Utilising the labour ideas of Adam Smith and Emile Durkheim as a theoretical basis, the main objective of this study was to investigate the perception that Heads of Physical Education (HoPE) face unique management and leadership challenges. Results showed that HoPE believe that they are overburdened with tasks primarily involving the delegation of finance and exam administration. Many felt that their efforts were undervalued by senior management teams (SMTs). However, HoPE themselves could work more closely with the latter and instead of developing a culture of antagonism and mistrust they should seek to partake more fully within whole-school initiatives to demonstrate capabilities and so increase the status of their department.