Securing improvement - the role of subject leaders

The work of subject leaders in schools is vital. With the school’s Key Stage 3 strategy manager, subject leaders are the key contact between the Strategy and classroom teachers. They provide the leadership, subject expertise and enthusiasm that teachers need in order to understand and implement the Strategy.

This booklet is intended to support subject leaders, and in particular to identify core tasks and areas for development. It has also been designed as preparation for the two half-day training sessions for schools’ Key Stage 3 strategy managers, which take place during 2002-03. The booklet has three sections:

Section 1
Identifies three core roles: judging standards; evaluating teaching and learning; and leading sustainable improvement. This focuses on the role of the subject leader at Key Stage 3 but also cross-refers to the complementary roles of the school’s strategy manager and year team leaders.

Section 2
Describes what each role entails, and identifies the core tasks for each role.

Section 3
Identifies a series of detailed actions for subject leaders. Using self-evaluation grids, links to Key Stage 3 materials and some school-based examples, you are invited to decide whether each task is currently undertaken and if so, how effectively; and, if it is not in place or only partly in place, whether it is a priority for action.