The Head of Department

Welcome…

Head of Learning Area (HOLA), Head of Department (HOD), Curriculum Team Leader (CTL) – there are many terms to describe the same job. For consistency, I will just refer to the position as HOD throughout this blog.

I don’t know of a single jurisdiction in the world that provides teachers with training to become a HOD before they actually take on the job. Many are lucky enough to have worked in an acting position and so received on-the-job training prior to taking up an appointment; many haven’t. Once you secure a HOD’s position, the amount of support you receive from your school or sector can sometimes be pretty patchy. After all, you are supposed to be the expert in your subject area in the school. People assume you know what you’re doing.

This blog is designed to fill in some of the gaps that may have become apparent as you progress through your time in this role. However, I don’t have all the answers. Please contribute to the Comments section if you have any ideas that have worked for you.

I plan to divide my blog posts into three categories. The first is all about you; what do you need to do to be a good HOD? What skills and attributes do you need to develop? The second category is about developing your team. Your department needs to function efficiently and harmoniously. How do you achieve that? Finally, how do you manipulate data and develop programs that give the students in your subject area the best chance to reach their potential?