 | | Questions must relate mainly to the step-change between being a teacher and being part of a senior management team. This applies whether or not the interviewee is an internal candidate.
An existing teacher’s employment is relevant, but in competition with candidates from outside the industry, it is that teacher’s growth potential which is crucial. Therefore questions must centre on strategic and managerial issues in both cases and not vary significantly from candidate to candidate – anything else would be bad practice.
The ultimate goal is to find someone capable of a headship one day, which means taking a strategic view of the school’s strengths, problems, potential, desirable direction of development and improvement.
It also involves a strategic view of the relationship with the LEA, with outside agencies, with parents as a body distinct from the context of their children, their attitude to and use of the governing body, and of course people management.
Joan Sallis is Britain's best-known commentator on school governance. Her weekly 'Agenda' column ran in the TES for 12 years until last summer.
Resources
Governors
Hundreds more issues on Governorships are discussed in the Ask the Expert archive.
May 23, 2007
| | |
