This article investigates the challenges which are facing head teachers of boys' secondary schools in Tabuk city in Saudi Arabia in terms of leading their school professionally. A study was conducted using a mixed methods approach, including a semi-structured interview with 10 head teachers. The other method used was a structured questionnaire survey of all secondary boys' school head teachers working in Tabuk city. The findings are supported by a review of a wide range of literature and the

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... earcher's personal experience of the Saudi educational context. A variety of recommendations are made based on various aspects of education discussed throughout the article. The key findings of the study were that the head teachers in secondary schools in Tabuk are facing some challenges which lead them to be unmotivated to continue their employment as head teachers, against a backdrop of a general weakness in the educational infrastructure. The recommendations concentrate principally on the need to give head teachers some autonomy in decision making to enable them to overcome their challenges. The study also explored other issues related to the Saudi educational context, such as how secondary school head teachers can become more effective leaders and managers in the current situation in which they are dominated by a centralised system.