I felt it would greatly impact on my chance of permanent headship post,
therefore kept putting it off (woman primary head)
Adequate time but left me feeling unconfident. Real challenge to be 'career
woman' then 'mum, then 'career woman' (secondary head)
Maternity leave has opened up possibilities for women who want to develop their
career, but it does not solve dilemmas relating to reconciling roles. One secondary
head summed up the issues that women face in returning to work after having a
baby:
In part it was finance led that I returned so soon, but I wanted to pursue a
career and have children - be both, and have the best of both worlds.
The introduction of official paternity leave is fairly new and there were only a few
comments from men about it, although some of the women did refer to its
inadequacy. Of the few male heads who did make comments, one primary head said
that he was only able to take two days following birth of twins! One male secondary
head in his late 40s commented that whilst he was on paternity leave: 'pressure was
brought to bear to lead a college meeting on the evening when my wife left hospital
with my daughter. Another, in his early 40s recounted how:
I missed an interview for head of department due to the birth of my second
daughter, the interview was rearranged and one of the panel made a
comment that I wasn't needed at the birth.
We are obviously a long way from general acceptance of the importance of paternity
leave.
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