Dear all,
I would love some guidance on what you think would be most valued from schools going forward and what would look best on my CV.
Next year my school have offered to put me through the ISQAM (Independent School's Qualification in Academic Management), which I understand is the independent school's equivalent to the NPQ for middle leaders. It looks like a great course and something I would really enjoy.
I have also just been offered the opportunity to take on a whole school responsibility for our co-curricular programme. This is a high profile role in my school (we are high achieving independent secondary with a really varied and rich extra curricular programme). The role comes with one management point, but no time to do the role. The role plays to lots of my strengths and I think I would enjoy it.
Due to various factors in my personal life, I don't have time to take on both the training and the role, though I would love to. I would so appreciate some guidance on which you think would be better for my professional development? I am agonising over this decision and really can't seem to settle either way! I need to give them a final answer by tomorrow.
In case it's relevant, at the moment I am a secondary classroom teacher. I am a career changer, coming from management consultancy - so I already have some experience in project and people management. I aspire to take on more logistical and management roles in the school, lessening my classroom exposure. If I were to move schools in future it would be to a top 20 independent school where co-curricular is also really valued and high profile - but so too is the course!
So I guess the question is - is 'doing' management or having a management qualification better?
Huge thanks for any opinions!