The new school year brings different challenges for different people, but one thing it always brings is the start of a new role for thousands of teachers.
Whether it’s your first job, a new school or a promotion, it’s normal to feel a little apprehensive. Having encountered this scenario on several occasions, however, I’ve learned a few things to bear in mind along the way.
1. Defy imposter syndrome
You may feel that you don’t deserve to be in your new role, or that luck played too big a part in getting it, but that is never the case. Feeling like an imposter, or that you don’t belong, is not unusual, especially if you were assured, comfortable and successful in your previous post.
Everyone starts afresh, though, and the people you respect most have all gone through the same transition. This may feel like a huge step, but it comes on the back of many small steps that brought you here, whether that’s your teaching career to date or what you overcame to become a teacher. You’ve earned this, and accepting that will help you grow confidently in your new role.
2. Know that things are changing for everyone in Scotland
A new role feels like a major transition, but Scottish education is changing anyway and nobody will be immune from new experiences and situations. The major ramifications of the June 2021 report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the 2022 Muir report and the 2023 Hayward review are largely still to be felt, with significant system change due this year and beyond.
This will have an impact on practitioners at all stages, though in different ways. The replacement of the Scottish Qualifications Authority by Qualifications Scotland in the coming months will affect secondary staff; the separation of the inspectorate from Education Scotland will have an impact on everyone. Meanwhile, the Curriculum Improvement Cycle, now underway, will generate reform of Curriculum for Excellence, which all practitioners will need to keep up with.
These large organisational developments will, in time, bring about further change - to assessment and the recording of achievement, and in areas such as interdisciplinary learning. In the context of so much systemic transition, a new role for you is just one of many moving parts. In Scotland just now, there is no escaping change in any role.
3. Keep change at a manageable pace
With the natural urge to prove ourselves, or to deliver objectives set out in interviews or application forms, it can be easy to attempt too much too soon. In the early days of a new job, though, a lot can be gained from observing how things are done, getting used to the day-to-day, and going for the low-hanging fruit - those simple tweaks that improve things without requiring major upheaval.
Clarity about what you aim to achieve long term means you can pick one or two key objectives for your first year. This is more realistic and strategic, and it demonstrates strong management of change. If you’re a middle or senior leader, you need to bring people with you, while in the classroom, pupils need time to adapt. Ultimately, if you juggle too many balls, people may only notice the one you drop.
4. Ask for help
Whatever role you are taking on, someone can support you in it, internally or externally. Even headteachers have mentors and networks, with the expectation that they will need advice and support baked into their role. The same should be true for everyone. A central part of a line manager’s role is supporting those they manage, so it is never a weakness to ask them, or anyone else, questions.
Seeking advice shows that you are reflective, proactive and keen to learn. While the aim is to get what you need to tackle the issue at hand, asking for advice can also help build relationships with senior staff. Equally, if you manage others in your new role, modelling an openness towards seeking help will help foster that culture in your team.
Starting a new role is an exciting but potentially daunting experience. Everyone has faced this at some point, and ongoing change means new experiences are the norm, so don’t hesitate to reach out to others. There is no professional development quite like a new role, so set a steady pace, act with confidence and embrace all that this year has in store for you.
Paul Bisland is deputy head at The Glasgow Academy
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