A practical guide for subject leaders in secondary schools to help them run their departments effectively and efficiently. It is increasingly being acknowledged that subject leaders hold the key to school improvement and professional development.

CHAPTER 1: The role of the subject Head of Department CHAPTER 2: Different leadership styles CHAPTER 3: Managing staff CHAPTER 4: Managing pupil performance (using data) CHAPTER 5: Dealing with accountability CHAPTER 6: Managing professional development CHAPTER 7: Departmental planning CHAPTER 8: Teamwork CHAPTER 9: Your subject CHAPTER 10: Learning from experience * CHAPTER 11: Coping with problems CHAPTER 12: Curriculum development CHAPTER 13: Your role in the bigger picture CHAPTER 1 The role of the subject Head of Department An overview of recent policy initiatives, including changes to school inspection arrangements, threshold payments, KS3 strategy etc. and how these have directly affected the role of the subject HoD. CHAPTER 2 Different leadership styles Analysis of various leadership styles, including info about team building and team maintenance. CHAPTER 3 Managing staff Managing people in a departmental context. How to deal with members of the senior management team (SMT). CHAPTER 4 Managing pupil performance (using data) Pupil tracking procedures and the use made of standardised test scores as predictors of performance. CHAPTER 5 Dealing with accountability Using various performance management techniques in the climate of accountability. CHAPTER 6 Managing professional development How subject leaders address the training needs of their colleagues. Various methods for providing the required training. CHAPTER 7 Departmental planning How to make whole-school action plans and policies work for your department. CHAPTER 8 Teamwork How to promote working as a team. CHAPTER 9 Your subject All subjects operate in different contexts. What is it that makes your subject distinctive? CHAPTER 10 Learning from others Learning about what it means to be a subject leader. CHAPTER 11 Coping with problems Time-management; pressure to increase the use of ICT in lessons; staff absence on long-term sickness; stresses placed on HoDs and the burden of expectations and dealing with pupil behaviour problems. CHAPTER 12 Curriculum development Trying out new resources; different techniques using ICT; responding to curriculum changes introduced by Examination Boards. CHAPTER 13 Your role in the bigger picture How can subject leaders influence practice in their department?