Becoming a Head of Dept

[WelshMoth]

I've been teaching 6 years now and am considering a HoD position. It seems daunting but I'm keen to try and progress.

Can anyone share their experiences please? Positive and negative!

[elephantoverthehill]

Good for you, go for it! I have done it, in the past but I hated the marking/book trawls, the lesson observations of other colleagues and having to find '2 stars and a wish'. I'm a bit 'old school' and the mutually supportive department and HoD seem to be well gone. IMO the HoD role seems to be 'the whipping boy' between SLT and MPG teachers. Bitter me? Not at all . But in all honesty do go for it, you probably would be great because you are bothering to ask for opinions.

[samlovesdilys]

I love leading my faculty, love feeling I have a real input beyond my own classroom and helping colleagues develop...having a (small) input into whole school policies...I hate having to nag...I know everyone is busy but things need to be done!! Go for it!!

[WelshMoth]

Thanks elephant.
Actually, that's one thing holding me back.

Despite the rather brutal blame-mindset, my current HoD is a star and the three of us in the Dept are really close and share the same philosophy. We trust one another implicitly. I'm scared of leaving that.

[WelshMoth]

Thanks Sam.
Another concern is being unable to manage workload and responsibility and letting people down.

[Rathkelter]

If it's a small department it might be ok. The admin is often tedious and takes up your frees so planning has to fit round the edge of the day. Lots of people knocking on the door so you need to be strict about your time management. I think it's useful to do it- it gets you onto the next rung of the ladder in terms of pay and experience and could lead to an Assistant Head role in future. I'd say go for it.