How much experience needed for DH position?

[MissPoodle]

I have seen what looks like the perfect job, but I'm a bit concerned about looking stupid by being too inexperienced to apply. I have been teaching for almost 10 years and have held 3 middle leadership positions. Is DH (secondary) too big a leap from head of Faculty? I have been looking at AH but this came up and looks perfect.

[PotteringAlong]

I wouldn't expect them to promote you from head of faculty to deputy head without being an assistant head first.

[MissPoodle]

It's at a different school rather than internal promotion. Not worth applying?

[PotteringAlong]

You can always give it a whirl! You've lost nothing. But don't be surprised if you don't get an interview.

[MissPoodle]

It's the age-old risk of upsetting current SLT by applying though...

[PotteringAlong]

It is. And if you think you will then I maybe wouldn't apply for this one, unless you go and see them and say you're applying to get your letter right yadda yadda yadda.

[MissPoodle]

Thank you. It's a tricky one but I suppose you are right, thanks.

[SisterViktorine]

I disagree with pottering. I think fewer and fewer people want SLT posts and they might well be in the position of needing to give a candidate who only has middle leadership experience a try.

It might also highlight to your current SLT that you want promotion which could be helpful.

[BrendaandEddie]

I agree. Try.

[MissPoodle]

Oh it's so tricky! Thank you for your encouragement, I'll keep mulling it over. I really don't want to upset my current school but I am ready for something more.

[PotteringAlong]

Do you have a member of SLT at school you could chat to about it? Or talk about progression in your own school?

[MissPoodle]

Unfortunately, SLT are not very accessible. Very unlikely to be progression in current school - SLT is quite top heavy and cuts expected there.

[Trills]

Personally I'd prefer a DH who had not experience at all of that exact position, but had at least been an OH or DP before.

It would be nice to have some references from previous employers but I understand that might not be available.

[BackforGood]

I'd say it's worth a try.
As you say you've had 3 middle management positions, and each school is structured differently, as well, of course as being different sizes, and also different challenges.
You'll never know unless you try though.

[ConesOfDunshire]

It depends on your middle-leadership positions -
some enable you to have greater whole-school impact than others.

I think many schools would at least consider you if you had experience of several whole school projects, and of impact beyond your faculty. It will help if you're on a clear path to senior leadership, eg NPQSL.

At DH (and AH) level I would expect all candidates to visit before applying. Request a visit and get a sense of whether or not you might be what they are looking for. Do bear in mind that DH interviews are likely to take place over two days.

[MissPoodle]

Thank you all for your insight. I'm still undecided about applying. I have been through the person spec and I can offer everything on both the essential and desirable list apart from SLT experience, which is on the desirable. I'm fairly sure I can evidence a variety of whole-school projects that have impacted on T&L.

What would be really useful to me, if anyone is able to provide one, is a timeline of the sort of progression that others have seen leading up to SLT.

DH and I had a discussion this morning, and came to the conclusion that, were I male, I might not be deliberating so much, as it might be be more acceptable to be seen as ambitious. Do you think this is true?

[Ladymuck]

I would second the advice to visit the school.

From the position of being a governor on a recruitment panel (and if this is a maintained school, then I think that DH is a governor appointment), I would be conscious that whoever we appoint as DH has to be capable of standing in as acting head in the event of accident/absence etc.