Headteacher Induction

As a new headteacher or new to Norfolk headteacher it can feel somewhat isolating. Our educational landscape is one that is varied, spread out and can feel fragmented. The free induction process will welcome you to Norfolk, introduce you to other headteachers, pair you with an experienced head as a mentor and provide you with the most useful information you will need to be successful in your first year in Norfolk. 

Induction is via a rolling programme, each term there is a session held to which all newly appointed headteachers from the last 12 months are invited. These are generally September, January and May.

During each session you will have input from the host headteacher, a tour of their school (with the exception of the Special setting) and a Norfolk expert will deliver a session in their field of expertise, with the opportunity for you to speak to them one on one about specific concerns related to your school, examples are HR, Safeguarding, Governance, Ofsted preparation etc. These sessions offer the invaluable opportunity to meet not only other heads to begin building a network, but key Norfolk personnel and providers, all of whom you will likely call on in your first few years of headship.

The sessions are rotational and therefore if you join us in the summer term you are welcome to then attend the autumn and spring sessions of the following year. Should you wish to repeat a session the following year you are most welcome to.

You will be offered 10 sessions across your first 18 months in post. 1 per half term plus a welcome session at the start of September. 

The dates for Headteacher Induction 2023-2024 are below, each meeting is 9am-12:30pm with arrival from 8:30am. 

Wednesday 13th September

Wednesday September

Wednesday 15th November

Tuesday 23rd January

Tuesday 6th February

Wednesday 24th April

Wednesday 12th June

These meetings are held at different education settings across the county, giving you the opportunity to learn aboutt he depth and breadth of our educateion landscape in Norfolk, as well as have the opportunity to learn from the experience of a variety of different heads. 

Mentoring

The purpose of the mentor scheme is to provide support to the headteacher in thinking through the various issues of headship in a school in Norfolk as they present themselves and to clarify their own understandings, perspectives, goals and targets for action within the setting.  

The amount of support to be provided by the mentor will vary according to the prior experience of the new headteacher, the school’s situation and support provided by other professionals, e.g. the LA, professional mentor or others. Some of the key goals of the process are:

  • Developing confidence, capability and trust
  • Enhancing effectiveness
  • Supporting effective professional learning
  • Creating learning relationships
  • Supporting personal change through reflection
  • Enhancing skills and strategies

A case study from Tom Snowdon Headteacher Swanton Morley VC Primary School

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