This article, as an opinion piece, considers the importance of developing a succession plan that can be implemented when a vacancy occurs in school leadership. While succession planning is a common practice within corporations, businesses and governments, schools also have to be thoughtful and prepared for change. A change in leadership can be challenging not only for the principal leaving a position but for also the incoming principal and the stakeholders. Schools cannot afford to sit idly by until a leader leaves and to then find themselves caught unaware, unprepared to navigate this challenging transition. Instead, schools should consider succession planning well ahead of any potential leadership change. After all, such a change is inevitable. Only with this forethought can schools assure smooth transitions from one leader to the next that allow them to continue operating efficiently throughout. For the purposes of this article, school leadership will be referred to as principals as a general term but includes and applies to assistant principals, head teachers and deputies.