Having just been successful as an internal candidate for Head of Department I thought it may be useful to share some of my thoughts regarding what made my application and interview successful, however reliable they may be!

I am going to attempt to be as concise as possible; if people would like to comment and discuss some of these points it would be great.

• Be true to yourself.
  • Be honest about weaknesses since your interviewers in all likelihood know you well anyway.
• Do not shy away from making clear what changes should be made.
  • In all cases there will be.
• Strive to lead by example in all areas as a classroom teacher.
• Remember you are still a schoolmaster.
  • Yes, it is an academic role however everything feeds into it.
• Being a HoD does not take you away from the kids!
  • This was something which made me hold off considering the role wrongly in years past since I was a head of year and I really value and enjoy getting to know the kids and being involved with them.
  • There are undoubtedly elements which fall independent of this however I intend to strive to know the students as I do now (as head of two year groups).
  • Doing this will help in supporting your staff with their teaching, behaviour management, etc as well as promoting your subject within the school.
• Remember that data is only one aspect of progress measurement.
  • Lesson observation (done in the right spirit), work scrutiny, discussion with staff and students over time will feed into this.
• Get across that you intend to make your department an example to others.
  • Quite simply, intend to make the department the best in the school.
  • How will your department be visible within the school (extra-curricular, outreach, exemplar).
• Do not forget teaching and learning!
  • This is more important than the administrative parts of the role.
  • Keep on top of research and read widely and model good practice on a department level for the benefit of the whole school.