The role and tasks of the assistant head in state primary schools

Abstract

This study focuses on the need for a defined role for the Assistant Head of School. The absence of a clear definition of this role is hardly surprising when one considers the fact that the role of the Head of School too is constantly being redefined. This study investigates the opinions of those most deeply concerned with this problem, i.e. the assistant heads themselves. The 134 strong sample consists of all the assistant heads in State Primary Schools throughout the Maltese Islands. They voice their opinions by answering a self-administered questionnaire. It is interesting to note that although the majority of the respondents agree strongly that they are terribly overburdened with the quantity of tasks they are assigned daily, they are also concerned with the quality of the tasks they should be undertaking. The emerging picture is one of a host of thoroughly dedicated individuals with nothing short of a professional identity crisis. This research exercise attempts to portray their opinions with a view to establishing a framework for the long-awaited, formal definition of their role within the administrative echelons of the School.