SLT? Madness to even consider it?

[TeacherMcTeacherface]

Have NC for this as it's about work & colleagues know I use MN!! But have been here for ever (Penisbeaker, bullies on Coronavirus threads, NobleGiraffe is my hero, etc)

So our Deputy is leaving to take up a headship. With a reshuffle, this may result in the Asst Head post becoming vacant.

I've successfully led a core subject for a few years & have taught in KS1 & KS2 for over 10 yrs at the same school. It's great and I'm generally pretty happy (if bloody knackered, but aren't we all?)

A colleague asked me yesterday if I would consider applying and I'm torn.

Is it total madness to even consider this during this hideous year?? I'm content teaching & being in middle leadership but I am getting a bit bored TBH. However, I don't want to end up regretting a move to SLT with the current shitstorm and not least as I consider many colleagues as friends so this may upset that applecart too.

It's prob a moot point as it's not even happened yet but what would you advise?

Thankyou dear colleagues!!

Similar situation here. There is absolutely no way I will go anywhere near SLT at the moment!

Ooh, thankyou Pen. May I be so presumptuous to ask your reasons?

I am tending to the 'Hell, no.' camp too at the moment....

But my DH is in the 'Go for it!' camp. He's not a teacher but is in management. He has no idea of the hideousness of education at the moment

SLT are “on” all the time doing all the duties. Behaviour is atrocious, so they are dealing with all of that (much more than usual). All the COVID related fun, including managing (very) erratic parents. And managing all the teachers who are not coping well, lots of them at my school.
I can see them all in before me and leaving well after me. They’re working through the holidays, too.

No, thanks!

I’m SLT in secondary. Love the job and glad I made the move but it’s pretty tough at the moment. Behaviour and safeguarding issues are terrible at the moment and we spend all day doing that rather than getting all the other things we need to do sorted. All day is spent dealing with these issues and then everything else gets taken home, where I also have a toddler to deal with. I’m still happy in my job but I feel like I’m constantly at 100 miles an hour and I’m not sure how sustainable it is.

On the other hand, all the Covid stuff has meant that I’ve really built up my skills of adapting everything we do at very short notice. I’ve also learned a lot more about how staff’s life circumstances can affect a range of things at work.

I’m fairly new to SLT and it has been mad, but I’m trying to take positives from the situation. I’m still glad I made the move.

It is full on at the moment, there no denying that. I became an AHT in a secondary school last September. The workload is massive right now but I don’t think you’d be crazy to do it. Whilst the pandemic has made things more complicated and hugely increased workload there’s also a real sense of camaraderie in school leadership since the pandemic started. I get that sense from people in other schools not just my own. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad time to join SLT as long as you’re going in with your eyes open in terms of workload.

I’ve been an AHT for 4 years in a primary school. This term is extremely tough but thankfully the SLT are all supportive of each other so it’s manageable.

If it’s a job you want eventually and a team you would be happy to be a part of, I would go for it.

Morning everyone.

Thank you for all your helpful advice. I was right - they want to appoint someone internal to cover the Asst Head post. It's Primary. Large 3 form inner city school.

I'm still very much on the horns of a dilemma. I've had lots of conflicting advice.

One one hand, I can see how hard and stressful this year is for SLT. The hours worry me as I have young school-aged DC. I'm not sure if I even want it right now!! I'm pretty content with my lot and teaching in KS2 & leading my subject.

BUT I've had lots of colleagues urging me to apply, inc current SLT. I feel like there's an expectation to apply but don't think this is a good enough reason.

Any last minute advice? Deadline is end of this week!!!

I'm in a very similar position.

Have decided to not apply tho as I just think that this year would be a huge test of my time and be incredibly stressful.

I really don't envy anyone in SLT at the moment and am quite glad I'm not in their shoes!!

I wouldn't.. SLT is the worst as you are still teaching most of the time but have to be involved with all the management stuff! If you want to be a head it's a necessary step but if you don't want to do that then I'd stay just teaching.