A head teacher or school principal (also known as headteacher, headmaster, headmistress or the Head, sometimes informally in Scots, the heidie or heedie) is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school.
In Scotland, such officials are sometimes known as the "rector", most commonly in independent schools. In North America and Ireland (including Northern Ireland), such officials are usually known as the "school principal", but some schools use the term "headmaster" or "Head Master". Some American public schools, such as Boston Latin School and Milpitas High School, also use the term "headmaster", either because of its history or historical connections.
The terms "headmaster" and "headmistress" used to be the standard throughout both the state and private sectors, with "head teacher" usually being used only to refer to them collectively. In recent years, however, it has become usual to officially use the gender-neutral term in state schools. Nevertheless, the gender-specific terms are still in common use, and may be in more formal use in some schools, particularly the remaining state grammar schools. Independent schools usually still officially use the gender-specific terms. Some use other terms, such as "high master". Independent schools frequently use other titles for officials under the head teacher.
The official term for the third most senior teacher in state schools (as in many independent schools) was "second master" or "second mistress", but these terms have generally gone out of use in the state sector.
Some schools use terms such as "Head of the Upper School" or "Head of the Middle School" to identify those people who are in charge of a particular division of the school, but who are under the direction of the school headmaster.
"Principal" or "Head of School" is used as the title of the head administrator of an elementary school, middle school, or high school in some English-speaking countries, including the United States, India and Australia. Public schools in the United States generally use the title principal whereas private schools in the United States sometimes use the title Head of School. Books and documents relating to the early days of public education in the United States show that the title was originally Principal Teacher.
In Australia, the Head Teacher is in charge of one (in the case of a major subject) or multiple (often in smaller schools) specific departments, such as English, Maths, Science, etc., but maintains full teaching duties and status. They are considered part of the school executive, and often a Head Teacher position is a stepping-stone into administration.
Yet the term Headmaster is still used, as in the case of the internationally controversial Headmaster Beth A. Smith of Shelton High School in Connecticut.
Category:Education and training occupations Category:Education in the United Kingdom Category:Academic administrators
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