The performance management meeting with the head should be a place where I
discuss my individual needs and issues such as my career development.
Respondents from all three groups suggested an important role for 'reward' in encouraging
leadership talent retention in their schools. The notion of 'reward' was expressed by heads
(n=14) in terms of financial and organisational incentives that included protected non-contact
time, internal promotion and personal appreciation. Some heads (n=6) referred to teaching
and learning responsibility posts (TLRs) as having been used to retain leadership talent.
Middle leaders (n=39) and classroom teachers (n= 47) shared heads notions of 'reward' as
important in leadership talent retention, frequently expressing the same financial and
organisational incentives as heads. In contrast to heads, some middle leaders' and classroom
teachers' statements linked access to 'CPD' as indicative of a reward, and linked personal
appreciation and receiving thanks to the notion of feeling valued. Sometimes overlapping
with responses framed as 'working environment', some middle leaders and classroom teacher
statements identified being trusted by the head and feeling that internal promotion was
possible as 'reward' factors. In these terms, all three respondent groups identified internal
promotion as strongly indicative of 'reward'. For example, a classroom teacher from a
secondary school wrote:
Feeling valued, trusted and supported is the key to retention. If there is a history of
promoting staff who show leadership talent then this encourages me and it will
encourage others.
In addition to the use of TLRs to encourage retention, some heads (n=9) and middle leaders
(n=28) specifically referred to 'post creation' assisted by a rotation of roles as a useful means
to indicate new opportunities and new reasons to remain at the school.
As in the focus group phase, respondents from all three groups suggested an important role
for 'work environment' in encouraging leadership talent retention in their schools. Often
relating responses to job satisfaction and motivation, some heads referred to a 'work
environment' to retain leadership talent as one that included shared responsibility, innovation
and good personal relationships. Again reflecting responses in the focus group phase, some
heads suggested the importance of a good work-life balance, a sense of fun and the positive
influence of a successful school. Some middle leaders shared these ideas and also emphasised
the importance of children who were willing to learn and the efficacy of linking leadership
roles to individual interests. Many classroom teachers saw the ideal working environment
for the retention of leadership talent as one in which good teamwork and the sharing of
expertise were emphasised.
Questionnaire: How might the local authority become more involved in the
retention of leadership talent within your school?
Table 2 shows the perceptions of heads, middle leaders and classroom teachers as to how the
LA might become involved in the retention of leadership talent within their schools. Amongst
the respondent heads, middle leaders and classroom teachers, 44 saw 'no role' for the local
authority, suggesting that this was not necessary and in some cases not welcome. Their main
concern was that LA officers were insufficiently acquainted with individual school contexts
and dynamics to be effective in actions aimed at retaining their leadership talent. Several