1. Headteacher Raynham Primary School
Webinar
Aspiring to senior leadership - preparing for interviews
Marva Rollins
Headteacher Raynham Primary School
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2. Leadership Complex Think about leaders you have worked with
Think about their strengths/weaknesses
What would you do differently?
How do you know you will be able to do things differently?
Leaders have to get things right all time
Leaders – the most heavily critiqued people in education
Being prepared

3. How to develop your leadership through identification of strengths and weaknesses
Become acutely aware of what you do on a day-to-day basis: self observation (say, do, when, what, why)
Managing vs. leading (doing vs. directing/guiding)
Observe others – discuss their leadership styles
Have a good understanding of different leadership styles e.g. pace setting, democratic
Courses, coaching, reading

4. How to develop your leadership through identification of strengths and weaknesses
Get yourself an A4 notebook
Principles, values, vision
Reflect on current role/responsibilities (these should be quite detailed)
What do you do well? Think about evidence
Gaps/areas to develop further - evidence
Use performance management
Be brave, honest and open to self-critique and critique from others

5. How to prepare for senior leadership interviews by self-assessing your skills
Give yourself at least six months of development/planning time for your new role
Identify a mentor/senior colleague
Use your notebook
Annotate expectations of role and person specification – evidence
Identify readiness for role
Make a plan for closing gaps e.g. whole-school budget setting

6. Coaching methods to use for interview preparation
Get yourself an A4 note book
Download questions for the role you are applying for - these lists can be lengthy
Choose some questions - use a page per question
Get a coach

7. Knowing what qualities make you a good leader and how to show them in an interview
First impression is the lasting impression (mostly true)
Welcoming/friendly/enthusiastic (genuine)
Sincere
Good listener
Sharing – distributing leadership
Know yourself
Blend of non-negotiable and flexible
Demonstrated in how you answer questions
Link to personal qualities you may find helpful
success/633

8. Reflections
What has prompted you to say ‘I am ready for this step into senior leadership?
To what extent have your current leaders enabled you to prepare for this step?
What have you done to ensure that you are emotionally and physically prepared for the role of leader?

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