How do we ensure we have highly capable and motivated school leaders? Should headteachers be concerned about their own development and performance as well as that of their colleagues? What typically happens to headteachers in terms of their organisational and professional socialisation - their career development, their motivation, their workplace performance and so on? In this lecture Peter Earley explores life in headship and beyond. He examines the stages of headship, in particular the disenchantment or plateau stage. He discusses the developmental opportunities currently available to heads and argues that greater attention needs to be paid to issues of performance, motivation and wellbeing of school leaders.