NQT recruited as head of department

(35 Posts)
hardboiled Thu 29-Nov-12 09:44:06

If you were considering a school and saw that they had recruited a NQT as head of one of the sciences departments, would that worry you? Or am I just being narrow minded?

Inclusionist Thu 29-Nov-12 09:50:41

Yep, probably.

Would depend a bit on what they had been doing before- have they been on Teach First or something?

Any school is going to be having difficulties recruiting Physicists though.

stargirl1701 Thu 29-Nov-12 09:51:48

Depends on their background. Is your NQT a mature student with an extensive background outside education? Then, yes. 22 year old NQT, no.

Inclusionist Thu 29-Nov-12 09:54:55

BTW I meant I'd probably be worried not that you were probably being narrow minded.

No matter how able you are in your subject or what valuable experience you've had in other fields it does take a couple of years to a) figure out how to teach and b) figure out what a department needs to run well. I think anybody would struggle to do both things well off the bat.

Maybe they've done some time unqualified in the Independent sector before qualifying?

fraktion Thu 29-Nov-12 09:56:13

Have they taught elsewhere before? I think it would depend on the person tbh.

hardboiled Thu 29-Nov-12 10:40:49

No worries Inclusionist, I understood what you meant. smile

According to the website, the person is fresh out of college. Looks max 25 in the photo.

tiggytape Thu 29-Nov-12 11:16:10

Are you sure they are actually in their NQT year or do you mean a relatively recently qualified teacher as opposed to one with 15 years experience?

As others have said, appointments like that depends on the person. They may be considered new to teaching in state schools but have many years experience in research, industry or even teaching but not with QTS perhaps in a private school.

I'd be surprised though if they were actually in their NQT year and given a HOD position - how would that even work with time off and mentoring?

DeWe Thu 29-Nov-12 13:05:47

Depends. When I was in year 10 they appointed a new head of Physics who hadn't even taught before or done any teacher training. He came from a big engineering company, and he was a very good teacher. His main downside was he was small and it was possible to position the rotating blackboard so he couldn't actually reach it. blush

Littlefish Thu 29-Nov-12 18:28:44

As far as I know, NQTs are not allowed to be given a subject to co-ordinate (in mainstream primary schools) as their absolute priority must be to develop their teaching before being taking on any additional responsibilities.

I am torn, I have met some damn good nqt and some who have taken a couple of years to get into the swing of things.

If they had a heavy science background in industry then possibly.

Dds school only has one teacher that is not a nqt, presume because they are cheaper wage wise.

BooksandaCuppa Thu 29-Nov-12 21:33:32

Surely not possible? A HOD would be doing lesson observations with feedback on the staff in their department - how on earth can someone who's not started teaching yet judge/mentor other people's teaching? I think you must be slightly mistaken, OP, and just mean 'inexperience/young' not exactly 'only just qualified'?

BooksandaCuppa Thu 29-Nov-12 21:34:22

Unless, as mentioned, they have been teaching previously unqualified and have now just achieved QTS?

lifeintheolddogyet Thu 29-Nov-12 22:09:56

Don't NQTs have to be mentored by an experienced member of department and a member of SMT as part of statutory stuff? Quite odd imo but agree with those who say it depends on prior experience.

hardboiled Thu 29-Nov-12 22:40:15

BooksandaCuppa, this is what it says: "Mr. xxx has joined the school as an NQT from xxx University."

scattergun Thu 29-Nov-12 22:46:38

I would read that as meaning that he came to the school as an NQT, but not necessarily recently.

hardboiled Thu 29-Nov-12 22:50:48

Thanks, but I know for certain he is a new recruit. Joined in Sept 2012.

MistressIggi Thu 29-Nov-12 22:54:42

Where does it say he's the head of a science, though?
Certainly he might be the only teacher of a particular science, with another science teacher as the HOD.

TheFallenMadonna Thu 29-Nov-12 22:55:31

Head of one of the Science departments? Rather than head of Science? If he's a physicist, then he may well have to be head of physics if the department is run that way (mine isn't - we manage key stages/qualifications rather than subjects).

A school you are considering for your children, or to work in?

hardboiled Fri 30-Nov-12 13:49:35

He is Head of Biology.

So MistressIggi, if it didn't say he is HOD I would not have posted my question to begin with!

It is exactly as I said, an NQT from xxxx University, joined three months ago and he is the new Head of Biology.

Anyway, I think opinions are diverse, so thank you anyway.

titchy Fri 30-Nov-12 13:55:40

In that case he probably IS the biology department! And will report into the Head of Science overall.

madwomanintheattic Fri 30-Nov-12 13:55:50

Is he the only biology teacher though? grin

We only had one.

And one physics teacher.
And one chemistry teacher.

Etc etc.

What larks to give them all 'head of' titles.

tiggytape Fri 30-Nov-12 13:59:19

Was he a lecturer at xxxx University?

From a parent's point of view, I would be open to possibility that he has fantastic experience including teaching experience and may not be a 22 year old new teacher. I doubt Professor Robert Winston has a teaching qualification but I can't say I'd be unhappy if he was Head of Biology at my son's school (not that I think you'll be getting Professor Winston!)

But as a member of staff I'd still be puzzled about someone in their NQT year being made HOD purely because of the role entails leading other staff and because the time they'd need for their induction and mentoring would be at odds with taking on managerial duties.

madwomanintheattic Fri 30-Nov-12 14:11:22

It only involves leading other staff if there are other biology staff though. grin

I am a treasurer. Can I call myself head of the treasury department, please? grin

If that is the case, I'd be assuming the school is all fur coat and no knickers.

tiggytape Fri 30-Nov-12 14:17:31

Yes madwoman - you are now officially Head of the Treasury Department. Give yourself permission to go home early and have new business cards printed up at once. grin

You are right though - there is probably an overall Head Of Science and the Head of Biology may indeed be the only person in that entire department.

madwomanintheattic Fri 30-Nov-12 14:22:58


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