How to ask for a promoted position?

[Laura2121]

Hello all

I am new to my current school, where I work as a teacher. I have almost 10 years of classroom teaching experience under my belt and I had actually interviewed here for a HoD position. I have been HoD in two previous schools.

This school wanted me, but offered the HoD position to someone who had interviewed for ‘teacher’ in this department a few months prior to me, and offered me the ‘teacher’ position instead, offering her the HoD title. They did say to me at the time when I was hesitating to take the offer that once I get my foot in the door, there might be other opportunities coming up later.

I am wondering if there are certain things that I can do in order to perhaps ask for a ‘second to HoD’ or equivalent job? I feel a little under stretched since I had interviewed for HoD. Leaving the school to apply for a HoD position elsewhere is not something I’d prefer to do since there are a lot of other aspects of this school which suit me well.

Many thanks

I’m not sure you can, unless it’s built into the staffing structure of the school. If there are similar ‘second to HOD’ in equivalent departments you could raise it with your line manager/SLT and see if there is any scope for a promoted post, but unless it’s budgeted for etc… I’m not sure you will be successful

This sounds familiar. Did you post about this situation in the summer?

You can ask but I’m afraid it’s unlikely. Staffing budgets will already be set and whether you are in state or private there won’t be much flex in them. Unless you have firm commitments in writing I’m afraid that promises or hints that were made when they were persuading you to take the job are unlikely to be kept.

It is worth looking into options for further study, maybe an NPQ or a masters, if you find that you need more of a challenge.

I’ve seen a post about this before to be fair on these forums -
If there was a second in department position then you would have already/most likely been made aware of it already.
You can discuss progression opportunities in your appraisal but they just cannot ‘magic’ up a position for you as schools have ever tightening budgets and all the non necessary roles have likely to have been made redundant.

Given that they have indicated there are progression opportunities though, you should have asked at the time before accepting what these are and timescales - because what it would look like on paper is that you were a HoD previously and you’ve joined a new school and taken a step back in your career?

"There might be an opportunity" is management speak for no. I've been there a few times; it never materialises. You're convenient as a teacher.

You say you don't want to move, but if you're in a desirable subject, even threatenting to move may open up avenues otherwise closed to you. Make it credible, apply and get a job offer. Either they offer you a TLR or a new school will.

In a state school, they can't really just make a post for you. If they made a 2nd in Department post, they'd have to advertise it, at least internally, and allow others to interview. It might be that no-one else would be interested or suitable, but they have already turned you down for the HoD job.

Schools will often make whatever promises they can to try and attract teachers and get them to stay. Unless it's something in writing stating which post and when, it's unfortunately unlikely to happen.

There's no harm in saying you're interested in your next step, and to start applying for other jobs. In my school there's been cases where someone was told there wasn't any position available for them, but when they began applying for other jobs, then magically money became available to fund a TLR for them. Obviously any TLR post would have to be advertised internally etc. but if they want to keep you badly enough, they might do so.

Hello all,
Thank you for your replies so far. I just wanted to provide an update to this thread.
With it getting close to Xmas, I approached the HoF about any extra responsibilities I could be taking on.

The response I got was unfortunately a little vague; she said that in the new year, when the heads of biology, chemistry and physics have a meeting at the start of the term, they can see which areas are in need of filling in/ help, and we can then look at what I can do.
She does have my best interests at heart but unfortunately I don’t know if I will end up getting a promoted position if I stay here.

Apart from to my lovely students, I am virtually invisible in the school. In addition to my teaching I am doing a lot to help out at weekends and evenings when they’ve needed staff volunteers, however, the Head almost doesn’t even know my name. This is a sad contrast to the slightly younger woman who did get appointed head of biology (she’s 30, I’m 34), the role I had wanted, whom he greets enthusiastically when he sees her.

I think this will have to be a case of me moving on soon. It is a shame because I love the school, it is a good fit for me and I love this new area that I moved to. But being in my prime and having a lot to give whilst having my wings clipped isn’t going to do well for me.

Thank you all for your responses