According to latest figures from the Association of School and College Leaders
(ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) the percentage of women taking up head teacher posts in the secondary sector during 2008/09 was 44 per cent.
In 2007/08 the level was just 31 per cent. The latest figures also compare favourably with the five-year average of 37 per cent.
In their joint annual labour market survey the ASCL and NAHT add that it is too early to say whether this increase constitutes a trend.
The survey also revealed that head teacher vacancies are decreasing. During 2008/09, 26 per cent of advertised posts in primary schools remained unfilled, compared to 32 per cent the previous year. There was a six per cent drop in unfilled vacancies among secondary schools during the same period and an 11 per cent fall in unfilled vacancies in the special school sector.
Steve Munby, chief executive of the National College of Leadership in Schools and Children's Services said: "I'm encouraged to see that more women are being appointed to headship in the secondary sector. I'm also pleased that the number of unfilled headship vacancies is down on last year."
However he warned that head teachers were facing "unprecedented times".
Last weekend Children's Secretary Ed Balls said that £2bn could be shaved off the schools budget and proposed that schools consider sharing a head teacher to cut down on costs.
