School Department Head jobs
(Also known as
Department head of a school,
Head of department,
School department leader,
School department head teacher)
The department head of a school is responsible for leading the development of a specific subject area, and for managing the teaching staff and financial resources allocated to them under their department.
The head of a department at a school is given a particular subject as an area of responsibility, and it is their charge to raise the standards attained by pupils within that subject area. The department head seeks to raise overall standards of education by enhancing the quality and consistency of the teaching delivered by teachers under their supervision. The head of department ensures that teachers and support staff are adequately equipped with the technology and materials they require to deliver the curriculum effectively, and are accountable directly to the head teacher.
Salary
From September 2009, the starting salary for a newly qualified teacher is £21,102, or £26,000 for a position in inner London (source: Training and Development Agency for Schools). The average salary for a head of department in the UK last year was £42,447 (source: Barclays Finance), giving a possible range of salary from £29,000 to £64,000, depending on school location and candidate experience. For the 2010 data round, the anticipated average salary for a head of department in the UK should be around £50,418 (source: Barclays Finance).Responsibilities
- Devising the Long Term and Medium Term Plans for various assessment grades (GSCE, A-level, AS-level, BTEC, foundation degree).
- Monitoring the effectiveness of teaching and pupil learning of each qualification, via continued assessment methods and subordinate teacher feedback.
- Providing support and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) opportunities for staff.
- Monitoring data and progression, and acting upon the results by providing extra support for students when required.
- Promoting personalisation through trips and enrichment activities, clubs and events.
Qualifications
Formal qualifications are necessary for any teaching role. To begin with, the candidate must have achieved good enough A-level results to stake a place at university. The A-level subjects studied are often indicative of eventual subject specialisations within which the candidate will be teaching, although it is by no means necessary. A formal, recognised university degree is essential to teach.Skills
- Strong organisational skills are essential, as the head of a department has not only to manage their own time effectively, but they are also ultimately responsible for the teachers who fall under their department.
- Dedication to the end goal of delivering exceptional teaching is essential, and this is recognised even before the vocation begins, as the A-level and subsequent university paths demand a lot of effort and time.
- Patience is incredibly important because there can be bureaucratic barriers to day-to-day tasks, and the candidate is expected to show empathy towards both staff and pupils.
- Willing to go the ‘extra mile’. This covers a multitude of actions, and the hours often extend well beyond class time, with many tasks being completed at home.
- Flexibility to change an ongoing, structured plan, and to tailor one's approach to the current demands of the curriculum and OFSTED guidelines.
Working Conditions
A school can be an immensely challenging environment, made more difficult by the fact that no two pupils are the same. On top of the challenges that classroom teachers must overcome, the department head must also manage wholescale department planning and adapt processes to meet the demands of ever-toughening curriculum constraints. There have been notable cases in the press of teachers who have suffered persecution, threats and physical abuse, but cases are rare, and generally a school is considered a non-hazardous environment in terms of general health and safety. Stress associated with carrying out the role effectively can be immense, though. Moving from classroom teaching to a department head role brings significant increases in stress brought about by a need to manage others, on top of a tough personal schedule of teaching.Experience
Being the head of a department is seen as the next logical step from being a class teacher, although many teachers elect not to apply for department head roles because they do not want the extra stress of managing others and handling bureaucratic limitations. Others see the job of department head as being an essential stepping stone on the way to the ultimate goal of becoming a head teacher. Rules vary from school to school, but teachers will usually have at least four years' experience as classroom teachers before being considered for a HOD job.
