What does a Head Teacher do?
A Head Teacher leads the staff and students of a school. They help create the curriculum and overall social environment that the Teachers and students must adhere to. They work closely with staff to ensure the school provides exceptional education, physical health, emotional well-being and parental involvement services to all enrolled students. Their daily tasks may vary greatly and can include anything from working directly with Teachers, creating a new syllabus to having cost control meetings dedicated to maintaining the school budget.
Head Teacher skills and qualifications
A Head Teacher should be professional, decisive and able to think quickly in order to take responsibility for the health and well-being of staff and students. A successful Head Teacher candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Business management skills
- Openness and flexibility
- The ability to work well with others
- Excellent customer service skills
- The ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- Leadership skills
- The ability to teach and design courses
- Excellent verbal and communication skills
Head Teacher experience requirements
A candidate must have experience working as a Teacher in a school as well as several years of experience as a Deputy Head or Senior Manager of a school. Some employers accept previous experience as an Ofsted Inspector or an Education Adviser as appropriate qualifications. In order to further their professional development, many applicants will have taken courses with the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership or the National Professional Qualification for Headship. Applicants will have had very different experiences due to the variety of schools within the UK, but all must have some experience where they provided leadership and guidance to an educational institution.
Head Teacher education and training requirements
Applicants must have obtained a university degree in one of the following areas: Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science. If they possess a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, they must also obtain a Qualified Teacher Status from the Department for Education. Many graduates complete a postgraduate teaching apprenticeship in the specific area where they want to specialise. After spending a few years as a Teacher within a school, an applicant should show progression to a more managerial role such as Deputy Head or Senior Manager.
Head Teacher salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Head Teacher is £45,904 per year in the United Kingdom. Salary is usually dependent on experience, location and company.
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