What does a great Head of Year look like?

[DNAshelicase]

Posted this in the staffroom but all is quiet atm so posted here for traffic, sorry.

Hi all,

I’ve recently been promoted to HOY8 starting September. I’m an experienced teacher of 7 years so I’m confident in the classroom but I really want to start off on the right foot as HOY.

I’m interested in teacher and parent input here, what do you want from a HOY? If you know a great HOY what is great about them?

Thanks for any feedback, I really appreciate it!

Look like?
Male female tall short fat thin white black Asian ?

Whatever you look like will fit the bill.

A good HOY is prepared to listen to parents but not necessarily buy their story. Prepared to put the boot up a lazy child's backside but not without finding out whether there is a reason (bad family problems/undiagnosed SEN) first

Thanks @TiredOldTable. Of course I mean ‘look like’ in practice, what features/priorities are most important in your opinion?

Someone who is available (email probably). And someone who can tellt he difference between the: naughty and struggling and just disorganised. And someone who can deal with the real crisis swiftly - eg respond quickly to bullying, or a student having a panic attack. Create problem solving is helpful.

But you might be lucky and not have my children in your year

DS2 had a brilliant Head of Year in Year 7. He made himself available at any time and dealt with problems immediately. At my DC school the Head of Year is not a teacher however, and I imagine it will be harder to balance both roles.

Yeah, my concern is that at my school I’m still occupied 20/25 periods, which will obviously mean prioritising if there are multiple issues. I’m obviously prepared to stay late to deal with issues, from a parental point of view though, how would you receive a school phone call at 6/7 pm?

IME as a teacher and former pastoral lead, a great HOY has a passion for pastoral care, is up on the latest info for SEND and LAC, works well with other agencies and is able to strike the right balance between having high expectations and being approachable. You know the individuals who need extra care and are proactive in contacting parents.

Being visible is important, and having a good rapport with students, including running great assemblies and being seen to participate in and organise extra curricular/charity initiatives. Working well with your team of tutors is essential, as they will help you form the identity of your year group.

It sounds like a tall order, but don't worry. A great piece of advice I received on my leadership course was that you don't begin any leadership role 'up there' at the start. You will get there, but it's a process and it's ok to learn as you go. I would start by getting to know your tutors and your vulnerable students as they will need you from the get-go.

Teacher of many (too many!) years here, and parent too.

The best heads of year I have known know their students. They will listen to kids and make them feel as if they have their backs. Rules is rules and if a demerit means that the student has to stay in at lunchtime then you stick by the rules. You are a key part of the discipline structure. And it doesn't hurt if they know that you will not tolerate certain things. At all. Ever. But if you are supervising a group of students in penalty time/ detention you can use that time to talk to them, and get to know them better. Doing detention does not have to be silent. It can be a very valuable time for the HoY to make sure that you are going back into class with a more positive attitude than the one that got you into trouble.

I always appreciated a HOY that responded to emails promptly. I didn't send many but, when I did, I had genuine concerns and it was good to see that they had been acknowledged.
My DD liked HOYs that met up with them in small groups at lunchtime, to ask them - as a group - how things were going, and if they had any concerns (particular to the year group/school rather than individual gripes). All got at least one invitation per year, and attendance wasn't compulsory. Think snacks were provided!
Think the Y10 HOY met with them all individually for 10 mins or so throughout the year.

Teacher here and ex-assistant HoY.

As a classroom teacher, someone that follows up anything non-faculty based and keeps you in the loop - and doesn’t make unreasonable demands of you when they are trying to find a solution to a problem! They are supportive and, crucially, realistic.

As ex-pastoral - clear delegation of roles and support. My old HoY was amazing and took the time to train me up so I felt confident dealing with parents alone. He was insanely efficient and never missed anything or let it slip, firm but always fair. He knew and cared about the kids in our year group individually. Every teacher had massive respect for him because he took time to understand their point of view.

Sorry I was writing during your last update. I don't know how on earth you can be expected to do your role with essentially a full timetable! I was 50/50. Definitely seek out the other HOYs and see how they do it. I can't see how you can be effective with so much teaching to do.

from a parental point of view though, how would you receive a school phone call at 6/7 pm?

I would be fine with that. It would actually be better as I would be able to have a better conversation as it would be after work. It sounds like you will be very busy and doing some long days though with teaching so much as well. It sounds like you're very committed.

@walnut87 out of interest how much was delegated? What was your responsibility as assistant? I assume it must have been a sizeable year group?

@LittleAndOften thanks for your reply, yeah I think it’s the lack of non contact time that is daunting, the school’s justification is that it’s in a naice area and there are fewer big issues, which is true, but the year group is 165!

@Leeds2 that’s a great idea, I love the idea of small table meetings, I’ll give it a try!

Someone who can sort out bullies and not reply to complaints with ‘oh but they come from such a nice family...’
Yep. Take bullying seriously.

Im a HOY on 25 out of 30 lessons per week. Pastoral is one of the most rewarding, yet emotionally draining jobs in education. My advice would be to utilise your team - they are first port. They set the tone and oversee that standards are met. Do nice things to reward them - cover a tutor time and give them 20 minutes. Organise interform comps. Reward enthusiasm and effort, not results. Get to know your kids. Thank the quiet ones - make sure they know you see them. Track your data carefully and pick up those kids that slip at the start of the slope. Grow a thick skin - parents will yell at you. Their kids are the most important thing to them, sometimes you just need to stick to your guns, lose the war but win the battle. Do not try to do everything- delegate. Do nit expect everyone to like you - it is fine if they don't. Make each and every kids welfare your priority. When a child feels safe and happy, they achieve.

As a teacher the best thing I need from HOY is support in both dealing with pupils. Don’t take sides but solidarity with teaching staff is highly valued.

Celebrate your children’s successes as well as the behaviour. One of our HOY asks for a star of the week via email which is nice she then puts it in a assembly once a week which is nice.

Please try not to take them out of lessons to talk to them unless absolutely necessary.

Good luck in your new role. I think you’re amazing it’s certainly not a job I could do!

Update: just read that you only have 5 non contacts a week!! How on earth are you going to do this role???? That’s 2 no contacts extra than a full teaching timetable!! I wish you every luck I think you’re going to be VERY tired!

And do not spend your whole life at school. I have done this job for 10 years. I have two kids who need their mum. So, sometimes, an email.can wait until.the next day. Staying at school until 6/7pm every day will burn you out.

As a parent with DCs who has health issues plus mild learning disabilities and struggle academically and DC who are high achievers I appreciate teachers who communicate well in a timely fashion, don't necessarily agree with what I say but listen, know the students (not just the trouble makers), 2 of mine are very quiet DC and don't ask if need assistance and teachers always assume they're fine - they're not but as they are not problematic they are not priority. Have empathy - realise that for some DC just attending school for 80% is an amazing achievement and let them know that.

DS HOY follows him through the school until year 11. He's very approachable. He responds quickly to emails and isn't scared to pick up the phone if it's easier

He and I have a great relationship and that's down to his approachability.

Don’t tell off parents for their child’s behaviour. Chances are that they are as frustrated as you regarding poor behaviour.
Be consistent, the students remember and know what punishments and rewards are given out.
Get to know your students including the quieter and well behaved ones.
Talk to parents about small problems before they become bigger problems.
Listen to students even if they are in the wrong. They need to be heard even if it’s a pack of lies.
Best of luck with your new role I hope you have plenty of pastoral support for your role. 5 hours a week doesn’t seem like much time. So shout for help before drowning!

Delegate to your form tutors, but be prepared to step in/ support if there’s a tricky or escalating issue.

Respond to parental emails or complaints quickly, even if you don’t have all the information. Just let them know you are aware of their issue and will be in touch when you do have information.

Keep your eyes and ears open and nip potential problems in the bus if you can.

Listen to the students, even though you might not agree with them. If you listen, they are more likely to listen to you.

Communication is the key, with colleagues, form tutors, parents and students.

Don't say "Its six of one and half a dozen of the other" to the parents of a kind decent year 8 who has retaliated against a bully and fought back.
(Just because you CBA dealing with it).
Said kind decent boy is now training as a nurse.
Bully is in YOI after stabbing his mother.

DS's had a great head of sixth form. Cheerful, approachable, wanted everyone to do well. Celebrated achievements of all not just the Oxbridge crew.