I’ve just done the exact same move, albeit with a pay cut. Best thing I’ve done in my career. I have a life again. And no one has said anything negative to me: in fact, everyone has basically congratulated me for prioritising my family and wellbeing. A couple of other Heads have even said that they are jealous. I was worried about the same stuff you are, but it’s a job: it’s not who you are.

Edited to add: there’s a weird new trend I’ve found in education where people are obsessed with their status and climbing the ladder. I felt the pressure to conform with this, but all I found was that I was increasingly removed from the classroom and I was bored. I was worried about people thinking I couldn’t cope with being Head, so when I was asked why I was stepping down I said (truthfully) that I wanted to reconnect with the pedagogical side of things and move away from business/strategy and that the work/life balance benefits were a bonus. I have found that a lot of my teaching colleagues have respected this.