Teaching has become corporate...
…perhaps it’s the creation of academies; maybe private schools feeling they have to separate themselves; possibly the (relentless) scrutiny state schools experience…
Whatever it is, Human Resources (HR) is now its own function in schools.
I’m not sure it used to be.
Along with HR establishing itself, so has the appraisal document.
For some – it evokes dread. It can seem like a pointless box-ticking exercise that is only completed to please people in authority.
(As I wrote that – I realised that could be a valid description of how my Year 11 view end-of-topic tests…or even exams.)
However, there is one simple action that can leave you ever-ready to write an appraisal.
It’s this: keep a list of your achievements.
Every single teacher in a school has done something to impact the people around them positively.
Every single one.
I firmly believe this – because that’s why every one of us went into teaching.
Now granted – there are some actively disengaged people in every workplace. It’s just that in schools the impact of teachers like this is (arguably) more significant than some other careers because the job is so collaborative.
In the run-up to an appraisal, it can be hard to identify the impact you’ve had. Keeping a list of things you’ve done – however small – makes it easy to remind yourself of the effect you have.
It’s not only great for writing next year’s objectives, it’s also a good way of empowering yourself and avoiding negativity.
A simple list (in a document/ spreadsheet/ handwritten) is the way to start.
And it doesn’t have to be much more than one sentence – but I do recommend writing it in a particular way:
1_start with a verb, 2_include a number if possible, 3_add what you learned.
For example
Volunteered to take the minutes in every one of our five department meetings in the autumn term, so I got the importance of focus and accountability.
Possible item on list of achievements
If you really can’t think of anything – then it probably means – you need to do _some_thing.
If you’re stuck – start with the example above.
Some teachers I’ve met expect to get promoted and paid more by virtue of doing their job.
This is a mistake.
As teachers we are expected (at least there was an expectation when I trained) to be a reflective practitioner.
That means thinking about and being responsible for my own learning; actively seeking opportunities for development; finding ways to support my pupils, my colleagues, and my school.
Nobody is going to give me anything. I am responsible for my own career development.
There are no shortcuts.
The best and easiest way to get noticed for that middle-leadership position is to do something useful for your school.
And yes – that often means going beyond the scope of your current role.
So what’s the last way you contributed to your pupils/ colleagues/ leadership teams in your school?
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
PS For more ideas – check out my post ‘How to demonstrate leadership in your school…when you’re not in a leadership position’
James D'Souza 