My school, been there just under a year. I’m head of a department that was already quite dysfunctional when I arrived – lots of long-standing issues, cliques, and people who don’t like change. We’ve got some new members but they’re tricky too.
I have quite a strong personality and I’ll be honest, the stress has got to me a couple of times and I’ve snapped in meetings. Nothing outrageous, but enough that I know it didn’t look great. My relationship with my line manager is a bit strained too – not open warfare, but not exactly warm either.
Recently my line manager told me that a member of upper SLT who used to be a HOD is going to start “supporting” me and the department. He spoke to me about his own experience of leading tricky teams and said he’d be meeting with me regularly.
The email started this way:
Dear [me],
As we’ve discussed, I’ve asked [SLT person] to provide you with some support in your role as Head of [subject].
[SLT person] has previously led [subject], so is well placed to coach you. As you know, I will be going on to do some extra trust level leadership. Stillline managing the department, but I want to make sure you have the support you need to continue developing in the role.
I’ve arranged for you and [SLT person] to meet on a reoccurring basis for a few weeks.
[SLT person] will contact you next week to arrange your first meeting.
Best Wishes,
[Line manager]
A friend I spoke to said I should be careful in case this is a “soft” lead-in to capability or a way of building a case if they decide I’m not up to the job.
My instinct from the email is that it’s being framed as coaching/support, especially with the line about my manager’s role changing and wanting to make sure I’m supported. But because the department is so messy and I’ve had a couple of wobblies, I’m now paranoid this is the first step towards formal capability or some kind of unofficial “informal stage”.
Teachers / SLT / HR people – in your experience, does this sound like:
- normal developmental support for a new HOD in a difficult department, or
- the kind of thing that’s used as the first step in a capability-type process?
What would you read into this if it were you?