By Martin Collier, Senior Advisor, RSAcademics
Appointing a Head is one of, if not the most important task that any governing body will undertake. As a Senior Advisor with RSAcademics, what strikes me when working with governors on the appointment of a Head is how much is at stake for the School as well as for the candidates. The appointment process is never just about “finding a Head”. It is about finding the right Head who will be a really good fit for the school in question.
Why governors value external perspective
The context in which schools are operating is rapidly changing. As a result, the nature of headship and school leadership is also rapidly changing. Whilst many governors will have experience of recruitment, including in education, not too many governing boards will be fully up to speed with the current state of the recruitment market for Heads.
There is also rarely full consensus amongst governors as to what their school needs in terms of the profile of the next Head. Whilst governors will invariably have the very best intentions, emotions, loyalties and internal dynamics can lead to differences of opinions. What we bring as an external partner to an appointment process is objectivity and support. The market expertise provided by an external partner can help minimise risk as well as instil confidence. Having served as a Head of two schools and a governor of quite a few more, as well as working as a Senior Advisor with RSAcademics, my experience is that having an external partner advise a governing body through a recruitment process is invaluable.
Rigour in the process
One of the things I’ve learned at RSAcademics is just how rigorous a search process is when it is done properly. Behind every appointment is a great deal of unseen work: mapping the market, reaching out discreetly to potential candidates, analysing in depth the School’s needs, producing published materials which ensure that the School is presented in the best light as well as managing a transparent and fair process. Our search consultants play a vital role in this process. They will normally visit the School, often with the Senior Advisor, to gain as much insight about the School as possible. They will also speak at length with governors. Our search consultants and Senior Advisors combine detailed knowledge of the education landscape with an ability to reach and engage suitable candidates who, for one reason or another, might not have otherwise considered applying. Their work helps to ensure that governing bodies get to see the best possible fields of candidates.
The role of Senior Advisors
The Senior Advisor helps to lead the appointment process. That means that they guide the governors through each stage, from shaping the brief to final decision-making. My experience in education helps me to serve, with confidence, as a sounding board for governors. It also means that I am confident in offering objective and constructive advice throughout the appointment process. Another important aspect of the Senior Advisor’s role is to thoughtfully probe candidates so as to best understand their leadership style and their values. It is also to engage with governing boards to help them clarify the profile of what they want in their next Head. The blend of process leadership and sector insight that the Senior Advisor can provide helps give governors greater confidence when they come to make weighty decisions.
The pastoral element
Of central importance to the search process is the pastoral support offered to all prospective candidates and those who get through to the last rounds of the appointment process. In applying for a headship, every candidate invests not just time but their professional hopes and aspirations. Any such application will also invariably most likely impact on the candidates’ nearest and dearest.
Candidates will have questions; they will also seek advice. It is our job to guide and to nurture candidates through the appointment process, to communicate effectively with them and to be suitably transparent. Every governing body wants to do right by their school community. Our job is to treat candidates with care, fairness and respect, while ensuring that governing boards have the all the information and advice they need to make a choice that will best serve their school.
Why it matters
Over the years, I have seen time and time again how the appointment of the right Head can transform a school. Indeed, schools flourish when the Head is the right fit. And whilst the selection process is demanding, governors consistently feedback that, with our support, they feel not only reassured but often empowered to make the final decision.
That, in the end, is what makes our work so worthwhile.