Too young?

[Pianoplayer190]

The role of head of department has arisen at work. I would love the opportunity to apply for it as I stepped up and took on the role while he was away briefly and did my best to support the rest of the team so no one felt the strain of the deputy being out.

The only issue is, I always felt the head of department had an issue with me due to me being able to support them in their role while they were away. I heard through the grapevine that people said he felt a bit intimidated. (Could be a load of rubbish as gossip usually is).

As much as I’d love to apply. I’m worried about what others would think. Maybe they think I haven’t got enough experience (4 years). Personally, I have shadowed him at times as I wanted to see what his daily role entails and I’ve always asked if I can help when doing exam analysis etc to get a better understanding of the data side of the role. But he always seemed reluctant to show me. I’m not sure why. In terms of appraisals if I’ve ever asked to go on courses. He never seems to acknowledge it

The unusual thing was also he said “just to give you the update I will be leaving soon. I’ll leave that with you incase it informs your decision about whether you choose to stay or go” which threw me slightly.

Id love to apply, even if I just got to have the interview experience.

Not sure what the question is. If you want to apply then apply 🤷‍♀️

You stepped up when the hod was off so no one felt the strain of the deputy being off??

Apply if you want it. Number of years of service is more or less relevant depending on subject.

Sorry I was typing it mid cuppa😂basically. I’m only 4 years in teaching. Also I don’t know why I typed deputy. I did mean head of department.

My concern is people would say “ooh he’s far too young and new to the role” and heads will start to roll.

Why would heads roll?

If you want it, apply. In my subject, you'd be unlikely to get it against someone with more experience... but I've known hods appointed after a couple of years in other subjects.

May I ask why it wouldn’t be offered to someone who’s less experienced in your subject specialism? Thank you.

“The only issue” is that he had a problem with you stepping up? But he’s leaving, so won’t be an issue? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Because someone who has been teaching 4 years has less experience than someone who has been teaching 10.
Have you taught all year groups?
Got any experience leading and managing a team?
Have you ever done external assessment?
Managed the budget?
Supported a colleague dealing with challenging behaviour?

So you were asked to be acting HoD while he was away? Is there no 2nd in your dept or are you the 2nd?

Very much depends on subject and size of department to be honest.
I was asked to go for a HoD role after 2 years by the LEA advisor (I'm old!). They were desperate. I didn't go for it as knew I wasn't ready. The person who did take it on ended up leaving teaching after a year!
Anyway, the following year I went for KS3 Coordinator. That gave me the experience to be Deputy HoD and then HoD (and gave me evidence for interview!).
But then I teach English, if you teach Music you could be a HoD much earlier in your career, but just because you ARE the department.

Thank you for your feedback. I looked at the job spec, it seemed as though they want minimum 5 year’s experience but I only have 4. I feel quite pathetic even enquiring, I get quite nervous that I’ll be laughed at for asking. I’d love the role, I really would, but I’m having that little voice inside me say “are you really experienced/good enough”

I know but he will know, and I imagine will probably think I’m not good enough considering he has 20 years experience in comparison to my measly 4 😩

Have you taught all year groups? Yes
Got any experience leading and managing a team? Yes in a previous role but not in teaching, although I did my best to step up during a period of absence that my manager had.
Have you ever done external assessment? No
Managed the budget? I’ve looked at the budget and worked with my hod for organising trips etc
Supported a colleague dealing with challenging behaviour? Yes, again while my manager was off I did this.

Again, I suppose my concern is I’ll just be laughed at for even considering it and current hod will laugh at me considering he’s been hod for 20 years I believe and I’ve only been teaching 4.

What subject do you teach?

If you want it, apply.

Maybe it’s better to think of the reasons not to apply? If you can’t find any good reasons not to apply, you should go for it. Here are some examples of reasons that might give a person pause when considering whether they are ready to apply for their first HoD job:

They’re in their third year of teaching English, and they have a high volume of parental and student complaints and serious behaviour incidents in their classroom. Some of these incidents have had safeguarding implications, and they haven’t even realised this until they’ve posted about them online.

Their teaching is insecure and they struggle with organisation (i.e. arriving to lessons late). When this has been (gently) pointed out by their line manager, they’ve been extremely defensive and upset.

They have no leadership experience within teaching, and no leadership experience prior to teaching.

Although they claim to have stepped up as acting HoD, this was in no way a formal arrangement and the rest of their team would be both a little confused and quite amused to hear them describing themselves in this way.

They don’t have particularly good relationships with the rest of their team, and their team would have legitimate concerns about being line managed by them.

They struggle with conflict resolution, in both their personal and professional life.

If nothing like this applies to your situation, you should be totally good to go! Good luck with the application and fingers crossed for you :-)

You need to get being stuck on 4 years out of your head.

You should apply, if nothing more it will a) give you interview experience and b) show your school you're serious about taking on more responsibility.

The thing is though - unless they’ve got a specific candidate in mind then you have nothing really to loose by applying - the fact that you covered that role before - that’s given you experience somewhat in the role already - how did you perform in that role? Has your current line manager had a conversation with you about applying or discussed your future development?

If you’re worried what others might think about you applying, you’re not ready for any sort of leadership role.

How much additional non contact time is allocated to the role would be a significant factor for me.