I am sometimes asked what a typical day is like for a Headteacher. As no day is quite the same, this is hard to answer! The variety of the job and working with great students and great staff is what makes it an amazing, if a busy role. The balance is to try and keep the job strategic and, where required, operational. I still teach which means I also have planning and marking to do.
My day nearly always starts with a briefing with the senior leadership team, a really useful way of everyone knowing all that is going on – that might be a reminder of Year 8’s going to London that day or a de-brief on a parents evening held the day before. It can be as serious as an issue I need to deal with or as pleasant as being asked to congratulate a pupil who has been highlighted to me by a member of staff. I know the team enjoy this as much as I do and sets us all up for another busy day!
As no day is the same it also means that no situation is ever quite the same. Experience and knowledge are very useful. The ultimate guide is what is in the best interests of students.
For example, on the day I’m writing this I’ve been contacted by a journalist about the success of our mobile phone policy – something that definitely falls into that category – contact with the press is not an everyday occurrence, but very welcome when it’s a positive story.
On my busiest days it is possible that I would have spent some time with the business manager over budgets and premises. I may have met more formally with students through School Council. I will probably have drafted a letter or two. I could be meeting with members of staff to discuss curriculum planning and development or how to support teaching and learning across the school.
A few staff are leading some reviews on several areas such as assessment, and I enjoy hearing updates on how these are going. This will keep us evolving and developing even better practice whilst not losing sight of what works well especially around the relationships, ethos and extra-curricular programme.
I keep my eye on national developments, and we are linked in with several networks. A relatively new government has its own ideas on education and standards, and we want to keep an eye on these. There are several consultations around legislation, inspection frameworks and curriculum to contribute to.
However, the joy of the role is the interactions with the students, and I try and go out of my office most lunchtimes. Our students are great, they are interested and interesting, articulate and thoughtful. Seeing them develop into well rounded adults ready to make their mark in the world, often over seven years is what makes this one of the best jobs in the world even if there is no typical day.
Warm regards,
Philip Hurst
Headteacher
Read the previous edition of the Headteacher’s Blog here.