Any fellow teachers here?

[ForOliveShaker]

I have posted this in the staffroom for reference but I could do with more opinions.

im a 4th year teacher. I’ve been applying for hod and second in command roles. I’ve been shortlisted for both of them.

But am I too inexperienced to be looking at hod roles?

Go for it - if you’re not ready, you probably won’t be offered the job. But you’ll never know if you don’t apply. I became a HOD after teaching for a year, though I had 15 years experience in another industry.

assuming you are hardworking and likeable and don’t rub people up the wrong way as this is important if you are to be their leader mover and shaker

There is such a shortage of teachers you will get a position soon more likely in a tough school or if you are prepared for a commute

you are still young in the profession but if you have proved yourself with extra responsibilitys and your attendance and performances is outstanding you should get an interview soon

most jobs will be posted after the half term when resignations have been put in

I got 2ic of core subject in my 4th year, so absolutely not too inexperienced in terms of whether it's possible. (I know people who were HoDs in their second year, some schools are desperate.) The only thing I would say is that the learning curve is steep and I'd have been better at the job with more experience - this is not to put you off, I'm sure you'll be amazing, just that in retrospect for me I wish I hadn't thought that leadership progression was the most important thing before really securing my own practice.

So I feel because I work in a very small school and focus on particular key stages in terms of where I’ve been allocated I’ve managed to really hone in on my teaching. I’ve been an examiner to improve my subject knowledge, I’ve been completing cpd online to develop my subject knowledge further, I’ve been a tlr holder for a year and a half, been a mentor, started an now, lead on lunch clubs, has a lit drive mentor who talks me through the application process among other things.

I feel I’m more ready for hod because 2ic is literally what I do now but I didn’t want to try and attempt the impossible.