Are you preparing for a school leadership role? The following interview questions will help assess your ability to lead effectively, manage resources, enhance teaching and learning, and engage with the wider school community.
Leadership and Management
- What makes a great headteacher, and what do you think are the most important qualities for success? Please explain your choice.
- How do you think governors help the school achieve its mission, and how would you work with them if you were the headteacher?
- Describe a change you led with colleagues. How did you build agreement, respond to challenge and assess its impact?
- Give an example of a barrier to participation you identified and removed. How did you check that the change helped the pupils or staff affected?
- How would you ensure good financial management practices are in place?
- What are the most important aspects of school budgets that headteachers should be aware of?
- What would be your plan of action to address the issue of an underperforming staff member?
- How would you guide the school through the process of strategic development planning?
Teaching and Learning
- What do you think are the most important parts of a strong foundation stage curriculum, and how do these contribute to good teaching and learning?
- How would you differentiate lessons for the youngest and oldest students while ensuring consistency in the overall learning experience?
- How do you define high-quality teaching and learning, and what steps would you take to maintain these standards?
- How would you evaluate whether the school's academic standards are sufficiently challenging for all students?
- How would you identify areas in the curriculum that require improvement and implement effective teaching strategies?
- What approaches would you implement to foster and sustain positive student behaviour?
- How do you work with teachers and the SENCO to identify barriers to learning, adapt teaching and check whether pupils receive effective support?
- What role do you think extracurricular activities play in improving learning and school culture?
School-Parent-Community Engagement
- What evidence-based strategies would you use to build strong, positive relationships with parents and families in the school community?
- What specific steps would you take to encourage greater parental involvement in school events and decision-making?
- In your opinion, what role do parents play in supporting their child’s learning, and how can the school facilitate greater parental engagement?
- How would you develop and implement a comprehensive communication and outreach strategy to inform parents and the wider community about the school’s achievements and goals?
- How can the school effectively collaborate with different community groups or stakeholders to enhance student learning experiences?
- Can you share how you manage parent concerns and complaints while prioritising the best interests of students and the school community?
- What methods would you use to strengthen relationships with feeder high schools to ensure a smooth transition for students?
- How might collaborating with neighbouring schools create opportunities for resource sharing, joint initiatives, and overall school improvement?
Useful Resources for School Leaders
Leadership and Governance
Teaching, Learning, and Inclusion
Financial and Resource Management
Parental and Community Engagement
For further leadership support, explore:
Use these questions to prepare evidence of your decisions, their impact and what you would do differently.
Updated: 6 September 2026
