My main question is whether a jump from class teacher to Head of Department is possible or usual? Would an application looking to make this jump raise eyebrows (from the recruiting school or current referees!)?
Bit of background, if relevant: I teach a core subject, am at the top of the payscale, caught Covid in school last year and am feeling a bit disillusioned with the way things are now being done at my school and in my department, specifically.
Our original SLT link is now acting Head and still line managing us, and objectively isn't doing a great job of either. Changes are being implemented on a whim, without research, time, proper consultation or what seems like regard for how our subject works or even the children in front of us.
I'd like to move, but am first wary of applying somewhere who doesn't want to pay UPS3 for a teacher, and concerned that if I were to secure such a post, I'd struggle elsewhere with having little input into wider curriculum, assessment or subject pedagogy decisions.
I can't see any second in dept/assistant HoD posts, but I have read the person specification of a HoD post, which does not ask for prior experience in the role (or any leadership role) and in fact doesn't even mention even informal responsibilities for areas of teaching and learning, or having an effect on classes other than your own. I do have experiences of mentoring other staff and taking the lead in areas of the department improvement plan (as current school demands for those paid on UPS). The only point I can't really address is holding and managing a budget.
I guess I'm asking if I have ideas above my station here, or whether it would be appropriate to apply for what is really a couple of steps up. Another consideration might be that the job role requirements have been designed in order to promote someone else from their existing department to the post, who has similarly little experience in middle leadership, but who they already know has potential!