Critical incidents in the working lives of a group of primary deputy heads

Abstract

This article uses small-scale research based on critical incident analysis to throw light on the importance of the role of the deputy head in primary schools. It suggests that deputies are frequently left alone and exposed to manage potentially very serious situations, and that both aspiring deputies and those new in post need specific training. The incidents recorded by deputies in the research indicate some areas for training, and also that reflection on critical incidents can help to improve performance. The need for more research and better training for deputy heads is driven by the trend towards devolved leadership in a context of school improvement. The article considers why a reflective approach using critical incidents is valuable as a learning tool.