The International Schools Review Forum

The school I'm going to next year wants to interview me for the HOD position, which is a completely new experience.

Any ideas on what questions they might ask me?

You can expect questions on the following:
1. teaching vs. managing faculty
2. Addressing parental complaints about one of your teachers
3. Supporting new and struggling teachers
4. Your organizational skills
5. Delegating work, bringing people together, and dealing with rebels
6. Scheduling and explaining rationale behind assigning subjects to teachers
7. Curriculum - horizontal and vertical alignment, establishing cross-curricular links, trans-disciplinary skills, knowledge vs. skills debate etc.
8. Strategies for the department transition from good to great
9. Plan B- when things don't work as planned
10. Safety issues, technician training if you are a science department head

P.S. Been HoD at two elite schools for a decade.

teacher tan wrote:
> You can expect questions on the following:
> 1. teaching vs. managing faculty
> 2. Addressing parental complaints about one of your teachers
> 3. Supporting new and struggling teachers
> 4. Your organizational skills
> 5. Delegating work, bringing people together, and dealing with rebels
> 6. Scheduling and explaining rationale behind assigning subjects to teachers
> 7. Curriculum - horizontal and vertical alignment, establishing cross-curricular
> links, trans-disciplinary skills, knowledge vs. skills debate etc.
> 8. Strategies for the department transition from good to great
> 9. Plan B- when things don't work as planned
> 10. Safety issues, technician training if you are a science department head
>
> P.S. Been HoD at two elite schools for a decade.

Thank you Teacher Tan - this is good stuff.

TT - can't think of anything really that your list doesn't hit! Nice list in one place :-) Popcorn? Done in a pot with a hole that the hair dryer gets stuck in to heat it all...

I endorse the list supplied by @teacher tan, and add the following:

A) Management Philosophy
B) Communication Style
C) Budgeting Skills and Approach

That's a great list TT, and some good additions as well PsyGuy.
I've passed it on to a friend and colleague of mine who is up for a HoD job interview, and she made me promise to thank you.