Hounslow offers a range of courses for those who are working towards Headship
Linda Thomas, Headteacher at Sparrow Farm Junior School tells us about the support she received when working towards Headship:
“Applying for your first headship post can be a daunting experience. Attending the Preparing for Headship LA course was a useful opportunity for me to discuss the application process and share perspectives with newly appointed heads about their own experience. It gave me the chance to reflect on why I wanted to be a Headteacher and re-affirmed my resolve to pursue my ambition. It was useful to meet other colleagues with similar aspirations and reassuring to know that the Local Authority advisers were there to offer support”
LA Induction
Hounslow offers a comprehensive Induction programme for all new staff to the Borough or new to the role of School Leadership. We feel that a great part of our school's and pupil's success stems from the wide range of support available to the Headteacher / Deputy Headteacher, particularly when they are first introduced to their role. We also feel that is important to encourage collaborative relationships between our Senior Leaders across the Borough.
Anjali Sakhardande, Headteacher at Hounslow Manor School, gives her thoughts on joining the borough:
“I became the Headteacher at Hounslow Manor in September 2007; I knew that Hounslow Manor was an extremely friendly and welcoming environment to go to, so I relished the thought of meeting my new Hounslow family and working together to help our young people achieve the very best that they can.
Having met with other Headteachers in a similar situation on the Local Authority Headteacher’s Induction Programme, this gave me a commonality and I had reassurance from my Headteacher mentor.
The professional support from the LA, and also from other Hounslow Headteacher colleagues has been invaluable particularly as I have been able to call on them for advice and support at any time, during my first year and beyond.
Being a Headteacher can be quite lonely and isolating but having all of this support makes the move much smoother and easier especially when dealing with such a vast range of issues and challenges.”
Please see attached here further information about our successful Induction programme. Whilst it’s not possible to outline the whole Induction programme on this site, we have provided a sample of events for 2008 –2009:
Deputy Head/Assistant Headteacher Induction Programme
Headteacher Induction programme
Leadership Support Network - Mentoring
For the new Headteacher ( Mentee):
- reduced feeling of isolation
- reduced stress and frustration/therapeutic benefits
- increased confidence and self-esteem
- the opportunity to reflect on the new role
- an accelerated rate of learning
- improved personal skills
- improved technical expertise/problem analysis
- friendship
For the Mentor:
- benefits to their own professional development
- improved performance/problem analysis
- insights into current practice
- awareness of different approaches to Headship
- increased reflectiveness
- improved self-esteem
Hounslow is committed to an effective Mentoring Programme for it's Senior Leaders including opportunities for Work-Shadowing and Observation.
Case Study:
Marion Lee is Headteacher of Grove Park Primary School in Chiswick and was appointed in September 2005. Sue Rose, Headteacher at Sparrow Farm Infant and Nursery School was her mentor during the first year and the attached is an interview with Sue and Marion reflecting on the mentoring
Associate Headteacher Programme NCSL
The aim of the NCSL Associate Headteacher Programme (formally the Trainee Headteacher Programme) is to encourage Deputy Headteachers to step up into headship in schools in challenging contexts, through a combination of hands-on experience, national development days and external mentoring support. For more information about this course please visit http://www.ncsl.org.uk/trainee-index
NPQH Briefing
This session takes place annually. It is an opportunity to become familiar with all areas of the NPQH. It outlines the requirements for applying to undertake the NPQH. Support for application is then available from LA advisory staff. Please visit: http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes/npqh/index.cfm
For more information about how to become a Headteacher in Hounslow, please go to our Join Us page.