As a Head of Department (HoD) in a secondary school, your leadership approach can significantly influence teacher performance, student outcomes, and team morale. The most effective HoDs understand that leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all practice. Instead, they adopt and adapt different leadership styles to suit the needs of their team, align with school priorities, and respond to the ever-changing dynamics of curriculum, performance, and professional growth.
In this post, we’ll explore six key leadership styles that every HoD should consider, with clear explanations and practical tips on how to apply each one in a school setting.
1. Instructional Leadership
Focus: Teaching and learning outcomes
Best for: Driving academic improvement and aligning teaching practices
Instructional leadership puts student learning at the centre. As an instructional leader, you focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning across your department. You set high expectations, model effective strategies, and use data to inform pedagogical decisions.
How to adopt this style:
- Set clear, measurable goals for student achievement.
- Use classroom data and assessment trends to guide planning.
- Observe lessons and provide regular, constructive feedback.
- Lead by example—demonstrate high-quality teaching in your own practice.
Practical tips:
- Coordinate peer observation cycles to promote reflective practice.
- Facilitate Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that focus on curriculum and pedagogy.
- Highlight and celebrate evidence of improved teaching in staff meetings.
2. Transformational Leadership
Focus: Inspiring and motivating staff toward a shared vision
Best for: Leading change or raising team morale
Transformational leaders inspire their teams with a strong, shared vision. They energize staff, encourage innovation, and foster a sense of ownership and pride. This style is especially useful when leading initiatives like curriculum reform, cultural shifts, or collaborative projects. This is probably the most important if there are significant changes coming up or if your team is not performing at their best.
How to adopt this style:
- Articulate a compelling and clear vision for your department.
- Encourage creativity and value the contributions of all team members.
- Support ongoing professional development and leadership growth.
Practical tips:
- Start department meetings with stories of recent successes or positive impact.
- Identify emerging leaders and delegate projects that build their capacity.
- Run collaborative vision-setting sessions to co-design long-term goals.
3. Distributed (Shared) Leadership
Focus: Collaborative decision-making and shared responsibility
Best for: Strengthening team culture and professional trust
Distributed leadership is about sharing leadership responsibilities across your team. When staff feel included and empowered, they’re more likely to take initiative, support one another, and commit to collective goals. Many schools are structured so that a large department may have a 2IC who gets money or time to assist you. If yours doesn’t, it may be worth trying to negotiate it.
How to adopt this style:
- Involve team members in decision-making processes.
- Tap into individual strengths when allocating roles or responsibilities.
- Rotate leadership of projects or initiatives to build shared ownership.
Practical tips:
- Create subcommittees for tasks like assessment design, curriculum review, or student wellbeing.
- Use anonymous feedback tools to ensure all voices are heard.
- Schedule “spotlight sessions” where staff share resources or classroom strategies.
4. Transactional Leadership
Focus: Setting expectations and managing performance
Best for: Establishing accountability, especially in underperforming departments
This style is structured and outcome-focused. Transactional leaders clarify expectations, monitor compliance, and reward or correct performance. While it may sound rigid, it’s often necessary when consistent standards or immediate improvements are required.
How to adopt this style:
- Define clear roles, responsibilities, and timelines.
- Follow up on goals and hold staff accountable.
- Provide clear consequences and positive reinforcement.
Practical tips:
- Implement a term planner with clear deadlines and responsibilities.
- Use performance plans to guide and support teachers needing improvement.
- Publicly acknowledge staff who meet or exceed expectations.
5. Servant Leadership
Focus: Supporting and empowering others to succeed
Best for: Building trust and promoting staff wellbeing
Servant leaders focus on the growth and wellbeing of their teams. This style is grounded in empathy, listening, and service. Staff are more engaged when they feel genuinely supported and valued. My attitude is that teachers should be preparing and delivering good quality lessons and, of course, marking. I try to remove anything that gets in the way of that. This can include making sure stationery is always topped up to cleaning the kitchenette at the end of the day so teachers don’t have to worry about it.
How to adopt this style:
- Prioritise the needs and development of your team.
- Actively listen and respond to concerns.
- Encourage work-life balance and recognise individual circumstances.
Practical tips:
- Conduct informal check-ins to support staff on a personal level.
- Offer flexibility or class coverage during high-stress periods.
- Celebrate birthdays, achievements, and personal milestones.
6. Situational Leadership
Focus: Adapting leadership to the context and individual readiness
Best for: Responding to varied staff needs and changing environments
Situational leadership requires you to read the room. Your style should shift depending on the experience, confidence, and capabilities of your team members—as well as broader contextual factors such as staffing changes or external pressures. You can find out more about this style here.
How to adopt this style:
- Assess each staff member’s strengths, confidence, and needs.
- Provide clear direction for those who need structure, and autonomy for those who don’t.
- Stay responsive and agile during times of change.
Practical tips:
- Offer mentorship or coaching to early-career teachers.
- Empower experienced teachers to lead projects independently.
- Use a more directive style during crises, then ease into collaboration as stability returns.
Final Thoughts: Blending Leadership Styles for Impact
The most effective Heads of Department aren’t locked into one style. They blend, shift, and adapt their leadership approach based on:
- The team’s strengths and challenges
- The current goals of the school
- The demands of specific situations
Reflect regularly on your leadership practice. Are you offering your team what they need right now? Are you too hands-on or too distant? Are you creating space for others to grow?
Being intentional about your leadership style will help you build a high-performing, resilient, and motivated department.
Send me your email and I’ll send you a self-checklist to see how you’re going with the different leadership styles.
