One in four schools struggled to find suitable headteacher, study finds

Specialist schools particularly struggled to find the right leader, a report found

A study has found that 25 per cent of schools struggled to find a new headteacher (Getty/iStock)

A new report reveals one in four schools seeking a headteacher at the start of the academic year struggled to fill the post by Christmas.

Of state schools advertising in September, 27 per cent had to re-advertise the role by the festive period.

Professor John Howson of Oxford Teacher Services found over 400 state schools in England advertised a headteacher vacancy between August and December 2025.

Special schools faced particular challenges, with one in five (20 per cent) headteacher vacancies requiring re-advertisement after initial efforts.

This situation emerges as the government prepares to publish its delayed schools white paper in 2026, outlining reforms for the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.

400 state schools in England advertised a headteacher vacancy between August and December 2025 (Getty Images)

“The problems recruiting staff for special schools are often overlooked when the Send crisis is discussed, and deserves more attention from policymakers,” Prof Howson concluded.

Roman Catholic schools also were more likely to have to readvertise headteacher posts.

Of the 436 headteacher vacancies the report recorded between August and Christmas, 299 were in primary schools.

Of the 91 secondary schools that advertised, half (45) of those that had published a starting salary offered more than £100,000.

School leaders union NAHT warned last month primary school headteachers are increasingly leaving their jobs within five years as they face demands that “are simply too much”.

When schools struggle to find a head, it can create “enormous instability” for teachers and pupils, general secretary Paul Whiteman said at the time.

The Association of School and College Leaders has also warned the new Ofsted inspection system, which came in in November, will be worse for headteacher wellbeing.

Schools have also been facing a classroom teacher shortage crisis since the pandemic.

The Government has pledged an additional 6,500 teachers by the end of parliament to tackle this.

The number of people starting teacher training increased by more than 10% this September.