Want to be a Middle Leader at School? Read This First

Teaching is a noble profession, but that doesn’t make ambition a dirty word. At some point in their careers, most educators will start to wonder how they can put their talents to the test and take on new responsibilities. For your typical classroom teacher, the next rung on the ladder is a middle leadership position.  

Typically, an incoming middle leader will take responsibility for a particular function or stream of school life. This will mean that a portion of your working time will take place outside of a classroom and involved in discussions about strategy and school improvement.

In a secondary school, a middle leadership position will normally be one of:

•   Head of Year
•   Head of Subject
•   Pastoral lead
•   SEN Coordinator

In primary schools, a middle leader will have a job title like: 

•   Phase leader (e.g. Head of Key Stage 2)
•    Literacy/Maths Coordinator
•    SEN Coordinator

It would be putting it mildly to say that a middle leader has a lot of plates to spin. A Head of Department or curriculum coordinator is responsible for overseeing the administrative duties like budgeting and procurement. 

They will also be closely involved in people development and performance management. A department head is a leader, and will often be the first port of call for the team members working beneath them when they need advice, guidance or assistance with a problem. 

The frenetic schedules of middle leaders are testament to just how integral they are to keeping schools running smoothly.

Middle leadership has been described as ‘the engine room of sustainable change’ for schools. Middle leaders are a headteacher’s eyes and ears, providing crucial insight into what’s really going on across a school. They’re also the people who translate the school leadership's visions into the tangible processes that add up to progress.

As every middle leader knows, the role pulls in many different directions. You’re a role model - both for pupils and more junior staff; you’re a crucial source of information for headteachers; you’re a data analyst; you’re a strategist and you’re a classroom educator. That’s a lot to shoulder, but without it, schools would not be able to plan beyond the end of each school day. 

As the UK’s leading educational recruitment agency, Teaching Personnel works with thousands of teachers each year. Our specialist consultants can give you guidance on how to climb a level in your career, whether that’s through upskilling your way to a promotion at your current school or moving to a new position elsewhere.

However you choose to advance your career, we’ll be here to offer all the advice and professional development opportunities you need. All you need to do is get in touch.