-min.jpg?v=5fc4a210a4cb7db428a89a5d312dad22)
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.
If you’re thinking about your own prospects, you need to arm yourself with the right information before you start angling for a promotion. Read on to find out all you need to know about the exact role of middle leaders in schools, plus everything you need to know about their importance to schools’ day-to-day functioning and longer-term strategies.
What are middle leadership roles?
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
What does a middle leader do?
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.
A Head of Year is responsible for the pastoral care of the pupils in that year group. This takes excellent behavioural management skills and a thorough knowledge of safeguarding best practice. They are also responsible for providing direction to form tutors and liaising with parents.
If that didn’t already sound like enough to be getting on with for one lifetime, a middle leader is also typically privy to conversations with the Senior Leadership Team about the school’s overarching vision and strategy. This requires a keen understanding of data. Middle leaders regularly update SLTs with their department or year group’s performance, requiring an understanding of benchmarks like DfE local and national school performance figures.
As the most prominent layer between the school’s top brass and the class teachers, effective middle leaders relay the SLT’s top-level strategic decisions to the rest of the staff and embed them in daily practice.
And that’s not the end of it. After all these duties are dispatched, a middle leader is still a teacher. Even a longstanding head of year will still be committed to a large amount of contact time each week. As one might imagine, a day spent flitting between planning lessons, sitting in on SLT meetings, teaching your Year 10s and reassuring worried parents might leave one feeling a little worn-out.
Why are middle leaders so important?
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.
In the words of former Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw, ‘these people are the people who make things work’.
Take the next step in your
career with Teaching Personnel
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.
Sign up to posts
Related jobs
Salary
£24,944 per year
Location free text
Horsham
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£20,000 - £29,999
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
SEMH
Location
Horsham
Description
Learning Support Assistant – Horsham (Supporting Male Pupils with SEMH Needs) Full-Time | Temp-to-Perm Opportunity | Immediate Start AvailableWe are seeking a passionate and resilient Learning Support
Reference
SEMHLSAWS
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Brighton SENAuthor
Brighton SENSalary
£24k - 29k per year
Location free text
Horsham
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£20,000 - £29,999
Sector
Special Needs
Location
Horsham
Description
Support Workers – Horsham (Residential SEN Setting, Autism Support) Full-Time | Permanent after Probation | Shift Patterns AvailableWe are recruiting full-time Support Workers to work within a school’
Reference
SWNBS
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Brighton SENAuthor
Brighton SENSalary
£95 - 105 per day
Location free text
Hailsham
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Special Needs
Location
Hailsham
Description
SEN Teaching Assistant – Hailsham (SEMH School) Full-Time | Long-Term to Permanent RoleA specialist SEMH school in Hailsham is looking for an energetic, proactive SEN Teaching Assistant to support stu
Reference
ESSEMHTA
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Brighton SENAuthor
Brighton SENSalary
£120 - 160 per day
Location free text
Sheffield
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Teacher
Location
Sheffield
Description
Class Teacher – Sheffield We are seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated Class Teacher to join vibrant and supportive primary schools across Sheffield. Whether you are an experienced teacher or an ECT,
Reference
s20191
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Sheffield NorthAuthor
Sheffield NorthSalary
£21k - 22k per year
Location free text
East Grinstead
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£20,000 - £29,999
Sector
SEMH
Location
East Grinstead
Description
Learning Support Assistant – East Grinstead (Mental Health Needs and Autism) Full-Time | Temp-to-Perm Opportunity | Immediate StartAn innovative, nurturing SEN school in East Grinstead is seeking a Le
Reference
SEMHTAEG
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Brighton SENAuthor
Brighton SENSalary
£90 - 100 per day
Location free text
Crawley
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
SEND Support
Location
West Sussex
Description
An outstanding SEN Primary School in Crawley is seeking several Teaching Assistants to support pupils aged 4–11 with complex learning difficulties and disabilities (including PMLD, SLD, ASD, and senso
Reference
PTASEN
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Brighton SENAuthor
Brighton SENSalary
£89.38 - 98.62 per day
Location free text
Milnrow
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
Less than £100 per day
Sector
Primary SEN Support
Location
Greater Manchester
Description
Teaching Personnel are working closely with a school in Milnrow who are actively looking for candidates to start work in their internal Special Educational Needs unit for children in Year 1. This scho
Reference
OL16 Y1 SEN TA
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Manchester South PrimaryAuthor
Manchester South PrimarySalary
£89.38 - 98.00 per day
Location free text
Whitefield
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
Less than £100 per day
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Greater Manchester
Description
About the roleTeaching Personnel are working closely with a school in Whitefield, who are looking for a passionate and enthusiastic Teaching Assistant who can join the school to help support pupils in
Reference
M45 Y1 TA
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Manchester South PrimaryAuthor
Manchester South PrimarySalary
£120 - 180 per day
Location free text
Sheffield
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Early Years
Location
Sheffield
Description
EYFS Teacher – Qualified and Passionate Practitioner Needed Location: Sheffield, S10 Start Date: ASAP Salary: £120 - £180 per day (depending on experience) Contract Type: Full-Time, Temporary to Perma
Reference
FQTEYFS28/04
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Sheffield SouthAuthor
Sheffield SouthSalary
£120 - 180 per day
Location free text
Sheffield
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Teacher
Location
Sheffield
Description
KS1 Teacher – Exciting Opportunity in S10 Location: Sheffield, S10 Start Date: ASAP and September start dates Salary: £120 - £180per day (depending on experience) Contract Type: Full-Time, Temporary t
Reference
JWKS1T28/04
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Sheffield SouthAuthor
Sheffield SouthRelated posts

Teaser
Special Educational NeedsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
In 2024, the National Audit Office (NAO) highlighted the crisis in the SEND system, noting limited progress in making mainstream schools more inclusive. Without further investment and changes, t
by
Zuzana Vrtalova

Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
The True Worth of Professional Exam Invigilation When schools and colleges across England and Wales prepare for examination periods, the pressure to maintain JCQ compliance while ensuring fair ass
by
Zuzana Vrtalova

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
With the Easter break and end of term coming up, it’s time to get your payroll sorted! Our Payroll team has outlined the key dates you need to ensure you receive your pay on time. Check out the ta
by
Zuzana Vrtalova

Teaser
Special Educational NeedsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
The landscape of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is transforming. The number of pupils in the UK with special educational needs (SEN) has increased over the last five years. Toda
by
Adam Davies

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD02YY
Summary
As Spring approaches, it's a critical date for many teachers in the UK who may be contemplating their professional future ahead of the February 28th resignation deadline. While teaching remains on
by
Adam Davies

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD02YY
Summary
Teaching assistants support teachers and students in the classroom. The role is invaluable and continues to grow in importance as school environments become larger and more diverse. In fact, teach
by
West Yorkshire Primary

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
When you worked as a teacher, you may have looked forward to retirement, as it meant having more time for leisurely activities or spending more time with loved ones. However, the novelty of retire

by
Scott Owen
.jpg)
Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
In the last three years, the likelihood of young people having mental health problems has increased by 50%. According to a report by The Health Foundation, one in six children aged six to 16 in Englan

by
Scott Owen

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD12YY
Summary
Recent reports state that special schools are seeing a decrease in enrollment. Many local authorities aim to integrate more children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) into mainst
by
Adam Davies
.jpg)
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD12YY
Summary
The festive season and the end of term are quickly approaching! To help you prepare, our Payroll team has shared all the essential dates you need to ensure you get paid before Christmas. Check out t
by
Zuzana Vrtalova
Register with us
for a choice of classroom roles
Register today
Recent job