retirement, the model is seen as a method that could help combat head shortages.
Mrs Waplington has been Holy Family’s head for 14 years. She said: “I asked the governors if I could go part-time.
“It was just for a better work-life balance. It can be a very demanding job at times. A co-headship seemed like a possible solution.”
The governing body took advice from Cumbria County Council and the Catholic Diocese of Lancaster.
The governors decided that as long as a suitable co-head could be found they were prepared to try the arrangement rather than risk losing Mrs Waplington. Mrs Sharpe, who has taught at the school for 13 years, was appointed co-head of the school, which has 240 pupils aged three to 11.
Mrs Waplington is the head from Monday to Wednesday and Mrs Sharpe is the head on Thursday and Friday.
Mrs Sharpe teaches Year Five from Monday to Wednesday and Mrs Waplington is currently teaching a class on Thursdays.
Holy Family has an ethos of children learning and living together in a caring, family community.
Mrs Waplington said: “It’s going very well.
“This headship will work because we have shared values about what is important in a school.
“I think a benefit of the co-headship is the shared responsibility for decisions, and I think the collaboration can bring more creative decisions. It is not just one person’s point of view.”
Mrs Sharpe has actively pursued continuing professional development and had attended deputy headteacher courses.
Mrs Sharpe said: “It was a fantastic opportunity. I was very keen to stay at this school. It is a lovely school to work in. The first thing people say about Holy Family is what a caring school and how lovely the children are.
“The whole school is very collaborative. It is very interesting now to come in at a different angle.
“The co-headship is working well. We get on very well. We have been working together every day for 13 years.”
The heads liaise during the week and have a hand-over meeting every Wednesday.
“They work hard to overcome any challenges.”
Mrs Sharpe said: “At the moment we have too many diaries. We know the communication has to be as thorough as possible. It is the crossover time which is the challenge at the moment.”
Others in the teaching profession have been very keen to find out how the arrangement works.
Mrs Waplington said: “We have had a lot of questions. People are very interested. The local authority and the diocese will be talking to parents and governors to see if it is a model that works.
“It’s not a model for all schools.
“Some schools find it very difficult to recruit headteachers. It can at times be a lonely job.
“A shared headship can bring more collaborative and considered decisions.”
The governors say everyone at Holy Family works very closely and well together.
“They were delighted to promote Mrs Sharpe and say the transition was smooth as she was well versed in the dynamics of the school.”
Chair of governors, Ian Allington, said: “Although still very much in its early stages, both Kate and Michelle are coping well with their new roles.
“I’m sure the position will throw up some interesting challenges for all of us in the future, but with a wonderful staff, and support from the governors and parents - not forgetting the most important people, the pupils - I’m in no doubt the school will continue to thrive under Kate and Michelle’s management.
“As the old saying goes - two heads are better than one.”
A group of Year six pupils said: “They both put their brilliant ideas together and make this school a better place.
“They are caring and kind people who care about each and every pupil.”
The National College For School Leadership says it is important to understand the potential benefits and potential pitfalls of co-headships.
Benefits include: Retaining experienced heads, attracting new heads, continuity of leadership, more creative and collaborative leadership, leadership expertise beyond school, improved work-life balance.
Pitfalls include: Lack of support from governors and LA, staff and parental scepticism, concerns about compromised accountability and decision-making, negotiating contracts, problems with pay and pensions, meeting the school’s needs.
A Cumbria County Council spokesperson said: “We welcome the decision by the Holy Family Catholic Primary School to set up a co-headship.
“We encourage schools to continually review their arrangements for leadership including consideration of new and different ways of formulating that leadership.”