I have recently given up HoD (3 years of it, overseas) and in September I am going back to being 'just' a classroom teacher on a full-time basis. I have stepped down because I've recently moved my family back to the UK from overseas, I wanted to be able to settle my children (and myself!) back into life in the UK. I was a successful HoD but I managed a creative subject which was heavily affected by covid restrictions and to be honest the whole experience of trying to do the job as well as possible under those circumstances took it out of me, and I want to preserve my mental well-being.
However, I still have an interest in making career progress and had always wanted to try and reach a position of assistant head at some point. I'm 35 now and my DC are 6 and 8 so as they start to approach upper primary/secondary I had wanted to try and apply for these opportunities. But I suddenly feel like stepping down has reset me completely and I might not be able to do this. In an ideal world I wouldn't be HoD of my subject again but I'd like to take on other opportunities. Has anyone stepped down and up again according to their circumstances at the time?