The accidental head: A qualitative study exploring the characteristics of happy, healthy and productive headteachers in independent schools in England

Whilst there is considerable research into the impact of educational leadership on pupil outcomes, less explored are the career characteristics headteachers need to effect and sustain that leadership long term. This study explores the career characteristics that underpin sustainable careers for headteachers. The sustainable career model provides the framework to identify the indicators of a sustainable career: happy, healthy, productive, and the means to analyse through the dynamic fit of person, context, and time. Twenty independent school headteachers in England were interviewed, and through reflexive thematic analysis, we developed three themes encapsulating key characteristics for a sustainable headteacher career. Discovering Headship showed how experiences prior to headship inspire and ready them for the position. Navigating Headship illustrates how headteachers navigate and orchestrate people within their contexts and identified the importance of belonging in professional networks. Sustaining a Headteacher Career identified the proactive self-management of health, recovery experiences, and a pupil-focused approach. The findings are discussed through the lens of the sustainable career model, and we offer a number of practical recommendations.