Assistant/Deputy Head roles- what experience did you have when you applied?

[Shadowboy]

Just that really. What ‘stage’ teacher applies for these roles. I’ve seen one in a perfect school for my interests and location but I feel I’m highly under experienced for the role. I’ve been teaching for 13 years at the top of the pay scale UPS and have responsibilities as a HOD. Good results but I still feel I’d be too young and inexperienced I think.

Sounds like a bit of imposter syndrome there! Go for it!

Top of the payscale and a hoD you say? 13 years experience?

Blimey you’ll soon be the most experienced teacher left on Gods green earth! Of course you should apply. 😃

Thanks for the replies- I had in my head that most deputies etc were in their 40s and 50s with decades of experience...

I can give examples of nearly all (only 2 I can’t) for the essential requirements for the post and most of the desired.

It depends on area and type of school really. At my school (all internal promotions) the SLT range from mid 30s to early 50s but at many others the AHs might well be late 20s upwards. There are those who are heads at 35!

Is your 13 years experience in one school?

I’d say you’re more than experienced enough for an AHT role. Assuming that you’re secondary I would imagine most DHT roles would expect some senior leadership experience.

I just got an AHT job that I only applied for as a flyer as I thought I wouldn't stand a chance. My DH encouraged me so I went for it.
I had 9 years experience, 3 as a HoD and in the year before I applied I took charge of a school wide staff mentoring scheme and also made a significant contribution to a small working group changing our school assessment criteria. The little extras just mentioned really gave me space to fly at interview. You should def apply

I'm going to assume you're female? There's a lot of evidence out there to suggest that women are much less likely to apply for promoted posts and will only do so if they tick ALL of the criteria, whereas men will apply if they tick about half of the criteria. And it's still men who are more likely to get these roles.

Go for it! I bet you'll still have more experience than some other applicants.

You have a lot more experience than the newly appointed assistant heads at my school. One only did her nqt year two years ago. Go for it!

Go for it! You’ve nothing to lose. Good luck!

I think you definitely have enough experience to apply for AHT posts, particularly if you have done things that have had a whole school aspect as HOD eg raising achievement at 2 key stages or across a large cohort and can demonstrate how transferable your skills are and what you have learned. It's what you can show you have done and the actual impact it had and what you learned that counts.
I was Head of Year for a couple of years then a HOD for a couple of years and got an AH post when I was just 29 and a DH post 3 years later. Am now SAHM to 3D and will have been out about 8 years when I go back, if I go back. Have probably fucked up my career. My experience was pastoral, curriculum, leadership and teaching and learning/CPD.

DH was a main scale teacher for 2years, then a 2nd department for 18 months, HOD for 3 years and then got an AH post (no Deputy Head post in the school) and then an acting Head post 3 years later when the Head left too late to appoint anyone for September. They asked him to do it for a year and then appointed him permanently after an advert.

I know a AHT who is 26. Wtf.
I actually find it insulting being told how to teach by someone who only did it for a couple years before promotion.

You will be fabulous. Good luck

I had 7 years teaching experience, 3 of which were at middle leader level (phase leader -primary). In that time I had also been a core subject leader, led on a few whole school projects and mentored NQTs. I was 29.

In the interests of full disclosure I felt like you but luckily had a supportive colleague who gave me the push I needed into applying. I’ve been SLT for 4 years now. Go for it!