Second master

A deputy head teacher, deputy headmaster/mistress or second master/mistress is the second most senior teacher in a school in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

The terms "deputy headmaster" and "deputy 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 "second master", but these terms have generally gone out of use in the state sector.

In small schools deputy head teachers still retain some teaching responsibility, but in most their duties are increasingly managerial and pastoral.

ee also

*Headteacher
*Schoolmaster

External links

* [http://www.ascl.org.uk/ Association of School and College Leaders]
* [http://www.naht.org.uk/ National Association of Head Teachers (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)]
* [http://www.shmis.org.uk/ Society of Headmasters and Headmistresses of Independent Schools]
* [http://www.hmc.org.uk/ Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference]