SCHOOLS across Swindon are facing potential problems because the majority of headteachers will retire within the next decade.

The borough, like the rest of the country, is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit headteachers because of the immense pressure that comes with running a school.

To compound the problem, about 63 per cent of headteachers will reach retirement age 65 in the next 10 years.

But not all headteachers stay in their post until retirement, as some seek other employment or take early retirement at 55.

Mike Welsh, the headteacher of Goddard Park Primary School and Swindon branch secretary of the National Association Of Headteachers, said: "We require a new generation of headteachers in Swindon.

"But people get to a certain point in school life and they don't want to take on the immense pressure.

"They have responsibilities to the children, the staff, the parents, the education authority, the local paper and the community."

Mr Welsh thinks the way to attract and retain headteachers is to reduce bureaucracy in education and increase salaries, as they are not in line with the private sector.

A headteacher may earn between £40,000 and £60,000 depending on the size of the school.

Mr Welsh added: "There are new initiatives and policies arriving all the time. We need to let things settle down.

"And many schools in Swindon have a turnover in excess of local business in terms of income and expenditure but the level of remuneration is not the same.

"Salaries will have to be increased if we are to attract a new generation."

Senior teachers in Swindon are also nearing retirement age so cannot fill the vacant heads' posts, which means the town must attract teachers from the other parts of the country.

Only 14 appointments to headteacher, deputy and assistant heads positions were made when 34 such posts were advertised between September 2002 and December 2003.

The council's lead member for education, Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms), said the council was tackling the issue now by drawing up a detailed action plan.

Some of the options include funding a specialist recruitment officer, creating marketing materials for schools and establishing a database of candidates for senior posts.

He said: "A lot of teachers no longer see being a head as a good career move.

"Being a headteacher is like being the chief executive of a business. It is different from the old teaching heads.

"It takes up an awful lot of your personal life and we have to address that by creating a work/life balance.

"We are working out a strategy to attract people to the profession."

The action plan will be considered at the next education partnership board meeting in October.

Bhavani Vadde