Challenges faced by school leaders in maintaining the right work-life balance : an analysis of the lived experiences of six Maltese heads of primary schools

Abstract

Leading a school in the twenty-first century is a challenging and demanding role. The head of school must navigate multiple responsibilities, balancing the expectations of various stakeholders while meeting targets, ensuring accountability, and adapting to ongoing changes in education policies and reforms. These create a situation of constant pressure, leading to emotional exhaustion. Additionally, school heads often find themselves managing conflicts among staff, students, and parents while ensuring the well-being of the entire school community is looked after and maintained, often at the expense of their well-being and health. This research study explores the lived lives of six Maltese heads of primary schools from state and church schools across different geographic locations in Malta. It examines the challenges they face, the stress caused by their workload, the impact of technology advancements, and the rapid social and economic changes in society, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this study investigates how school leaders manage their work-life balance, reflecting on instances when work overshadows their personal lives and how they address this issue. The findings indicate that achieving a perfect balance between work and personal life is extremely challenging, as the demands of school leadership require significant time commitment. Despite Malta’s efforts to enhance well-being through various policies, initiatives, and professional development opportunities, the study emphasises the urgent need for further action to better support school leaders' well-being.