Rutherglen High School’s Phil Rogers welcomed the Victorian government’s decision to offer health checks to state school heads.

But he wants them to examine why poor physical and mental health was common in the first place.

The state decision follows concerning research into the profession and the suicide of Melbourne principal Mark Thompson.

The voluntary checks would assess principals' mental health, blood pressure, heart rate, weight, waist measurements and lifestyle.

Identities will be removed from the information and it will be collated into reports to be sent to the Education Department so that the department can understand trends and intervene.

Every principal will be given a confidential report that also foreshadows possible future health issues.

Mr Rogers said he was lucky in Rutherglen but principals across the state were subjected to verbal and physical intimidation and conflict. 

“Many principals experience more and more difficult parents and difficult family situations,” he said.

“But the truth is that many principals believe that they are simply spending too much time doing bureaucratic work.

“The best way to reduce health issues is to reduce what I regard as unnecessary bureaucratic work.”

Mr Rogers said he spends whole days dealing with paperwork and fears the pressure on principals was detrimental.

“I’m prepared to walk away at the end of the day and leave paperwork undone, it’s not unusual for me to not submit things on time because I prioritise,” he said

“I’m old, I’ve been a principal and assistant principal for a long time so I’m willing to do that. For a new inexperienced principal I don’t think they’d feel able to do that or to put their hand up when they’re struggling.

“They wear themselves out trying to meet deadlines that aren’t reasonable.”

Wangaratta High School’s Gary Fletcher said all principals experienced stress and he welcomed any measure to support well-being. 

“It’s something we need to be aware of as a community and to support each other,” he said.