What skills does a headteacher need?

A headteacher needs 26 essential skills including curriculum standards, financial management, education law, project management, budgetary principles. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace headteacher jobs?

The AI disruption score for headteacher is 51/100 (moderate risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

Manufacturing & ProductionProduction and specialised services managersISCO 1345

headteacher

Headteachers manage the day-to-day activities of an educational institution. They make decisions concerning admissions and are responsible for meeting curriculum standards, which facilitate academic development for the students. They manage staff, working closely with the different department heads, and evaluate the subject teachers in a timely manner in order to secure optimal class performance. They also ensure the school meets the national education requirements set by law and cooperate with local communities and governments.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (26)

curriculum standardscurriculum standardsThe governmental policies concerning educational curricula and the approved curricula from specific educational institutions.financial managementfinancial managementThe field of finance that concerns the practical process analysis and tools for designating financial resources. It encompasses the structure of businesses, the investment sources, and the value incre...education laweducation lawThe area of law and legislation that concerns education policies and the people working in the sector in an (inter)national context, such as teachers, students, and administrators.project managementproject managementThe discipline of project management, the activities which comprise this area and the variables implied in it, such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.budgetary principlesbudgetary principlesPrinciples of estimating and planning of forecasts for business activity, compile regular budget and reports.accounting techniquesaccounting techniquesThe techniques of recording and summarising business and financial transactions and analysing, verifying, and reporting the results.office softwareoffice softwareThe characteristics and functioning of software programs for office tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, email and database.electronic communicationelectronic communicationData communication performed through digital means such as computers, telephone or e-mail.accountingaccountingThe documentation and processing of data regarding financial activities.curriculum objectivescurriculum objectivesThe goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.education administrationeducation administrationThe processes related to the administrative areas of an education institution, its director, employees, and students.trace financial transactionstrace financial transactionsObserve, track and analyse financial transactions made in companies or in banks. Determine the validity of the transaction and check for suspicious or high-risk transactions in order to avoid mismanag...cooperate with education professionalscooperate with education professionalsCommunicate with teachers or other professionals working in education in order to identify needs and areas of improvement in education systems, and to establish a collaborative relationship.supervise educational staffsupervise educational staffMonitor and evaluate the actions of the educational staff such as teaching or research assistants and teachers and their methods. Mentor, train, and give advice to them if necessary.manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.provide education management supportprovide education management supportSupport the management of an education institution by directly assisting in the managerial duties or by providing information and guidance from your area of expertise to simplify the managerial tasks.develop organisational policiesdevelop organisational policiesDevelop and supervise the implementation of policies aimed at documenting and detailing the procedures for the operations of the organisation in the lights of its strategic planning.manage staffmanage staffManage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the wor...manage school budgetmanage school budgetConduct cost estimates and budget planning from an educational institution or school. Monitor the school budget, as well as costs and expenses. Report on the budget.maintain records of financial transactionsmaintain records of financial transactionsCollate all the financial transactions done in the daily operations of a business and record them in their respective accounts.assess studentsassess studentsEvaluate the students' (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weakne...write work-related reportswrite work-related reportsCompose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligib...manage enrolmentmanage enrolmentDecide on the number of available places and select pupils or students on the basis of set criteria and according to national legislation.communicate with youthcommunicate with youthUse verbal and non-verbal communication and communicate through writing, electronic means, or drawing. Adapt your communication to children and young people`s age, needs, characteristics, abilities, p...provide information on education financingprovide information on education financingProvide information to parents and students concerning tuition fees, student loans and financial support services.handle financial transactionshandle financial transactionsAdminister currencies, financial exchange activities, deposits as well as company and voucher payments. Prepare and manage guest accounts and take payments by cash, credit card and debit card.

Optional (26)

labour legislationlabour legislationLegislation, on a national or international level, that governs labour conditions in various fields between labour parties such as the government, employees, employers, and trade unions.funding methodsfunding methodsThe financial possibilities for funding projects such as the traditional ones, namely loans, venture capital, public or private grants up to alternative methods such as crowdfunding.contract lawcontract lawThe field of legal principles that govern written agreements between parties concerning the exchange of goods or services, including contractual obligations and termination.primary school proceduresprimary school proceduresThe inner workings of a primary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.secondary school proceduressecondary school proceduresThe inner workings of a secondary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.kindergarten school procedureskindergarten school proceduresThe inner workings of a kindergarten, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, policies, and regulations.provide information on school servicesprovide information on school servicesPresent information on the educational and support services of a school or university to students and their parents, such as career guidance services or offered courses.evaluate education programmesevaluate education programmesEvaluate ongoing training programmes and advise on potential optimisation.use different communication channelsuse different communication channelsMake use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.evaluate budgetsevaluate budgetsRead budget plans, analyse the expenditures and incomes planned during certain period, and provide judgement on their abidance to the general plans of the company or organism.identify education needsidentify education needsIdentify the needs of students, organisations and companies in terms of provision of education in order to aid in the development of curricula and education policies.develop learning curriculumdevelop learning curriculumDevelop and plan the learning goals and outcomes for education institutions, as well as the required teaching methods and potential education resources. Organise content, form, methods and technologie...promote education programmespromote education programmesPromote ongoing research into education and the development of new education programmes and policies in order to obtain support and funds, and to raise awareness.manage contractsmanage contractsNegotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, ...maintain contract administrationmaintain contract administrationKeep contracts up to date and organise them according to a classification system for future consultation.manage student admissionsmanage student admissionsAssess students’ applications and manage correspondence with them concerning their admission, or rejection, pursuant to the regulations of the school, university or other educational organisation. Thi...liaise with board membersliaise with board membersReport to the management, boards of directors and committees of an organisation.apply for government fundingapply for government fundingGather information on and apply for subsidies, grants, and other financing programmes provided by the government to small- and large-scale projects or organisations in various fields.analyse curriculumanalyse curriculumAnalyse the existing curricula of educational institutions and from government policy in order to identify gaps or issues, and to develop improvements.prepare syllabuses for vocational coursesprepare syllabuses for vocational coursesPrepare syllabuses for use in different kinds of vocational courses. Compile, adapt, and integrate important study subjects in a course to assure integral teaching programs.create a financial reportcreate a financial reportFinalise project accounting. Prepare an actual budget, compare the discrepancy between the planned and actual budget, and draw final conclusions.prepare examinations for vocational coursesprepare examinations for vocational coursesPrepare examinations that test both theoretical and practical understanding of the content and the procedures imparted during a course or teaching programme. Develop exams that assess the most importa...advise on teaching methodsadvise on teaching methodsAdvise education professionals on the proper adaptation of curricula in lesson plans, classroom management, professional conduct as a teacher, and other activities and methods related to teaching.build trustbuild trustExpress intentions and behaviour in a coherent and transparent manner, inviting reciprocity and establishing the grounds for a trusting and reliable connection between people and teams.work in vocational schoolwork in vocational schoolWork in a vocational school that instructs students in practical courses.lead inspectionslead inspectionsLead inspections and the protocol involved, such as introducing the inspection team, explaining the purpose of the inspection, performing the inspection, requesting documents and asking appropriate qu...