BRITAIN: Schools facing heads crisis.

SCHOOLS face a looming crisis as they struggle to recruit enough headteachers, according to a report published yesterday.

One in three schools were forced to re-advertise for heads last year, the study by Education Data Surveys said.

The findings came as the National Audit Office warned the headteacher shortage was having a serious impact on school standards.

One million children are being let down by poorly performing schools, many of which lack adequate leadership, the NAO said.

Professor John Howson, who led the 21st annual report from Education Data Surveys, said the picture was the worst he could remember.

"The 2005 results are alarming, especially for secondary schools," he said.

"There has been an increase in the number of secondary schools unable to find a new head from 117 in 2003-04 to 127 in 2004-05, with a re-advertisement rate of 36%.

"In all the time I have been conducting this survey, I cannot recall the problem being this bad."

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "The recruitment of secondary heads is moving from a worrying situation to a crisis.

"It is now at a level that can no longer be tolerated."

Opinion - Page 14