10 Top Tips for Applying for a Headship

Are you are looking to progress into a leadership role this year? Or perhaps you are searching for a new headship opportunity? If so, then we have some fantastic tips from our HR colleagues at HR Connect on how to apply for a headship vacancy to give you the best chance at securing an interview.

Here are our top tips to remember when you are completing your applications:

1) Ensure you specifically comment on aspects of the person specification and ensure this is tied to the content of each section. Most Headteacher advertisements will have a ‘Leadership’ section in the personal statement, schools look for different skillsets and ensuring that the personal statement ties back to these points will be advantageous.

2) Keep your personal statement under 2 sides of A4. Panels may find it difficult to read multiple application forms with personal statements which are very long even if candidates are highly qualified. It is best to keep your personal statement succinct and relevant to the role. 

3) Understand the vision and values of the school and include these throughout the personal statement. Governors know these very well and candidates who appear more aware of the school’s values and culture will be at an advantage.

4) Attention to detail goes a long way in making sure your employment dates line up and that you clearly explain any gaps in your employment history. Another important tip to remember is to ensure your referees are correct.  

5) Highlight any recent continuous professional development as this conveys your genuine passion and interest in education and makes you a more attractive candidate to the recruitment panel. 

6) Visit the school and comment on how you fit the school and their values in your application. Making applications related to the school and values make applications stand out to the recruitment panel. It conveys to the panel that the applicant has thought at length about the application, why they are a good fit and why they would benefit the school, as opposed to it being a generic application sent out en-masse. 

7) Include demonstration of impact in your current position. It means more to governors and the Local Authority that you have made a positive impact in practice at your current school, as opposed to just stating that you have the skills and ability to do so. Doing this helps the governors understand that you have the ability to implement these skills in practice. This could be done using statistics of pupil achievement, budget or staff retention and should include an explanation of how your practice improved these.

8) Understand the school’s performance and current status. Some schools want to continue good growth, some have had poor leadership and need stability and these will be reflected in their Ofsted report. Candidates can also find out key information by visiting and touring the school. By researching and understanding the role thoroughly and commenting on this in your personal statement, you will ensure that the governors have confidence, that should you be appointed and that you will be able to “hit the ground running”.  

9) Finally, it is vital that teachers who apply for headship positions that are a good fit for them. Applicants that are successful have normally tailored their personal statement to the school and understand the vacancy well. You need to ensure that you would be happy at the school you are applying for. 

10) Don’t forget to double check! Personal statements are a lot of work. Some candidates like to sit and get it all down in one go, others prefer to take their time and do it little by little. Either way, reading it though with a fresh pair of eyes is vital to find any spelling errors or missed words that will detract from the flow of your statement. It also shows good attention to detail.

Once you have secured a job interview read these essential tips at how to navigate a Headteacher interview in our article “What to Expect When Interviewing for a Headship”.