Please note: this article applies mostly to maintained schools. If you're an academy, check your funding agreement to be clear about your responsibilities when your headteacher (or equivalent) is absent.
Make sure someone steps in for your headteacher
Your board is responsible for making sure a member of staff is appointed to carry out the functions of a headteacher if:
- Your headteacher is absent, or
- Your school is waiting to appoint a new headteacher
However, if your school is expected to be without its headteacher for a long time, your board should look to formalise arrangements as soon as possible.
This is explained in the DfE's staffing and employment advice for schools (paragraph 2.14 on page 9).
You might not have all the details of the absence
You may not know how long they’ll be absent for – this might happen