Should I go for AHT role? Advice anyone?

[Chosenonesneakymincepie]

I am really happy in my current HOD role, I love my school, short commute, very invested in the school and the community. It is my 4th post and I have lots of varied experience. I competed the NPQSL a few years ago as I envisaged myself aiming for SLT. Covid disrupted all that.

I've now seen a post that is further away (commute would go from 15/20 mins to 45 to an hour) but an Outstanding school, part of a well regarded trust, if the hype on staff wellbeing and children's mental health is to be believed!? The role is linked to the 'extra' workload I currently have and has really piqued my interest.
The salary is around 7 -10 k more but with extra fuel costs this doesn't seem a lot for what is potentially a huge leap in workload.
So far real life advice has ranged from
Don't do it, you love your job stay where you are until retirement, to going into SLT is a different challenge that will be rewarding as it's time to pass the decades of experience on.
Anyone happy to share their pros and cons?

We have always been happy to move for a career opportunity, even after having kids. I think the older generations were happy to get a job and stay in it until retirement, but that's not quite how things are done these days. Your current job will not stay the same, have the same leaders, have the same feel forever. I would certainly consider the role! My husband's commute is around 45 minutes door to door, but we are considering moving closer.

Thanks for your advice. I agree things will change and I might regret staying. We would be in a position to move in around 3 to 4 years and it would certainly be in that direction.

I moved to AHT last year and would say my workload is different but not more maybe I'm doing it wrong lol

I do have to be more responsive and 'on call' more but it's not a move I regret

Ah that's good to hear. Do you feel you need to be present more in the evenings now things are getting back to normal? I don't mind this at all in current school, as it's so close, bit more concerned when I could be working further away from home.

The culture at our school is very much everyone out of the door by 5

Even governors meetings are straight after school and done by 6

I tend to do one late night a week but that's my choice, not an expectation

Sounds good. Thanks