applying for internal promotion - HOD

[ashesandfire]

Hello MNers,
I'm going into my 7th year teaching and my 5th in my current post which is at a 6th form college. HOD position has come up at college and I'm looking to apply for it. Large, flagship department in college with 7 members of staff excluding myself and including some new staff. I am a bit apprehensive about it as I have a 10 month old and am just returning from mat leave but have always wanted the job and conscious it's possibly my only shot at it due to very low staff turnover at the college.
I'm looking for advice for what to include in my covering letter and any pointers for a potential interview (types of questions asked etc.)
Very thankful in advance!

How you are the best person to get the best out of your students...? I believe the position you seek is paid, not some hand-wringing enterprise you thought up because you cared so much, so make your case for why you should be paid for educating the students. Your 10 month old is a fact that you need to deal with (like all parents) and one day will be a Year 10 - imagine who you would want teaching your dc and be them.

Thank you for replying, I absolutely agree that I should teach how I want my daughter to be taught - and I hope I am doing that! But I'm looking for advice about how to move from that sort of role into more of a management one. I'm not sure what you mean by 'hand-wringing enterprise you thought up because you cared so much'?

I can´t really give advice as I have less experience than you, but I just wanted to wish you all the best and say not to worry about your personal circumstances but to have confidence in your professional ability to do this job brilliantly. Go for it!

The idea from FloatIsRechargedNow of being "the best person to get the best out of your students" is excellent.

Also think of plenty of concrete examples from your time at this college, and previously, to demonstrate each of your positive qualities and achievements, (e.g. leadership skills, spontaneity, inspiring others, co-curricular symbiosis, putting strategies into action successfully, motivating difficult students, getting better than predicted results, organising trips, etc.)

Look at the key points in the job description and try to address them with your experience and what you know needs to be developed in your setting. Mention progress a lot!
Look at the improvement plan for pointers and above all else, if you are offered an interview, brim over with enthusiasm. Good luck!