Could I be an assistant head?

[closingtime101]

Hi all, looking for some advice. I've been at the same one form entry school in a city for 12 years as a class teacher. There hasn't been ANY movement in SLT and we don't have heads of year/key stages as we are so small. I'm the subject lead for PSHE and RE. I've always been happy staying in the classroom but now I've had my second child I'm feeling I would like to try something new and progress a bit into leadership.I was meant to take over the SENDCo role at my school but for various reasons it didn't happen, so I am going to have to go elsewhere for new opportunities. The trouble is I am now UPS 1 and there are very few places which would honour this salary (understandably) for just a class teacher. An assistant head job has come up at another school in the borough and I wondered if I would ever be considered for it. I have led two subjects, but they are not core subjects, though I have led on different initiatives. Any senior leaders out there who could advise? Should I try to get a core subject lead role somewhere? These seem to be internally advertised though. What would you look for in an assistant head?
Thank you!

I am guessing that you are primary.

I would go for it -
you clearly have plenty of teaching experience and you are a subject leader so you have experience in leading whole school initiatives.

For an Assistant Head role, I’d be looking for someone who has solid teaching experience with some subject leadership or experience as a phase leader.

is there a person specification with the application pack for the role? You can tick off what they’re looking for vs your experience….

I’d enquire to see if you can visit the school though first and get a feel for it and whether you feel the school is right for you….. Gives you the opportunity to ask questions before you apply.

Thank you! I'm doing the NPQSL this year and I'm also a trained Mental Health Lead, if that adds any strings to my bow. But I don't think I got an interview for this AH job (the interviews are next week and I haven't heard anything). I feel quite disheartened as I really liked the school and worried I stayed at my other school too long. Thank you for the advice.

I would be looking for core subject leadership in your school if you want to progress and there are no KS leads. PSHE and RE don’t demand enough whole school leadership IME but it depends on where you are in the country and how many candidates apply. Are you KS1 or KS2? Is there anything else you can take on to demonstrate more whole school leadership/monitoring. Show you can deliver, implement and monitor changes

Unfortunately the core subject leaders have been around since the dawn of time - no movement there either :(

there’s a job near me for Senior Curriculum Lead, which would be overseeing much of the curriculum at this school - I’ll go for that and hope that gives me some of the experience I would need. Thank you.

I had a similar experience at my old school. SLT positions were filled by (male) teachers moved from other schools in the MAT. No opportunity to apply. They were less experienced than me and I just had enough. I applied for a job in another educational setting, took a pay cut and was promoted into the management team within a year.

Think that role will be better for you and then you can progress straight into a deputy role then.

Several vacancies of this type recently came up in the school DS teaches in. All of the applicants were HoDs or HoYs and those successful were those with the greatest experience within those roles.
Obviously you have several strings to your bow and I don't think you should be disheartened if you don't get an interview for this Asst Head Post. The Senior Curriculum Leadership job sounds like it will offer you some new challenges and you'll be better qualified for an Asst Head role when another vacancy at that level comes up.