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Preparing and applying for headship

Preparing and applying for headship

Being a headteacher is hard work, but it can also be hugely stimulating, personally challenging and intellectually fulfilling. Find out why headship might be for you and learn about the process of becoming a headteacher.

  • Why headship?

    Find out why headship might be for you.

  • Planning for headship

    Career planning to become a headteacher is about making choices: exactly the kinds of choices that will have characterised your career to date.

  • Identifying your ideal headship role

    How to find the right headship role for you.

  • Preparing your application

    How to put together a comprehensive and impressive application.

  • The supporting statement

    Read an example and get advice on how to write a successful supporting statement.

  • Navigating the selection centre

    The initial paper application is about demonstrating what you've achieved and how this relates to a new school. When you get to the selection centre, it is also about you as a person.

  • Your interview

    Evidence suggests that formal interviews are not necessarily the most accurate way of determining the abilities of candidates; nonetheless, they remain perhaps the most influential part of the process.

  • Next steps

    If you’ve been successful in an application for a headteacher position, the National College has resources and programmes to help you in the first few months and years of your headship. If you were unsuccessful on this occassion, some of these resources will still be useful in terms of helping you to prepare for your next application.

Publications

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Interactive resources
  • Tim Brighouse on leadership
    National College resources: In these audio clips, Professor Sir Tim Brighouse discusses the one job he never had, but always wanted: headteacher.
  • Preparation makes perfect
    National College resources: In this video presentation, Carrie O'Connor offers advice to aspiring heads on how to improve their performance at headship interview.
  • Finding the right post
    National College resources: In this video presentation, a former chair of governors stresses the importance of finding the right headship post.
  • Make a change, and not a small one
    National College resources: In this video presentation, a Fast Track teacher talks about making changes to help achieve personal goals.
  • Support with headship
    National College resources: In this video, an executive headteacher at a school in Hartlepool claims headship is a fantastic job, as long as you get the right support.

More related interactive resources

Articles
  • Planning for headship
    National College resources to help aspiring heads as they plan and prepare for the next career step - headship.
  • Next steps
    National College resources to help you during the initial few months and years of your first headteacher role.
  • Your interview
    National College resources that offer advice about headteacher interviews - the focal point of the selection process and your moment to shine.
  • Navigating the selection centre
    National College resources to help those already shortlisted for headteacher roles. Find out what to expect during the remainder of the selection process.
  • Preparing your application
    National College resources to help you apply for headteacher roles. Prepare by marketing yourself and seizing opportunities to make your application stand out.

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