Tips for applicants applying for jobs

Tips for applicants applying for jobs
One of my favourite things as Headteacher is recruitment and it is this time of year when applications go into overdrive. As I am currently going through this process, I thought it would be a good idea to share some suggestions and tips for applicants to avoid. Essentially, applying for a job is a competition. Albeit, one where the rules are not necessarily made explicit. Every Headteacher will be looking for different things from their applicants, but one thing is certain - candidates need to make themselves stand out for the correct reasons. Read More...

Why don't you use Twitter?

Why don't you use Twitter?
Our aim was simple: to share a video we had shown in that day’s assembly; and it worked! The next day we had pupils telling us that they had shown the video to their parents. As these things tend to do, it grew. While conducting lesson observations, I tweet about the great practice I’m seeing; I get pupils bringing me their work and I tweet it under #purplepenwork so that parents and the wider community can also share in their children’s success; I tweet on school visits so that parents know their children are enjoying themselves (and more importantly, when the coach is going to be late back!) Read More...

Stepping out of the Shadows: Why I Chose to Become a Headteacher

Stepping out of the Shadows: Why I Chose to Become a Headteacher
Less than a year ago, at the Kent Deputy Headteacher conference, a representative from the LA asked the delegates if they were interested in becoming headteachers. Those who were raised their hands - I was not one of them. A month ago, I secured my first headship. So, what changed? How did I go from being adamant that I didn't want a headship to actually taking that next step? Read More...
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