talk2learn highlights: issue 18a

In case you missed it… recent highlights from NCSL in Dialogue, talk2learn’s online community for national education debate.

Applying for headship

The process of applying for headship has been known to induce unmitigated terror in even the most confident of professionals. So what advice can fellow candidates offer to help them through the ordeal?

Rehearsing for an interview, seeking support from colleagues in school and even being prepared to take part in an aerobics session were among the tips offered by seasoned candidates for headship in a talk2learn hotseat discussion chaired by education recruitment expert Peter Addison-Child.

Carolyn Palfreyman, a deputy headteacher in the north west, said that by far the most challenging aspect of applying for headship was the interview – "the actual sitting down in front of the panels and the format of the process totally threw me," she said. Her advice was: "Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!"

Karen Hulse, who has just been appointed to her first headship in Salford after 2 years and 10 interviews, also agreed that the interview could be a stumbling block. "I know I interview badly so I always wrote down the questions afterwards as very similar ones come up each time. I changed from writing a ‘script’ for presentations to making the slides then ad-libbing for each one, which is much more how I teach."

One school leader advised everyone to expect the unexpected and always look for positives. "Be prepared to jump through a range of hoops – one interview included being invited to participate in a whole-school aerobic session! Always get feedback – however painful at the time, it can be very useful."

It is always possible to learn something from a selection process, even when it doesn’t go according to plan, Peter Addison-Child pointed out. "Another gain is the chance to extend your network," he added. "You will have met people that you may come across again in other selection processes; a simple ‘nice to have met you’ note as a follow up can make a link that might be useful in the future."

Some deputies and acting headteachers wondered if the fact that they were familiar with – and to – the school would put them at a disadvantage if the governors were seeking a ‘clean sweep’. "I think it is really tough being an internal candidate already acting up into the role – it can feel like you can only lose," said Peter. "Don’t forget to think about your own needs during this time. Draw on the support of a friendly LA contact or neighbouring head so that you have someone to bounce ideas off." Statistics suggest that acting headteachers have a good success rate in other schools as well as their own, he added.

Another contributor suggested that candidates could call on the insight of other staff in their school – beyond – to give added depth to their knowledge of issues such as finance and so boost their chances of success. One school business manager, for example, offers workshops on budgeting to other staff. Peter applauded the idea, pointing out that surveys of National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) graduates generally revealed finance – as well as governance and accountability – to be areas where candidates felt particularly vulnerable.