Fast-Track to Subject Leadership: Preparing for Head of Department
ABOUT THIS COURSE
This high-impact course is designed for aspiring Heads of Department in secondary schools who are preparing to take their first step into academic leadership. Whether you have just been appointed or are ready to apply, this programme provides a research-informed, practical and honest insight into what it takes to lead a high-functioning department with clarity, confidence and credibility.Combining structured sessions, scenarios, and strategic career advice, the course will cover the mechanics of departmental leadership, time management, lesson observations, working with Early Career Teachers (ECTs), team development, using data intelligently, and leading through change. It also includes a focused session on interview success, guidance on how to run effective department meetings, and a practical section on how AI tools like ChatGPT can help you work smarter.
You will leave with a clear sense of what the role entails, what excellent leadership looks like in your context, and how to take your next steps.
BENEFITS OF ATTENDING
- Leave with detailed action plan for stepping confidently into leadership
- Take away a bank of practical tools, leadership strategies and interview tips
- Receive an annotated reading list and research summary
- Gain templates for lesson observations, department meetings, and curriculum audits
- Insights into how to lead with authenticity and effectiveness from day one
PROGRAMME
10.00am: Welcome and Introductions- Setting expectations for the day
- Identifying your leadership motivations and personal ‘why’
10.15am: The Mechanics of Being a Head of Department
- What does the role really involve?
- Managing and supporting ECTs and new colleagues
- Overseeing schemes of work and curriculum development
- Conducting lesson observations: what to look for, how to give feedback
- Analysing data to drive student progress
- Line management, appraisals and quality assurance
- Balancing classroom teaching with leadership demands
11.15am: Break
11.35am: Educational Research Every HoD Should Know
- What the evidence says about leading effective departments
- Creating a culture of high expectations (drawing on research by Leithwood, Hargreaves, Coe, Lemov, and others)
- Translating research into departmental policy and practice
- A short, annotated list of recent studies to support curriculum and pedagogy decisions
12.15pm: From Teacher to Leader: The Leadership Mindset
- Moving from peer to manager: common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- The role of emotional intelligence in academic leadership
- Building credibility with your team
- Leading change with integrity
- 360-degree leadership: managing upwards, across and downwards
1.00pm: Lunch
2.00pm: Time Management and Efficiency
- Balancing priorities with limited time
- Strategies for avoiding burnout
- Delegation, organisation and strategic calendar use
- Running efficient department meetings
- Using AI to save time: model uses in observation writing, feedback, admin, and resource generation
2.30pm: Leadership Scenarios: What Would You Do?
- Short, structured group discussions of scenarios
3.00pm: Break
3.05pm: Interview Preparation: How to Stand Out
- What schools look for in HoD candidates
- Preparing for leadership interviews: common tasks and questions
- How to speak confidently about leadership, curriculum and vision
- Bringing your track record and ambition to life on paper and in person
- Mock questions and model answers
- Application form and covering letter tips
3.45pm: Action Planning and Q&A
- What will you take forward from today?
- Personal leadership next steps
- Optional networking and informal Q&A
4.15pm: Depart
Leadership - Code: T0421
Fast-Track to Subject Leadership: Preparing for Head of Department
Course Leader
Dr Stephen Belding is Director of Academic Programmes for Rugby School Global Partnerships and former Head of Chemistry at Rugby School. He holds an MChem and a DPhil in Chemistry from Oxford University, as well as a Masters in Education from the University of Buckingham, where his research explored school inspection reports and the drivers of excellence in schools. He also serves as the governor responsible for teaching and learning at Ashlawn School in Rugby, sits on the governing council of ISEB, and works as an A-level examiner.
Course Brochure
