To mark National Careers Week, Reed is looking at how professionals can take the next step in their careers. For those in the education profession, this often involves moving into the senior leadership team (SLT) and eventually into a headteacher or principal position.
How can you make the leap? What skills and traits should you develop? What does a headteacher do day to day? We spoke to Maggie Callaghan, Principal at Desborough College, to find out.
Q: What made you want to go into teaching?
A: I always wanted to be a teacher, but due to life choices I didn't actually train until I was 29 and my son was 18 months old. I love English and reading and I was inspired to go into the profession by a series of amazing English teachers.
Q: When did you first realise that you wanted to be a headteacher?
A: I wasn't sure that I did want to be a headteacher initially. However, I saw an advert for a headteacher role which said, ”a small school with big ambitions” and I thought that really sounded like me!
Q: What steps did you take to prepare for the role?
A: I was studying for my NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship), but I also did a lot of reading about what starting at a new school would be like. I also read about CEOs of companies and other leaders to get to grips with what leadership entailed.
Q: Could you outline what a typical day for a headteacher looks like?
A: Ha! There isn't really a typical day.
I arrive at work at about 6.45am-7am. I catch up on emails and check through my calendar. Any staff who are sick call me between 7am and 7.30am, then I have a leadership meeting at 7.45am every day. Then, I am on gate duty from 8am-8.30am every morning.
Once lessons start, my day entails walking the school and being on call to pick up students who are being disruptive, along with meeting with department heads and other members of the leadership team. These meetings are usually about the strategic direction of the school.
Q: Which part of the role do you find most rewarding?
A: Anything that involves interacting with our students - they are amazing.
Q: What is the one key skill, attribute or trait you need to be a headteacher?
A: You need three: patience, resilience and compassion.
Q: What advice do you have for education professionals aspiring to be headteachers?
A: Do your research about the kind of school you want to lead and why. Also, make sure you talk to your family/partner about what it will entail and how you will balance your life. As it is an all-consuming job, you should establish routines that mean you do have a life outside of school and don't waiver from that.
Find out more about how Reed can support your career progression in education.
