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Head of department / subject leader interview questions

Questions and answer guidance for head of department and subject leader interviews, covering curriculum sequencing, team leadership and quality assurance.

10 questions: 10 with answer guidance across 10 themes. Maintained by the HeadteacherChat editorial team; reviewed .

Print the guide for a mock panel: answer guidance and space for notes are included.

Questions by theme

With the evidence a strong answer should demonstrate.

Curriculum

1 panel question

  1. Question 1Practised

    How is your subject curriculum sequenced, and how would you check that pupils build secure knowledge over time?

    What a strong answer shows

    A specific example of sequencing, how assessment exposes gaps and how the team responds. Ask the candidate to explain why the chosen content matters for these pupils.

Raising outcomes

1 panel question

  1. Question 2Practised

    Your department's results dipped this year. How would you diagnose the cause and respond?

    What a strong answer shows

    Honest analysis across teaching, curriculum and assessment — not blaming the cohort.

Leading a team

1 panel question

  1. Question 3Practised

    How do you bring a mixed-experience team with you when introducing a change to schemes of work?

    What a strong answer shows

    Shared ownership, credible subject expertise, and support for those who find change hard.

Quality assurance

1 panel question

  1. Question 4Practised

    What does effective, low-workload quality assurance look like in your department?

    What a strong answer shows

    A small set of useful checks, time for teachers to act on findings and an example of a check that was stopped because it added little. Avoid treating more paperwork as stronger leadership.

Assessment

1 panel question

  1. Question 5Practised

    How do you make sure assessment in your subject is valid, reliable, and manageable?

    What a strong answer shows

    Well-designed assessment tied to the curriculum and used to inform teaching.

Disadvantaged pupils

1 panel question

  1. Question 6Practised

    How would you close a gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers in your subject?

    What a strong answer shows

    Identification of actual barriers for particular pupils, ambitious teaching and carefully chosen support. Ask how the candidate would judge learning rather than simply count interventions.

Professional development

1 panel question

  1. Question 7Practised

    How do you develop subject and pedagogical expertise across your team?

    What a strong answer shows

    Coaching, shared planning, subject networks, and using expertise within the team.

Behaviour

1 panel question

  1. Question 8Practised

    How do you support consistent behaviour and high expectations within your department?

    What a strong answer shows

    Backing the whole-school system, modelling, and supporting struggling colleagues.

Difficult conversations

1 panel question

  1. Question 9Practised

    Tell us about a time you addressed a colleague's underperformance. What happened?

    What a strong answer shows

    Supportive challenge, evidence, and a resolution that improved practice.

Vision

1 panel question

  1. Question 10Practised

    What would you want your department to be known for in three years?

    What a strong answer shows

    Ambition grounded in the pupils' needs and a credible path to get there.

Browse templates

Subject Leader interview FAQs

Sources and scope

These questions support preparation and panel discussion. For appointments in England, use the current guidance and your school or trust’s recruitment policy.

Keeping children safe in education

What do head of department panels look for?

Secure subject and curriculum knowledge, evidence of raising outcomes, the ability to lead and hold a team to account, and proportionate quality assurance that doesn't inflate workload.

How should candidates prepare for a HoD interview?

Be ready to articulate your curriculum intent, talk through a time you improved results or tackled underperformance, and show how you develop colleagues — panels probe leadership as much as teaching.

How should a panel use these questions fairly?

Choose questions relevant to the published role and agree what evidence you will assess before interviewing. Use a consistent core set, make appropriate adjustments, and record evidence rather than rewarding a rehearsed style. These prompts support your recruitment process; they do not replace required checks.

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  • Workload

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  • Teachers’ Standards

    The teaching standards and professional conduct expected of teachers, how they are used in qualification, induction and appraisal, and the additional responsibilities set out for headteachers.

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