Talented leaders

The talented leaders programme (£13m for 100 head teachers over three years, including relocation allowances) is one of those schemes that sounds good, but is almost certain to fall far short of expectations.

First, any head teachers with a track record of turning schools around are already well placed in the market to move to other challenging schools, so it's nothing new. Second, the evidence to date is that most head teachers in this position want to spread their expertise – build their empire – by federation, sponsoring, or becoming LLEs or NLEs. And third, "aspiring head teachers" might be very good indeed, but, for obvious reasons, they have no track record.

Bluntly, turning schools around is hard not easy, and while there are standards and well-known tactics, strategies and approaches, there are no guarantees that any of them will work in a new situation. And many of us have seen new head teachers, even head teachers in their second or third headship, having a really tough time in a new school. As an education director 10 years ago, it was always one of my "watch and support" priorities when a new head teacher arrived in a school with an ingrained culture. It is just very, very difficult.

That's not to decry the aim – getting the best leaders is really important. But assuming that a head teacher, however good, will be able and willing to relocate, and then to turn around their own school while acting as a leader on a broader canvas, is placing a huge burden on them. I expect the take-up to be low, and, like Teach First, to see many of the head teachers not in post after their three years are up.