More than half of 2,000 people polled by MORI believed heads were good leaders. Parents were even more supportive, with 71 per cent saying school leadership is good and nearly half that it has improved. Local politicians and health service managers scored badly, backed by just 4 per cent of respondents. Civil servants fared even worse on 3 per cent. Doctors earned the respect of 58 per cent of people polled compared to 38 per cent for heads. Journalists, politicians and council officials received poor ratings.

The National College for School Leadership, which commissioned the survey, said it was a vote of confidence in heads but feared their work was still being undervalued.

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