Headteacher boundaries

[twinkie81]

Our deputy head has been internally promoted to headteacher. We have worked together for more than 10 years and get on very well, our children are the same age, we will often sit and chat about life outside work, very rarely about work itself.
I'm not sure how I should be speaking to her when she takes over after Easter. I have a very, very formal relationship with our current head as that is the way she has chosen to lead the school but it's going to be very different under our new head.
I will miss our friendship now that she is the boss but I'm really not sure how formal I should be.

Go out for a drink together and discuss it prior to shift over,

Be firm with yourselves that you will I'm to be strictly professional with in the work environment, and keep your social life away from school.

It doesn't have to alter. I used to be a class teacher in the school where I am now head. The colleague I was closest to is still the same. We have meals out etc and it is just about us. I really appreciate being able to be me, not the boss. Talk about it.

I had to read your post several times to check I hadn't written it myself. My plan is to give my very good friend the DH-about-to-become-HT plenty of space. In fact, I've already started to do that to a certain extent as since she was appointed in November she's been gradually trying to get her head round being HT and make the necessary transition in her mindset/approach to people. But as Assistant Head, I shall still be on SLT with her and so will still be able to have conversations when appropriate.

Thanks for your advice, I'll see if I can catch her during the week for a chat. I was going to offer to take her girls out for the day so she can prepare herself over Easter but I would hate for her to feel awkward about it. She's finding her way as best she can too.