More than a thousand head and deputy head teachers are leaving the profession each year because of increased pressure at work.
That's the stark warning issued by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), who said that many of these school leaders were leaving without a pension and with no job to fall back on.
The union blames the long-hours suffered by heads and deputies, about half of which are working at least 60 hours a week.
NAHT General Secretary Mick Brooks is urging the Government to look closely at easing the burden on school leadership.
Mr Brooks also highlighted the difficulty in finding applicants for school leadership roles.
"We are down to three or four applicants on average for primary schools and special schools and about six for secondary schools.
"There aren't the necessary number of people applying and sometimes schools are not appointing anybody, or in desperation they are appointing the wrong person," he said.
He added: "In some cases, nobody is applying. It's very difficult for schools in these circumstances with hard to reach children and hard to reach parents.
"But it's not just these schools that are struggling - those with good reputations are having problems too."
That's the stark warning issued by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), who said that many of these school leaders were leaving without a pension and with no job to fall back on.
The union blames the long-hours suffered by heads and deputies, about half of which are working at least 60 hours a week.
NAHT General Secretary Mick Brooks is urging the Government to look closely at easing the burden on school leadership.
Mr Brooks also highlighted the difficulty in finding applicants for school leadership roles.
"We are down to three or four applicants on average for primary schools and special schools and about six for secondary schools.
"There aren't the necessary number of people applying and sometimes schools are not appointing anybody, or in desperation they are appointing the wrong person," he said.
He added: "In some cases, nobody is applying. It's very difficult for schools in these circumstances with hard to reach children and hard to reach parents.
"But it's not just these schools that are struggling - those with good reputations are having problems too."
