A bank of sample headteacher interview questions, grouped by theme, for candidates preparing for headship and for governing boards building their interview. 2026 edition, aligned to the Ofsted Schools Inspection Toolkit (for use from September 2026), Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 and the Headteachers' Standards.
What's inside
- Questions grouped under 13 themes: getting to know you, school culture and ethos, leadership and governance, curriculum and teaching, achievement, attendance and behaviour, inclusion and SEND, personal development, safeguarding, professional development, organisational management, school improvement, and working in partnership
- A note under each theme showing which Ofsted toolkit area and Headteachers' Standard it maps to
- A panel notes column to capture evidence (or your own practice answers)
6-page PDF. For the full scoring rubric on the same themes, see our Headteacher Interview Template.
Free headteacher interview questions guide
Before you buy, read our free headteacher interview questions guide, with curated panel questions and what a strong answer should show. We have free guides for ten school roles.
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