There is an activity where students are asked to draw “what a scientist looks like”. The response is generally an old White man in a lab coat with wild hair shaking test tubes while shouting “Eureka”. The result leads nicely to a discussion about stereotypes and diversity in science.
What if we apply the same principle of investigation to: “What does a headteacher look like?”
A search engine charged with that task will give you a selection of images, male and female, posing next to billboards, gardens, desks and the like.
There are many permutations of this investigation. For example, “what does a headteacher in a challenging school look like?” or indeed a free school or a grammar school? This shifts the images to more male faces. And an “outstanding/executive headteacher” search brings more mature results.
Register now, read forever
Thank you for visiting Headteacher Update and reading some of our content for professionals in primary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.
What's included:
-
Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcasts
-
New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday
Already have an account? Sign in here