Inspectorate Estyn said that while headteachers keep appropriate records of what they have achieved, far fewer use the Welsh government’s Leadership Standards to evaluate how well their objectives are being met.
According to Estyn – which visited 20 random schools in making its new report – “only a few” headteachers use the standards to challenge themselves robustly and help identify the skills relevant to their development.
Chief inspector Meilyr Rowlands said: “Fostering and developing current and future school leaders is vital if we are to improve Welsh education. The Leadership Standards provide a framework for skills development as well as underpinning the effective performance management of school leaders.
“However, the standards do not convey high enough expectations of leaders nor set out clearly enough how leaders should behave. The Welsh government needs to sharpen the focus of the Leadership Standards and headteachers need to reflect more deeply during their performance reviews on how they apply the standards.
“These improvements will also help governors hold headteachers to account more effectively.”
Headteachers must demonstrate that they meet the Leadership Standards, which were published in 2011 and consist of six themes which professionals should use to identify areas for improving their skills. The standards form part of a headteacher’s annual performance management that is carried out by a panel of governors and local authority staff.
In nearly all the schools visited by Estyn, headteachers identified their own professional development needs accurately in broad terms. However, most said that finding suitable professional development opportunities to address these needs is challenging and time-consuming. Most often, they work in local headteacher networks to share effective practice.
The report contains a number of recommendations for headteachers and encourages them to reflect in writing on how well they have met the Leadership Standards, as well as their performance management objectives.
Rob Williams, director of policy at NAHT Cymru, said it was encouraging that nearly all the heads identified their own professional development needs accurately.
“The Welsh government, inspectors and governors have to work effectively together to make sure that all headteachers are being held to account constructively and rewarded fairly for the important and challenging job that they do,” he added.
A spokesman for the Welsh government said the effective provision for developing leadership skills was part of its new review of professional standards.