Change and stress in the head of department's role

Summary

There have been substantial changes in the role of the head of department as it has developed in comprehensive schools. The relationship between these changes and stress has not been investigated, and the study reported here attempts to explore the stressful aspects of the role. Ninety‐two heads of departments of comprehensive schools were invited to report on their stress situations, their responses to these demands and their recommendations for the reduction of stress. They were asked to prepare these reports for the staff development conferences which I organized in their schools and for the in‐service courses which I initiated in the University of Bath in 1974—5. Their reports suggest that their stress situations consist mainly of role conflict and role confusion. Their stress responses include frustration, anxiety, and psychosomatic symptoms. Their recommendations for reducing stress in the head of department's role are mainly concerned with the development of clearer role definition.