Introduction

Succession planning is a challenge for current school leaders and governors. There is currently a shortage of suitable candidates applying for headship and the problem is likely to get worse in the next few years. Forty-five percent of England's headteachers, deputies and assistant heads are now aged over 50, so there will be a big exodus in the next 5-10 years. This will create a serious leadership succession problem.

What can we do, as serving headteachers, to ensure that there is a supply of well-qualified, suitably experienced school leaders for the future? Leadership succession is about developing leadership talent at all levels and as such requires more attention and focus by all schools.

This interactive guide looks at the importance of developing the next generation of school leaders, both for our own schools and the education system as a whole.