A thread on why a solo SLT behaviour lead often fails....

In a number of schools one person is the designated behaviour lead for the school. They are the go to. In theory (on paper) strategic. In reality they are the school’s sweeper.

This solo person usually has the same contact ratio as their SLT equivalents yet the behaviour role when flying solo is beyond exhausting

The role is 24/7. It transcends into multiple domains...

Attendance
Complaints
Safeguarding
Concerns
Supporting staff
Behaviour
Attendance
Progress

The role becomes huge

Often the behaviour lead is caught up in day-to-day matters. They want to support and the strategic/operational line becomes blurred. They want to lead, train & manage but end up in issues over “Jonny has lost his pen.”

At its worst they are the SLT sacrificial lamb/firewall. Other members of SLT absolve responsibility as they park it with the behaviour lead. They forget that they are are leaders too & have a responsibility for behaviour too.

Parents focus on this one person. This becomes unsustainable.

Often the behaviour lead ends up embroiled in safeguarding matters that can easily consume a day. They are then behind on all real time issues.

The behaviour lead often is the face of the school at external meetings eg TAFs and the face of the school for transition. Again, flying solo this isn’t manageable.

Often behaviour leads can handle the role for 12-18 months then it becomes mentally draining, leading to burn out.

There is often no consideration given to the fact this person may need supervision given the high level issues they are dealing with.

It becomes frustrating when other members of SLT walk away & can go back to their offices etc

Ultimately the solo behaviour lead is like Batman. A lone Dark Knight. The person the school needs but doesn’t deserve.

There is a clue to the title SLT.... the T..... team. Behaviour should be a collective responsibility of the snr team. All snr leaders should be able to manage, support & deal with behaviour. If they can’t, should they be leaders?

My view.... we should think more Avengers than Dark Knight. There should be a team collective effort to driving behaviour. The Head ultimately the one steering it.

Fin