PaJeS helps Jewish schools defy national headteacher crisis

PaJeS (Partnerships for Jewish Schools) has hailed its bespoke leadership program as a success, with headteacher retention levels well above the national level three years after its programme was introduced.

Across the UK, almost a third of headteachers leave within three years of of appointment, often due to stress, burn-out and insufficient professional support. Jewish schools were not immune to the phenomenon, with post-pandemic surveys revealing that nearly half of all headteachers planned to leave their roles prematurely.

The PaJes programme, launched three years ago to specifically counter this early-quitting trend, has supported eighteen newly appointed headteachers with a bespoke programme since September 2022, in a bid to avoid the leadership crisis affecting schools nationally. Its scheme offered Jewish professionals a blend of group and individual coaching, one-to-one mentoring, bespoke guidance and opportunities to network and learn about leadership together.

Now, three years later, at a time when statistically only 67% of headteachers would still remain in post, the PaJes cohort has instead had an almost 90% retention rate, with just 2 out of 18 stepping down, compared with the five or six expected based on national averages.

Susy Stone, headteacher and governor support at PaJeS, said: “Strong, stable leadership is the cornerstone of successful schools. By supporting our new heads through the challenges of their first years, we are not only ensuring their wellbeing and resilience but also safeguarding the future of our schools and the students they educate. This is Jewish continuity in action.”