Best Way to Impress Your Head of Department at School



Your Head of Department is an important part of your working life — they oversee many important decisions within the department and act as part of the middle management in the school management struc­ture.

In addition to managing departmental educational, they are also expected to manage people – the subject teachers within their depart­ment. Teachers who apply for general classroom practitioner jobs gen­erally meet their prospective Heads of Department during the interview process.

Middle managers have a wide variety of job responsibilities, includ­ing teaching, monitoring, departmental assessment and leading the department as a professional. Middle-management decisions can alter how a department is run and can also affect the whole school.

Department at School Best Way to Impress Your Head of Department at School

It is always advantageous to ensure your Head of Department likes you, not just as a teacher, but also as a person. Department decisions will affect your working role, so it is good practice to take an active interest in how the department operates, and contribute to the deci­sion-making process. By doing so, not only can you validate yourself as a good team player, you can also improve your understanding of management policies, and expand your career direction.

Top ten ways to impress your Head of Department

  • Take the time to chat to your Head of Department and get inter­ested in them as a person.
  • Show that you are keen and enthusiastic by accepting more responsibilities.
  • Become an excellent team player – pitch in and be a part of a solu­tion.
  • Meet your deadlines – ensure paperwork, marking and reports are up to date.
  • Start or take over an extracurricular activity such as a club or after-school sport.
  • Take the initiative – be seen to solve problems on your own as much as you can.
  • A little politeness can go a long way – always greet people with a smile and a friendly word.
  • Dress, act and speak professionally – make an effort to be a ‘model’ teacher.
  • Learn a new skill and share it with your colleagues.
  • Have excellent time-keeping skills and a flexible approach to your work.





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