Impact Stays

Survival at the top: Factors impacting tenure and reasons for departure of the international school head by Allan R Morrison
Journal of Research in International Education, 24(2), 162-183, August 2025

You think international heads don’t last long? That’s just a myth by Emma Seith
‍TES Magazine, October 7, 2025

Common in many parts of the international school community is the belief that Heads of School have insecure employment and often leave schools before they want to. In fact, two earlier studies reported average tenures of 2.8 years and 3.7 years, respectively. Allan Morrison’s 2025 study finds the average Head tenure to be 4.8 years, suggesting that either things have changed or earlier research exaggerated the challenge. Morrison’s research indicates that school leaders make the most ongoing impact if they remain at a school for between seven and ten years. This article, of interest to Boards, aspiring and current Heads, and organizations providing training to Heads and Boards, is based on a survey of 177 Heads and in-depth interviews with nine. It breaks down average tenure by region (Middle East longer, Africa shorter), Board size and composition (longer for larger Boards), and profit/not-for-profit status (longer for non-profits), among other criteria. Demographic data on Heads is also included, confirming that Heads are overwhelmingly white and mostly male. Morrison identifies the common reasons that Heads leave, and he offers recommendations for extending their tenures. One recommendation is to promote from within rather than the prevalent practice of bringing in a head from another school.