Exclusive:Number of head teachers running multiple Scottish schools has soared by three-quarters

Fears over impact for teaching staff who are ‘overstretched and under-resourced’

The number of Scottish head teachers being asked to take charge of more than one school has soared by 75 per cent since 2010.

New figures show there were 206 head teachers juggling leadership duties between at least two schools in Scotland last year.

It represents a jump of 45 per cent compared to the 142 head teachers running more than one school in 2013, and a rise of almost 75 per cent on the 118 recorded in 2010.

More than one in ten primary school head teachers now lead multiple schools, compared to one in 20 when the SNP came to power in 2007.

Conservative education spokesman Stephen Kerr raised concerns over the impact on “overstretched and under-resourced” staff in Scotland’s schools, who he said were now at “breaking point”.

Shared head teachers have also often been appointed in rural areas where there have been recruitment challenges. The data has been released by the Scottish Government under Freedom of Information laws.

The vast majority of the head teachers running more than one school are in the primary sector. There were 179 primary head teachers in this position last year, compared to 135 in 2013, although the number has remained relatively stable in the past five years, fluctuating slightly.

But the figures also show there are now four head teachers in charge of more than one secondary school in Scotland, the highest number in at least ten years.

One of these head teachers is David Mitchell, the award-winning head of Dunoon Grammar School, who became joint head at Campbeltown Grammar School last year.

For the past two years, there have also been seven head teachers running more than one special school, a number that has not been topped in a decade at least.

And 16 heads were running more than one school in different sectors last year, such as one primary and one secondary.

This was a decrease from 20 in 2021, but compares to five in 2013 and eight in both 2014 and 2015.

The overall number of head teachers running more than one school for all sectors in 2022 was 206, which was down by two compared to 2021, but higher than any other year in the statistics.

Mr Kerr, a Central Scotland MSP, said: “Scotland’s teachers have suffered 16 years of neglect under this SNP Government. Our teachers are overstretched and under-resourced, while increased classroom bureaucracy has left staff at breaking point with over 200 head teachers working in multiple schools.

“This flies in the face of the claim that education is the SNP’s top priority, particularly against the backdrop of falling teacher numbers, a widening attainment gap and constant delay to the reform that is so desperately needed.”

Greg Dempster, general secretary of the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS), said each case had to be judged on its own merits.

"There has been a definite increase in multi-school headships over the years and there is often another proposal being looked at somewhere around the country,” he said.

"These arrangements mostly come about because of difficulty attracting applicants for headship in rural areas and, as such, are a practical response by local authorities who are trying to ensure schools can continue to operate – rather than a route chosen for educational reasons.

"AHDS is not opposed to multi-school headships, but believes that each needs to be looked at on its own merits and staffed appropriately.

"Having multiple schools under one headteacher cannot be delivered as a cost-saving exercise as there may be a requirement for other management posts in each school and to cover additional costs such as travel between establishments.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of teachers and school leadership teams, based on local needs and circumstances.

“The Scottish Government is providing councils with £145.5 million in this year's budget to protect increased teacher numbers. Where this is not being delivered by a local authority, we will withhold or recoup funding given for this purpose. We are working with local authorities to monitor progress.

“The Scottish Government recognises and appreciates the hard work of our teachers and school leaders. Our determination to support them led to an historic pay deal which now means that Scottish classroom teachers, on the main-grade scale, are the best paid in the UK.

“The Education Secretary today chaired the first meeting of the Head Teacher Taskforce as the Scottish Government continues to ensure engagement with our teachers is at the heart of our work.”