So, we were having this discussion on Twitter about whether the job of a Deputy Head Teacher is more difficult than the job of a Head (#tuff4deps – come and join in!). So, is it?
There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind, I’m sure, that a Head Teacher’s job is very difficult; the buck stops here, if you will, on all school issues: safeguarding, health and safety, learning, teaching (no, they’re not third and fourth on the list for any reason!), etc. That’s a given. But what about in general day-to-day stuff? Do deputies have it harder?
Many will argue that they do. It can be that difficult no-man’s-land between the Head and the rest of the staff and many’s the time, I’m sure you’ll agree, where that is not a particularly great place to be – sometimes you can’t do right for doing wrong! But there’s more than that, obviously. There can be a lot of jobs given to Deputies that, dare I say it, the Head doesn’t want/can’t find the time to do. This can be an extra workload on top of a teaching commitment and their regular commitments. Lots going on.
Many Head Teachers will say that being a Head is easier than being a Deputy – what do you think?
As well as the various management tasks, there is also the fact that Deps are meant to be exemplary in classroom practise. Not sure that in my Acting Dep role I am working harder than the Head, but I am aware that there is a diffrence in the view of time. A head has more to do, but also they have the time to do it in. Recovering from lunchtime duty isn’t easy when you go straight into teaching.
Thank you for your reply Stephen – and I think you’ve made a very good point there. The teaching side of it is sometimes overlooked by people, but there are very few deputy heads who have no teaching commitment at all.
I can’t speak for many school’s but can offer an opinion on my own school. I will start by saying I’m not DHT but I’m almost there with my list of responsibilities. In my school the HT is as you say in overall charge. He has the time to do this as he has no teaching commitment whatsoever. He works extremely hard bringing in much needed money for resources and attending HT groups and CPD etc and is an all round outstanding chap. That said, I’ll move on to the Deputy. Her duties seem to have no end. She spends time organising staff, covering for absent staff and rearranging timetables daily. Her emails are countless and time consuming. She has the return to work interviews to complete, lunches and breaks to attend to and many admin jobs. She writes the weekly newsletter, shows prospective parents around school and organises all staff meetings. On top of these daily duties she is subject leader for a core subject and is also on the Governing body. Policies, Governor reports, and staff briefings all come under her remit. On a very lucky day she has to stand in for HT if he’s out of school. There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s #tuff4deps. She juggles all this and copes with a 59% teaching timetable too. DHTs are very hard working!
Thank you for your comments. I think lots of Deputies have responsibilities similar to the ones you’ve mentioned: a lot of the day-to-day jobs. And that makes it a very time-consuming job too – that’s without any of the strategic/driving/introducing things that, as deputies, you are heavily involved in too. Sounds like I’m trying to put people off! Not at all – it’s a very rewarding job 🙂
I am a deputy head in a two form entry school with a three day teaching commitment of a year 5 class. I have to agree with all of the comments so far as it can be difficult to juggle day to day teacher/classroom commitments, being maths coordinator as well as the job description of being DHT! The most time consuming part of my job has to be being ‘mediator!’ Staff issues occur every day and I am the one people often come to first. However, I do love my job and every day I learn something new!
That’s a good point about staff issues – I’m quite lucky on that front but I know not everyone is as lucky as me!
As a DHT in a single form entry primary I know I’m particularly fortunate to not have a massive teaching commitment. (I’m timetabled one morning a week) However, my school is a National Support School which means either my HT or myself are ‘deployed’ in other schools to provide support. My area of responsibility tends to be Teaching and Learning which is often where schools ask for support. Currently I am deployed for one and a half days a week in other schools. Although this is fantastic experience and I love this part of my job it can make my DHT role back in my own school a challenging one because you always feel you are playing ‘catch up’.
I think what makes it #tuff4deps is the trying to balance the everyday management tasks along with the long term strategic implementation of things.
In a small school you are more often than not involved in nearly everything that goes on and without the support of senior members of staff (including the HT) around you.
That said I love my job and have a very supportive HT. It’s challenging and a constant learning experience that I’m sure would stand me in good stead for headship! This is a great topic which I’m sure will provide some interesting thoughts!
That sounds like a challenging role – especially when it takes you out of school regularly – you probably feel like you’re playing permanent catch-up!
My OH was DH, teaching Y6, in charge of maths, science, assessment, key stage two, teaching full time with 10% PPA and 1 hour of management time! Also expected to act as HT when he was away and lead staff on various initiatives. He is now a HT and finds that this role has many different challenges, but is now more able to manage time effectively without the class commitment.
I think the DH role (in small primaries especially) is becoming increasingly challenging. I went down the AST route as I still have time to concentrate on my class and have the luxury of dedicated outreach time. I think that co headship and job shares for DHT can work very effectively and would not be surprised to see more of these as the demands continue to grow.
Agree with the above comments that it does provide a good springboard into headship, but also see that the role must be well supported in order to be most successful. There won’t be a one fits all solution to it either; will very much depend on the HT, SLT and size of the school.
Very thought provoking post.
Thanks for the comments Anna, I agree that that with the ‘popularity’ of federated schools and executive heads there will be possibly more demands on Deputy Heads; the role could well change considerably over the next few years.
How reassuring to read all these comments. I am a DH only being in the post just under a year. I’m really struggling to keep the exemplary teacher bit going plus year group leader, leader of maths and healthy outcomes plus performance management and everything else! Head is understanding and I worked at the school 7 years ago for several years so knew what I was letting myself in for. The one thing that I never fully realised would be the impact on my family life. Having 3 children (7,11,14) all with a busy social life. Does a DH now have to either have no children, older children or work exhausted like I am?
Unfortunatly, some HT delicate everything to DHs and get away with it. My stress levels are through the roof as I juggle a huge teaching commitment with my own class, core subject, CPD, teaching and learning, assessment and NQT management…needless to say the HT enjoys reading their emails all day which nobody holding them to account.
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