Men are over-represented among school leaders

According to the ATWD National Trends: Teacher Workforce publication, which provides insight into emerging national trends in the teacher workforce, men are overrepresented among school leaders, presenting a notable disparity in gender representation.

In 2022, women comprised 76% of registered teachers, yet only 71% of senior leaders. From 2020 to 2022, the proportion of women in senior leadership roles increased by 3 percentage points, going from 68% to 71%. However, the percentage of women in middle leadership decreased by 2 percentage points during the same period, declining from 72% in 2020 to 70% in 2022. This imbalance highlights the need for a more equitable distribution of leadership roles. Notably, the percentage of women among registered teachers remained stable during these years, holding steady at 76%.

Martínez & Molina-López (2021) suggested in their study that “on the demand side (organisational model), the presence of double standards, concerning the promotion of women, would imply that higher bars are set for the evaluation of women. Alternatively, on the supply side (individual model), a potential lower self-efficacy perception among women could lead them to self-exclude from managerial positions.”

When discussing leadership and gender gaps, we need to be mindful of these biases and barriers at the system level. This supports the argument that principal selection processes should change to maximise the available talent pool.

Martínez, M. M., Molina-López, M. M., & de Cabo, R. M. (2021). Explaining the gender gap in school principalship: A tale of two sides. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 49(6), 863-882. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220918258