I have worked for five heads during a career lasting more than 30 years, and for the past eight I have been a head myself. I am now studying the effects of school leadership on the mental well-being of headteachers. My plan is to send questionnaires to heads who identify themselves as having been affected by their position in terms of their mental well-being. Some of these heads I would later wish to interview. If you are a head or know someone who has suffered a “burn-out” or other mental health issues, I would like to hear from you. I can be contacted at headteacher.research@hotmail.co.uk. The purpose of this research is to be able to make recommendations for supporting and training heads and to look at ways of protecting people.

Jonathan M. Block, Retired head, PhD research student and trainee inspector.