Heads of Department: The Unsung Heroes.

You are the middle managers of the Education system, the glue [or should that be oil?] that makes the system work; you are the interface between colleagues and senior management, between exam board and classroom delivery, between problems and solutions. You take the flak with parents, governors and senior management. Just occasionally, if you are lucky, there may be a word of thanks along the way, but make no mistake, you are the unsung heroes of the education system. So what does it take to be a good head of department, Jack and Master of all trades?

Logistical Engineer

Running a department is a lot like running a business. You have to motivate a great many people, both colleagues and pupils. You have to be clear about your ethos and your expectations, and you’re driven by the ultimate profit motive, success for the students! Who will cope with the bottom set in Year 10? Who can coordinate the provision the Gifted and Talented, and who can look out for those with Special Needs? You have to balance your account and that’s where some of our great offers can help too.

The Lawyer/Tactician: [Know your spec!]

First and foremost, you will have picked your way through every clause and sub clause of the specifications from your exam board. We all know that the syllabuses at every level have been reinvented in the last twelve months and what a job it has been getting everything back in the groove! You could be dealing with specifications for GCSEs, AS and A levels, Vocational A levels, Diplomas, Extended Projects…but you have found the best match between the syllabus and the strengths of your staff.  You’ve also explored our website and ordered in some of the great new textbooks that have been written specifically for the new courses.

The Translator

You can think in mnemonic and know your CATs from your SEFs, are fluent in exam-speak, and adept at translating all the legalese into terms that every NQT and old stager can understand. Then you’ve translated it all into yet another language, the one that will be clear as glass for the students. And you know that the right textbooks can save you a lot of legwork and can be a real lifeline in the classroom.

The list is endless…diplomat [the canny negotiator with irate parents, difficult students]…consultant [everybody comes to you don’t they?]…slip-fielder [the buck stops with you, always]… and yes, Magician!