Deputy Headteacher

A deputy head teacher is the second most senior teacher in a school in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

The terms " deputy headmaster" and " deputy headmistress" used to be the standard throughout both the state and private sectors, with "deputy head teacher" usually being used only to refer to them collectively. In recent years, however, it has become usual to officially use the gender-neutral term in state schools. Nevertheless, the gender-specific terms are still in common use, and may be in more formal use in some schools, particularly the remaining state grammar schools. Independent schools usually still officially use the gender-specific terms and frequently use other titles for officials under the head teacher such as "second master".

While some deputy head teachers still retain some teaching responsibility, other than in very small schools, most of their duties are managerial and pastoral.

Most schools usually also have between 1 and 3 deputy heads (occasionally "depute-head" in Scotland) who act as assistants or subordinates to the head teacher.

A state primary school will usually have a single deputy head, although in some larger primary schools (over 500 pupils), there may be two deputy heads. They may not have a full time teaching role but have a range of whole school leadership responsibilities.Fact|date=July 2007

ee also

*Headteacher
*Schoolmaster

External links

* [http://www.ascl.org.uk/ Association of School and College Leaders]
* [http://www.naht.org.uk/ National Association of Head Teachers (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)]