Hit the Ground Running in September.

In teaching, is there any other way? Everything is so intense, so full-on, that sometimes it’s only the impetus that carries you forward to the next class, the next coursework deadline, the next parents’ evening. And, as the Head of Department, you can’t allow yourself the luxury of flagging. Your colleagues need your energy and your leadership. Here, right now, with the exam classes finally gone, is when and how you put the extra hours into your September days.

Where to start?

Begin with the big picture, the big headings: Review, Curriculum, Resources, Paper Work, Staff Development, Getting ahead of the Game. Yep, it’s a big job, but that’s part of the challenge that got you here in the first place, isn’t it?

Review is as natural as breathing to any good teacher, and to every Head of Department. What went well, what didn’t? What would I do differently? This can affect everything, your staffing decisions, your schemes of work, your organisation and your resources. Remember that we are always on hand to help with that, always there to help you bring exciting ideas into your classrooms.

The key thing when you do your review is to be objective; this not about beating yourself up but about moving forward. There’s a secret here and it’s called delegation. It’s all too easy to do everything yourself, but it’s time to link staff development to making life and the department run a little smoother. Time for a little genuine praise and an eye for talent. ‘X, I was really impressed by your work on the Tudors, so I would like you to develop some more on the other Key Stage 3 topics, you’ve earned the opportunity for some professional development.’

And there are other ways to help your colleagues in your department develop their own leadership skills. Negotiate some uninterrupted department time from the powers that be. It should be possible now that the exam classes have gone! Ask everyone to lead colleagues in an area of where they have particular skill: written feedback, using IT, good questioning, drafting reports, using data, improving the performance of boys, anything and everything can get thrown into the pot. And the unwritten payoff will be a greater sense of collaboration and teamwork.

Finally, use some of your lovely ‘free’ time to get ahead on the paper work. Draft your UCAS references while Y12 are in the exam rooms, get some statement banks drafted for the reports...but don’t do it all yourself. After all, it is the summer term.