Moving to an improving school

[RainbowColouredRainbows]

I am 2ic in a strong department in a lovely school. There are still issues like in any school, but it's generally speaking a happy workplace, so lovely in fact that there isn't a lot of movement, so I'm kind of stuck at 2ic and have been for about 8 years. Our academy chain expanded and took over an inadequate school. They brought in a really strong headteacher from another one of our schools who has made a lot of changes and things seem to be improving according to their first two monitoring reports. I was called into a meeting on Wednesday after the quality assurance team (of the trust) did an inspection and observed me teaching. I was told the HoD at this new school is leaving at Easter and so far no one has applied for the role (it is a shortage subject and an Easter departure, so not entirely shocking in itself) and have asked me to go in as of September as the HoD. I went to visit the school on Friday and I did get a positive vibe from the school, the department were lovely, and the head was really honest about the issues the school is facing but also really enthusiastic about the impact the new leadership was having, so I said yes.

I'm starting to get a bit anxious however. Ive been at this school for 12 years, since I was a PGCE and I'm wondering if I've made the right choice. Has anyone started at a school that's improving and got positive stories or am I going to completely regret this decision?

First of all - well done on being headhunted for that position and congratulations on the promotion.

12 years is a long time so there is no doubt you are feeling anxious about moving on but as you say, you’ve been in your current role for 8 years now, I would say you’re more than overdue for a promotion - it is good to get out and move around schools to gain more experience. Having read what you have wrote also, I feel that you can make massive impact in this role as HoD too.

It sounds very much that if you want career progression you are going to have to leave your current school one day. It’s not ideal to be looking at senior roles only having experienced one school so this sounds like a golden opportunity, especially as the leaders of the new school already know and rate you. I’ve generally specialised in working in challenging and improving schools and they are very rewarding. I have worked in one ‘lovely’ school and tbh I found it a bit stultifying.

Thank you both. I'm definitely realising more and more that it was the right decision for my career progression, but ultimately a very sad decision on a personal level as I will definitely miss my colleagues and some of my students who I assumed I'd be taking through to a level.

I moved from an outstanding school to one that was RI

Best thing I ever did!