When it comes to handling crises, Ben Solly has certainly crammed more than his fair share into his seven years of headship. Here – at a time when all school leaders are in crisis management mode – he outlines his advice for managing challenging situations in schools


The life of a headteacher is a varied one. The scope of leadership requirements is extremely vast. Headteachers are required to be expert teachers, leaders in pedagogy. They are expected to be behaviour gurus, to provide inspirational leadership to local communities and deliver high levels of impact.

It is certainly true that no two days are the same in headship. This variety keeps us on our toes and ensures the job is never boring. However, the unpredictable nature of headship can weigh heavy on those in the position of leading school communities.

I am in my second headship position, my 16th year of teaching and my seventh year of being a head. I completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship in 2015 and, since 2019, have facilitated the latest iteration of this qualification for aspiring heads.

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