THOUSANDS of school heads in England are suffering mental health problems, sleepless nights – and many may quit due to health fears, a damning survey found yesterday.

The study by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) painted a “bleak picture of the unacceptable toll school leadership is taking on our members and their mental health and wellbeing,” the union said.

It blamed the government’s education watchdog Ofsted for widespread mental health issues among head teachers.

A coroner concluded last week that an Ofsted inspection “likely contributed” to the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest.

The NAHT findings showed 38 per cent of heads had received professional support for mental health issues in the last year and 11 per cent said they wanted help.

More than half were considering leaving, with most blaming poor health and wellbeing as the cause.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “These dire findings paint a really bleak picture of the unacceptable toll school leadership is taking on our members and their mental health and wellbeing.

“Without decisive action, I fear these dedicated educators will be forced to leave the profession for their own health, leaving more children without the inspirational leaders and teachers they need.”

The NAHT is calling on the government for changes to Ofsted and action to tackle heads’ workloads.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said it was trying to reduce pressure on heads “where we can” and had “launched the education staff wellbeing charter.”

She said school inspections had changed.