Comments on: The Problem with Promotion http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/ Education. Technology. Productivity. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5670 Doug Belshaw Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:31:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5670 I'd only ever go down the consultancy role part-time, I think, Joe. I enjoy teaching too much and wouldn't want to just be another voice who's not actually rooted in real-world, current experience. At the same time, I feel like becoming Head of History could potentially mean I 'tread water', as I'd only really be doing it for management experience. It's a tricky one! I’d only ever go down the consultancy role part-time, I think, Joe. I enjoy teaching too much and wouldn’t want to just be another voice who’s not actually rooted in real-world, current experience.

At the same time, I feel like becoming Head of History could potentially mean I ‘tread water’, as I’d only really be doing it for management experience.

It’s a tricky one!

]]> By: JRowinghttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5666 JRowing Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:33:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5666 I've been thinking long and hard about this one too - Personally I like the AST role. I think it'd be fun but for the fact that a lot of the outreach would be dictated by the schools - so I'd be more likely to spend time teaching the basics and supporting staff rather than spreading the word with regards to ICT. My own conclusions were to head down the HOD/ICT route which I have started doing although the consultant idea is fun it's tricky to get started. I’ve been thinking long and hard about this one too – Personally I like the AST role. I think it’d be fun but for the fact that a lot of the outreach would be dictated by the schools – so I’d be more likely to spend time teaching the basics and supporting staff rather than spreading the word with regards to ICT.
My own conclusions were to head down the HOD/ICT route which I have started doing although the consultant idea is fun it’s tricky to get started.

]]> By: Scott Eliashttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5653 Scott Elias Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:14:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5653 I'm really, really hoping to be a University professor some day. That, of course, will require the completion of my PhD and both of my kids to be in school so my wife can go back to teaching. The main reason it'll have to wait is that if I stay in Colorado, a professorship would require a pay cut. :-( I’m really, really hoping to be a University professor some day. That, of course, will require the completion of my PhD and both of my kids to be in school so my wife can go back to teaching.

The main reason it’ll have to wait is that if I stay in Colorado, a professorship would require a pay cut.

:-(

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5652 Doug Belshaw Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:50:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5652 Interesting idea, Neil, but potentially a lot of form-filling instead of real educational change. Certainly not ruling it out, though. Interesting idea, Neil, but potentially a lot of form-filling instead of
real educational change. Certainly not ruling it out, though.

]]> By: Neil McDonaldhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5651 Neil McDonald Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:41:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5651 What about working with Becta or the SSAT? What about working with Becta or the SSAT?

]]> By: Charlie A. Royhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5650 Charlie A. Roy Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:01:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5650 @ Doug I've become a head of school here in the states. You are correct when you talk about hoops and the joy of the job is not comparable to that of being in the classroom every day with children. The advantage is you can push for radical change that makes a large impact on student learning. I don't know if the head aches are worth it yet. I'm trying to decide. I'm hired to be an instructional leader but spend most days listening to endless parades of gripes be they from faculty or parents. The joys of our petty human nature. But then again it is still fun. Best of luck with it. I want to start a PhD in a few years and I would imagine the college route may be the way to go. @ Doug
I’ve become a head of school here in the states. You are correct when you talk about hoops and the joy of the job is not comparable to that of being in the classroom every day with children. The advantage is you can push for radical change that makes a large impact on student learning. I don’t know if the head aches are worth it yet. I’m trying to decide. I’m hired to be an instructional leader but spend most days listening to endless parades of gripes be they from faculty or parents. The joys of our petty human nature. But then again it is still fun. Best of luck with it. I want to start a PhD in a few years and I would imagine the college route may be the way to go.

]]> By: Willhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5648 Will Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:57:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5648 Hi Doug I feel your pain but I agree with Dan, I am Head of a large Humanities Faculty and just become an Assistant Head too. I still teach which I love, I get a say in what happens, which is even better and I get to shape a department in the way I and my team feel it should be and I find this all really rewarding. I never wanted to go this far in my career, in fact at every stage I had always said I am happy where I was but things change and the need for new challenges is a big factor. As a CD you can limnit the amoiunt of hoop jumping by impacting on whole school policy, if you are proactive you can cut a lot of it off at the pass and focus on teaching and learning. That said there is more paper work, more pointles meetings but every job has its downsides. I would fully endorse becoming a HoD and the next steps too. I used to feel trapped as a classroom teacher, with lots of ideas, working hard and not getting the opportunities to implement a lot of what I wanted because of my existing HoD, those days are long gone. Go for it. Will Hi Doug

I feel your pain but I agree with Dan, I am Head of a large Humanities Faculty and just become an Assistant Head too. I still teach which I love, I get a say in what happens, which is even better and I get to shape a department in the way I and my team feel it should be and I find this all really rewarding. I never wanted to go this far in my career, in fact at every stage I had always said I am happy where I was but things change and the need for new challenges is a big factor. As a CD you can limnit the amoiunt of hoop jumping by impacting on whole school policy, if you are proactive you can cut a lot of it off at the pass and focus on teaching and learning. That said there is more paper work, more pointles meetings but every job has its downsides.

I would fully endorse becoming a HoD and the next steps too. I used to feel trapped as a classroom teacher, with lots of ideas, working hard and not getting the opportunities to implement a lot of what I wanted because of my existing HoD, those days are long gone. Go for it.

Will

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5646 Doug Belshaw Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:53:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5646 Thanks Dan. I do feel the hoop-jumping *is* needless in this day-and-age. I'm going to have a crack at it - I've nothing to lose! :-D Thanks Dan. I do feel the hoop-jumping *is* needless in this day-and-age.
I’m going to have a crack at it – I’ve nothing to lose! :-D

]]> By: mrstuckehttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5645 mrstucke Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:58:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5645 That would be my dream job-after-next. I have an interview for Director of Maths later this week. I'm going the traditional 2nd / Head of Dept / Ass Head route. I think you'd be in with a shout for that job or something similar, but most schools want to see some management type experience before handing out Ass Head posts. There's an old fashioned structure at the base of most schools with hoop-jumping required to move up the tiers. I think schools are slowly moving away from this, there seems to be an increased variety of roles at Assistant Head type level. Below this it's much more traditional, you've done well to have your current role created for you. Perhaps a couple of years hoop-jumping is required? You'd make a great Head of Department and I'm sure you'd take pleasure in having the most ICT-savvy History department the world has ever seen!? Excellent Teacher status is also worth a look, I don't know masses about it but I'm pretty sure only a couple of years experience is necesary, you need support for the role from Management and you personally need to be able to demonstrate that you meet all of the Excellent Teacher Teaching Standards (you don't need have gone through Threshold - but will have to demonstrate the Threshold standards and more). Good luck with whatever you choose! Dan That would be my dream job-after-next. I have an interview for Director of Maths later this week. I’m going the traditional 2nd / Head of Dept / Ass Head route. I think you’d be in with a shout for that job or something similar, but most schools want to see some management type experience before handing out Ass Head posts.

There’s an old fashioned structure at the base of most schools with hoop-jumping required to move up the tiers. I think schools are slowly moving away from this, there seems to be an increased variety of roles at Assistant Head type level. Below this it’s much more traditional, you’ve done well to have your current role created for you.

Perhaps a couple of years hoop-jumping is required? You’d make a great Head of Department and I’m sure you’d take pleasure in having the most ICT-savvy History department the world has ever seen!?

Excellent Teacher status is also worth a look, I don’t know masses about it but I’m pretty sure only a couple of years experience is necesary, you need support for the role from Management and you personally need to be able to demonstrate that you meet all of the Excellent Teacher Teaching Standards (you don’t need have gone through Threshold – but will have to demonstrate the Threshold standards and more).

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Dan

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/02/08/the-problem-with-promotion/comment-page-1/#comment-5644 Doug Belshaw Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:11:00 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=1864#comment-5644 Wow, yes! And in case the link goes away, for everyone else's benefit, it's 'Assistant Headteacher - Responsible for E-Learning' ( http://twitpic.com/1ekye) Wow, yes! And in case the link goes away, for everyone else’s benefit, it’s
‘Assistant Headteacher – Responsible for E-Learning’ (
http://twitpic.com/1ekye)

]]>