So I’ve written down the approximate versions of the questions from my deputy head interview plus some thoughts on the presentation that candidates for my current job will have to do…. I always think it’s good to practice answers out loud so that your brain gets used to saying stuff, particularly in interviews (as opposed to giving general presentations) because it helps you get over your nerves. My first question was “Name one thing that you’ve accomplished in the last year that you’re particularly pleased with.” I had done some thinking about a leadership /something that I’m good at question and decided this was as good a chance as any to go for that …. I talked about the new National Curriculum INSET that I had led. I talked about
- how it was a national initiative and that I used my knowledge to take it from national training to our school’s perspective.
- Leading discussion at senior team meetings
- Cascading to subject leaders
- Planning the day
- Coordinating and organising admin/support staff
- Modeling good quality teaching and learning – not just an INSET day of PowerPoints, trying to enthuse staff as we move forward with a new curriculum
- Presenting myself and being confident in this role
- Delegating tasks to others
- Linking the whole thing to clear outcomes for PUPILS
LOTS of power-words, plenty of “I can work with people” and “I know what’s good teaching and learning”. What might you have said, would you have phrased things differently? Start thinking about how you might answer the question “Can you give an example of how you’ve recently managed pupil behaviour?” This was one where I’d done less thinking in advance (don’t know why I’d thought deputy heads wouldn’t be asked about naughty pupils!)
Well I’ve had my interview. It was postponed until today due to Governor illness and the fact that it was only internal candidates meant that we just had to put up with that.
I was drugged up to my eye-balls because of my bad back (still am actually) and probably not in any fit state to be in front of my Year 10 group, but there you go.
Anyhows – success!! From 1st September Mrs. O’C will be a deputy head in a secondary school. I am absolutely delighted (not least because of the increase in pay!) and am pleased that the Head felt happy to promote me after a relatively short space of time.
I expect I’ll start thinking about what the job will mean at a later date but for now I’m planning to smile at my next class (they’ll wonder what’s happened) and then plan a celebratory meal with my husband plus loads of emails and texts to various people who are awaiting news.
I promised to do a list of questions and answers for the website to help others so I’ll get on to that, maybe as it was internal I can actually get a full copy of the questions and do model answers.
So how do
- a slipped disc
- marking 24 pieces of ICT coursework, each worth 60% of the final exam
- a Deputy Head interview
- Key Stage 4 intervention hitting its peak
all fit together to make a happy and successful Mrs. O’C?
Well the interview’s on Friday and the deadline for marking is less than two weeks away so I’ll be letting you know!
Can’t write anymore, the pain, the pain!
Seriously, I probably should be at home but having just had 2 weeks off and with 3 internal candidates for 2 Deputy’s jobs I’m not really considering that as an option.