How / what to prepare for a new job

[JobbyNeuf]

Changing job to start for the new academic year. Going to be "HoD" in a small private secondary, just 3 members of the department including me. Have no idea what to be preparing in order to save myself time in September. Any ideas, please?

Well that completely depends on what's already there and what subject you are going to. A new HOD for MFL, that will be going into a brand-new spec, will probably have a bit more work than other subjects, I imagine. Equally, going into a department where everything is set up and results are good, is going to look very different for a new HOD going into a department where there is currently nothing.

We have our first ever year 11 cohort this coming year; they've been studying the IGCSE last year but some new students will be joining and I don't know what they've done (presume nothing.)

They will then be going on to IB the following year (first year 12 cohort) so for staff there will be prepping and training this coming year for that plus starting to introduce IB values in years 7 through 11.

I have received the basics of the curriculum for ks3 and have made some surface tweaks. Don't yet know who is teaching which ks3 class (I have ks4).

Have asked for the books we need and presume/ hope they have been ordered.

It sounds like you haven't been given much information?

Can you email the office to see if you can get an overall department timetable.

Also, I would prioritise finding out what the new, incoming Y11s have done - it may not be IGCSE but they must have done something? Then you can work out what they need in Y11 if there are gaps that need filling.

So those two things need to be a priority.

I would then suggest working out what you department priorities are for this year and produce an action plan.
So, one could be preparing for the new IB
Teaching and learning focus- challenge/oracy/literacy??
Etc.

For the first few weeks, I would strongly recommend really getting to know your team and the department- what are the strengths, areas for development, what works and what needs changing? This then feeds into the development plan.

Make sure you meet your line manager early in the term to discuss priorities and the action plan.

Are you a new HoD? If so, find someone in school who is experienced at the role and see if you can buddy up.

Good luck!

Thank you so much, as you say, I'm still waiting for a lot of information. It seems more a case that some of it isn't available (yet) rather than being withheld. The head of secondary (my line manager) is my contact and I've asked a lot of questions; I'm waiting for a reply to the latest round, assuming she's on holiday.

I don't yet know the other department members.

The timetable is not yet ready. I know what the Y11s did in Y10 so what remains to be covered now. What I don't know is where the new Y11 students are coming from (assuming they haven't done any of the curriculum so will need to catch up asap.)

The head and I have discussed in depth vision, aims, etc. and that's essentially why I took the job as I feel we are aligned and the school's vibe and profile are what I'm looking for.

What I feel I am missing is the day to day and detail, which I guess is normal when joining a school.

I am racking my brains to think of jobs I can get ahead on, knowing the start of term will be busy and I'll be wanting to get to know the staff and students.

I do have a computer, but no access to the network yet.

Good luck with the new role! Could you rake the shared drive for info about school, and also read policies?

Thanks, I have snooped on the drive and there's not a huge amount there, no policies although I have asked for them. I did see some photos of my new colleagues which makes it all a bit less daunting. We start on 2nd Sep. so on 26th August (i.e. 1 week before) I'll e-mail again to ask for stuff.

Can't really think of anything else to do to prepare for my teaching.

Hopefully all will be OK once you start - do you have an INSET day? That should help.

In all honesty, and I really hope I'm wrong, the lack of information/contact/policies etc. Would worry me - although I appreciate small private schools will run differently to a large state secondary.

Please be totally honest and don't sugarcoat anything, I agree. The head has been very frank about their gaps and my rôle will in part involve filling those gaps. I've asked lots of questions and feel the answers have been clear.

In terms of policies, I have seen some and it's that they haven't been shared with me yet (and some are being updated for the new school year - they have changed address, for example, so a lot of health and safety stuff needs to be altered.)

There are 5 "INSET" days, but I haven't yet received the programme. I have some medical stuff going on for which I will need some absence in the INSET period and or first couple of weeks of term (don't know dates yet) which is also making me feel more pressure to be organised, etc. (Also just generally making me anxious about health.)

Therefore any tips etc. at all are very much appreciated.