Gaining Leadership Experience

There are many leadership positions within education from TLRs, middle leadership and senior leadership positions to more whole school roles driving excellence in any number of things from teaching and learning to ECT support, safeguarding to behaviour, well-being to curriculum. When first entering into teaching, you might already have your mind set on what kind of leadership role you might want in the future and that’s great, but you might not, and that’s fine too! Let me share my journey with you…

When I entered into teaching as an excited NQT, I had my sights set on a whole school position of working within the realm of teaching and learning. I knew it wasn’t going to happen straight away, of course, but that world was where I saw myself heading on the ladder of leadership and I wanted to get there FAST. I had crafted this vision for myself from the glowing feedback I had received as a trainee teacher, passing my teaching qualification with distinction and the illusive Outstanding grading. I had a shock when I got my first teaching job! I had built a certain confidence during my training year and felt like I had a grip on all the elements needed for a successful teaching career, but I crashed back down to earth when I realised how much more there was to learn when I actually started my career outside of the training room! Getting to grips with classes of my own, the curriculum, the sheer weight of the admin, the politics, the school policies and the (non-existent) work/life balance all WITHOUT my training wheels on made it feel like my dream of becoming a leader early on in my career was further away than I had hoped.

I got to work. Leadership within education HAS to begin in the classroom. I made it my mission to secure Outstanding by my school’s standards and this was a challenge as I faced a number of tricky classes and new, challenging topics. I researched, I trialled new strategies, I used my free time to watch Outstanding practitioners across a range of subjects, I attended any training/CPD opportunities that were available, I worked endless nights and weekends and I did get there. I made it there by Christmas in my NQT year but when I look back at what that felt like whilst in the midst of all of that, I have to question, was it worth it? And honestly, the advice I would give to my enthusiastic former self would be to SLOW DOWN. Racing ahead doesn’t always result in the positive outcomes of leadership offers being banded your way left right and centre. In fact, racing ahead can have a negative impact. This mentality for me, for example, set a precedent, even if just in my own mind – it set a whole bunch of unrealistic and unhealthy boundaries around work. YES, you need to be the best teacher you can be before you can expect to be trusted with a leadership position but try not to race there – enjoy the journey a bit more and try to be kind when it comes to setting targets and goals for yourself.

In my RQT year I secured a small TLR which involved me working on ‘closing the gap’ and working closely with EAL students to support them with their literacy skills within interventions. This was my first taste of leadership, and it was great to be working with my colleagues in a different capacity, it was exciting to be able to use my creativity and knowledge to devise interventions that worked and it was challenging but rewarding to learn more about the world of data tracking and analysis. I learnt a lot from this role. Was it the role I would have chosen for myself? No. Was it the role that was there at the time and I made the most of it to gain valuable experience? Absolutely. This happens a lot in schools. You might land the perfect job at the school of your dreams but the role you desire the most just never comes up. My advice within the early stages of your career would be to just throw your hat in the ring, make it clear that you are ambitious and want to progress. I had a very early conversation with my Head of Department about my ambition and what I wanted to achieve at the school – I think being transparent helps the school to think about you for roles and see you and understand you a bit more clearly. I didn’t retain this role for very long because two other positions luckily came up quite soon after I had started – Second in English and a whole school T&L role. Now, I’ve already told you where my sights were set and so it won’t come as a surprise that I was extremely excited about applying for the whole school T&L position. That was until I had a few conversations with trusted colleagues who saw a different potential in me. I had NEVER considered going down the academic subject route. Ever. And so hearing people say they think I’d be well suited to the Second in English position surprised but also encouraged and inspired me. The conversation did nothing other than open my eyes, and that was SUCH a powerful moment for me in my career. This was the moment I was open to other options than just the static path I had carved out in my brain. I researched the role, I spoke to more people outside of the school who held the same position and in the end, I decided to apply for that post instead. And honestly, I have never looked back. And so that’s the second piece of advice I think I’d give – be open. It might not necessarily be your ‘dream role on paper’ but it might end up unlocking the BEST path for you.

Once I was Second in English, it wasn’t long before I became Head of English which is the position I still hold today. Whilst Second in English, I also took any additional experience that was offered to me and also volunteered for things too such as delivering CPD training to other departments and whole school, driving mini projects within the department and whole school, for example. Whilst I was building a good leadership experience bank within my subject area, I wanted to continue to diversify my experience by working with senior leaders on whole school initiatives and priorities which really helped to prepare me for my Head of English role. I would thoroughly recommend doing this – the bits for free – the meetings, the training, the research, the sharing ideas – all of that makes a difference to not only the staff and students, but to how you’re perceived as a leader and what you can bring in a leadership capacity.

The jump from Second to Head of Department was a big one. I went from being a mere part of the leadership team to being the one in charge of decisions and with that comes a much larger weight of responsibility – not just for my team and the curriculum, but for the results that impact the school as they are reported and scrutinised nationally every year. Having risen through the ranks incrementally, this weight didn’t feel too heavy to carry and so I really do value all of the experience I gathered before this point in my career as it prepared me massively for the role I have and LOVE today.

Having become Head of Department quite early on in my career, many expected me to be at least Assistant Head by now. Have there been opportunities? Yes. Do I think I could have secured that role by now? Yes. Have I applied at any of the given opportunities? No. And that decision won’t be for everyone, but for me, one thing I learnt about leadership is that every role requires a new energy, a large quantity of head space, a willingness to put the job first for a period of time and I am at a point now where that just isn’t for me anymore because I have FINALLY established and am able to maintain a really healthy work/life balance. I haven’t lost my ambitious nature – I’m a Sagittarius, I will never lose that fire and drive within, but as far as school is concerned, HOD is where I want to be and I’m okay with not having a ‘next step’ in mind. I have created and sustained a happy and successful department, I have procedures and strategies in place that work, I have a leadership team that I have trained up to support me better than I could have imagined, I have been at the forefront of shaping and continuing to develop an exciting and diverse curriculum which I am really passionate about. I’m HAPPY, guys. I ALWAYS classed myself as one of those people who would climb and climb and climb always seeking out the NEXT opportunity as soon as I have secured the one in front of me but that changed. And not because of children, I don’t yet have any, not because of pressure from anyone else, this was a gut decision I made for myself. And that ambition that lives within me? I have directed that into the Busy Teacher’s Club and honestly, whilst the balance challenges me, I have never been happier with my work life. So for me, it’s not about ticking a load of boxes and fulfilling other people’s expectations of me, it’s about me vs. me, me looking inwardly and listening to myself and honouring what comes up.

Now one thing I haven’t mentioned which I ought to, is motivation. Some people want leadership positions for the status. Some people want leadership positions for money. Some people want leadership positions for the money. You’re not a monster if you’re motivated by money, not at all, but if you are ONLY motivated by money or status, you will likely feel some level of resentment at some point for the job. Try to find areas within education that you are passionate about and want to make a change in – that way, the money and status or whatever else drives you will just be happy consequences of you doing something you love. I think we ALL do things for free on our leadership journeys, I think we all have a role along the way that doesn’t set our worlds on fire, but try to unpick what your passions are, unlock what brings you to life and start there, start working for free there, doing projects, speaking to others and creating a group of you that want to make a positive change in an area. Start there. And if there continues to be zero opportunities within the school you’re at and you’ve done countless bits for free and told your leadership team about your desire to grow as a leader then maybe it’s time to move on and that’s okay. You shouldn’t feel stuck at a school with your wings clipped and you certainly shouldn’t be working hard developing your leadership and making a real difference at a school for a prolonged period of time with no reward through recognition and pay.

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on this and to hear about your leadership journeys! DM me on Instagram or email me with your thoughts if you get chance!

Jodi x