What stops women?
From a busy deputy position, it is natural to view the role of headteacher as incompatible with a healthy work-life balance. We often hear women reporting that they are so busy with their current job, and their home responsibilities, that they cannot imagine any spare capacity: they fear the big job will demand even more. A feature of WiSH courses is the panel of women headteachers, who speak openly about how they manage the balance. In contemporary society surely it is not too much to expect that a school leadership job can be combined with a family, without the additional job requirement of someone to shoulder all the domestic responsibilities?
Confidence is often an issue for women, who will negatively evaluate their own abilities; consequently it is common that they will not apply unless certain they can fulfil all job requirements. Similarly the recruitment process does not always take into account women’s preferred communication styles and their tendencies to undersell their achievements, nor the typical differences between men and women’s career paths.
Women will often favour a collaborative approach to leadership. Whilst this has many benefits, including the effective harnessing of talent within the school, and the ensuing buy-in to vision and strategy, it does prove counter-intuitive when thinking about – and selling yourself into - the big job. Knowing that you are achieving results with others can take the focus away from your own strengths, reinforcing any self-doubt.
Evidence suggests that women in general do feel less confident in their abilities than men, and consequently express less confidence. By communicating the collegiate approach, which not only feels more comfortable but is actually true, they can underplay their own achievements with serious implications for the recruiting panel’s assessment.
"Many excellent senior women school leaders find juggling family and work very demanding, however, if you wish to make a greater impact on the lives of children and their families and you believe in yourself, you can do it. Wholehearted for Headship will help you make that decision."
Pav Saunders, Headteacher, Fawbert & Barnards School.