Headteacher interviews are very different to deputy head interviews. With headship interviews, they want to know how you will put it all together: what's your vision?
Connecting at interview
This is the only part of a selection process you can be certain about. Although evidence suggests that formal interviews are not necessarily the most accurate way of determining the abilities of candidates, nonetheless they remain perhaps the most influential part of the process.
How well do you engage with interviewers? Critically, how does your personal leadership and communication style fit with governors' aspirations for the future?
As a senior leader, you will already have had many interviews, so the basic technique should be familiar. However, to win at this level, you need more than good technique.
In headship interviews, your personal leadership qualities will be under scrutiny to a much greater extent than in previous recruitment processes. To shine, your attitude and mindset will be just as important as your technical competence.
- Developing an interview mindset
- Being effective at interview
- Obvious questions that can trip you up
- Post-recruitment actions
- Winning over your interview panel: what colleagues say
Case study: Jonathan Block, Headteacher, The Thomas
Alleyne School, Stevenage
I moved from a deputy position in a successful
north London school to my first headship in a challenging school in Stevenage. At interview, I had to
quickly assess what the panel needed to hear. I was very honest. I saw a school that was in dire straits,
and I couldn't gloss over that with a vision for the school that ignored the massive challenges we would
face. You have to recognise where a panel wants to see real action, recognition of the problems and
challenges to the causes. Be honest, but be constructive, decisive and active.
