What Is The Difference Between A Headteacher And Principal?

In this blog, you will learn:

• What a Headteacher does.
• What a Principal does.
• The difference between a Headteacher and a Principal.
• Where the latest Headteacher jobs are and how to apply for them.

According to Statista there were approximately 50,700 Headteachers and Principals working in the United Kingdom in the second quarter of 2024, compared with 43,500 in the previous quarter. But what is the difference between a Headteacher and a Principal? Is there actually a difference?

Throughout this blog, you’ll discover everything you need to know about Headteachers and school Principals including the responsibilities and key differences.

What is the difference between a Headteacher and Principal?

Headteachers have interchangeable names including Headmaster or Headmistress as well as Principal, however the role and the responsibilities are the same.

By definition a Headteacher is traditionally someone who is in charge of a school and is more commonly used in UK schools. The term Principal originally was used more in America, but over the last few years it has been used in the UK to refer to a leader or a person in charge of academies, multi-academy trusts, higher secondary or senior secondary schools.

Headteacher jobs are usually advertised more than Principals, and both can have deputy or assistant positions.

What is the role of a Headteacher and Principal?

The role of a Headteacher or a Principal is to provide leadership, direction and coordination within the school. Their main focus is to ensure the school runs efficiently and to promote the high quality teaching, learning and education for their pupils.

As school leaders, they work with colleagues, such as Deputy Headteachers, Teachers, Teaching Assistants and support staff, as well as local authorities, board of governors, academy trusts, and charities. Headteachers and Principals must act as leading professionals and role models for the communities they serve.

Headteachers and Principals typically work in an office environment, however some may occasionally get involved with classroom activities and teach pupils in the classroom. Being a Principal or Headteacher can have its challenges such as recruitment and retention as well as maintaining the wellbeing of students and school staff.

Headteacher jobs

If you’re searching for your next Headteacher position, why not take a look at the latest Headteacher jobs, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.

If you want to know how to get into teaching, or how to become a Headteacher fast, discover these top Headteacher interview questions and how to prepare for them.

Struggling to recruit a Headteacher?

As a specialist Headteacher recruitment agency, we support mainstream and SEND schools, Multi Academy Trusts, Alternative Provisions and Pupil Referral Units (PRU) with their recruitment needs. 

If you’re struggling to fill a Headteacher vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?

• North of the UK - Jamie Heath 
• South of the UK - Dane Matthews

Meet Jamie Heath

Who is Spencer Clarke Group?

Established in 2017, we’re a vibrant and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. 

We continually reimagine the recruitment process to challenge convention and defy expectations; from creating a better recruitment experience to remodelling employee engagement, we thrive off doing things differently and turning heads along the way. 

We operate in two sectors:

Private Sector

Public Sector 

In eleven specialisms:

Accountancy & Finance

Education & SEND

Construction, Trades & Labour

Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing

Housing

Corporate Functions & Business Support

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