Best Practice

How headteachers can build positive pupil relationships

When we become headteacher, our relationship with the pupils can suffer. Andrew Marsh introduces his 10 golden rules to help headteachers maintain strong relationships with pupils as part of a positive school culture
Rule number 6: Try at least once a day to spend time with the children while they are working in the classroom - Adobe Stock

When I became a headteacher, I vowed never to forget that, first and foremost, I was still a teacher.

I knew I would see the children less often than before, but I wanted to maintain as close a relationship with them as possible. I didn’t want to lose touch with the parts of the job that I loved.

It soon became apparent, though, that maintaining this relationship was more than just a personal choice – it was also going to be central to the success of my leadership.

You see, the relationship between a headteacher and their pupils is akin to the relationship between Elliot and his friend ET. In the film, the two characters create such a bond that Elliot begins to reflect the personality of his friend – the same is true of the children in a school when they have a headteacher who celebrates their achievements and values their contributions.

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