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School leadership roles

Start with your current or next role. Each of the 48 role profiles links on to interview questions and planners where we have them.

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More role profiles

A

  • ALNCo

    The ALNCo co-ordinates additional learning provision (ALP) for learners with additional learning needs (ALN) in a maintained school, pupil referral unit or further education institution in Wales. The Welsh ALN system replaced the SEN framework in Wales; the ALNCo is the statutory successor to the SENCO there. The ALN Code says the role is strategic and should sit on the senior leadership team or have a clear line to it.

  • Art Lead

    Responsible for developing, coordinating, and promoting high-quality teaching of Art throughout the school.

  • Assessment Lead

    Oversees the school's assessment system, ensuring its effectiveness in tracking and improving student progress.

C

  • CEO

    The chief executive of a multi-academy trust is the trust's senior executive leader and, normally, its accounting officer. The CEO leads the trust's schools, central team and strategy and is accountable to the trust board, which appoints and line-manages the CEO through the chair.

  • Curriculum Development Lead

    Leads in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of the school's curriculum.

D

  • Deputy CEO

    A deputy CEO is a senior executive in a multi-academy trust who supports the chief executive and usually leads a major area such as education, operations or finance. The role is not defined in law or the Academy trust handbook; its duties come from the trust's scheme of delegation. The deputy CEO reports to the CEO.

  • Digital Learning Lead

    Digital learning leads support the effective use of technology across teaching, learning, safeguarding, systems and staff development.

  • DSL

    The designated safeguarding lead takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection in a school or college in England, including online safety and understanding the filtering and monitoring systems in place. KCSIE says the DSL should be an appropriate senior member of staff from the leadership team. The DSL works closely with, and liaises with, the headteacher; the governing board has a senior board-level lead for safeguarding.

E

  • EAL Lead

    EAL leads support pupils who use English as an additional language, helping schools plan inclusive provision, assessment and classroom support.

  • English Lead

    The English/Literacy Lead oversees the teaching and learning of English/literacy within the school.

  • Executive Headteacher

    An executive headteacher leads more than one school — typically a federation of maintained schools or a group of academies within a trust — and is often supported by a head of school in each school. The title is not defined in law. In a maintained federation the executive headteacher is usually the headteacher in law for each school and reports to the federation's single governing body; in a trust the post reports to the CEO or trust board.

  • EYFS Lead

    The EYFS lead leads the early years foundation stage in a school — usually reception and any school-based nursery — making sure the school meets the EYFS statutory framework and the statutory early years assessments. The title is not defined in law; the duties fall on the school as an early years provider. The EYFS lead usually reports to the headteacher or a deputy.

F

  • Finance Director

    In an academy trust, the board must appoint a chief financial officer to whom detailed financial procedures are delegated; many trusts call this post finance director. The CFO plays a technical and leadership role, attends finance and audit and risk committees, and usually reports to the CEO. Maintained schools have no equivalent statutory post; their finance lead is usually the school business manager.

  • First Aider

    First aiders support pupil and staff welfare by responding to illness or injury, maintaining records and helping schools meet health and safety expectations.

G

  • Governors

    A governor is a volunteer member of a maintained school's governing body, which sets the school's vision and strategy, holds the headteacher to account for educational performance and oversees the school's finances. In an academy trust, the equivalent decision-makers are trustees; members of local committees are often called local governors. Governors act as a body, not as individuals, and the governing body is led by its chair.

H

  • Head of KS1

    Manages and leads the delivery of the Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7) curriculum.

  • Head of KS2

    Manages and leads the delivery of the Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11) curriculum.

  • Head of KS3

    Manages and leads the delivery of the Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) curriculum.

  • Head of KS4

    Manages and leads the delivery of the Key Stage 4 (ages 14-16) curriculum.

  • Head of School

    A head of school leads the day-to-day running of one school within a federation or trust, usually working under an executive headteacher or trust CEO. The title is not defined in law. Whether the head of school holds the statutory headteacher duties depends on whether they are the headteacher in law; in many federations the executive headteacher is.

  • Health and Safety Lead

    Health and safety leads help schools manage risk, compliance, premises safety and safe working practices for pupils, staff and visitors.

  • Humanities Lead

    Humanities leads coordinate subjects such as history and geography, supporting curriculum quality, assessment, subject knowledge and progression across the school.

I

  • Inclusion Lead

    An inclusion lead oversees how a school includes pupils who face barriers to learning and participation: pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils, looked-after children, pupils with medical needs, young carers and others. The title is not statutory and is often combined with SENCO, DSL or assistant headteacher. The inclusion lead usually reports to the headteacher.

  • IT Lead

    The IT Lead manages the integration of technology in teaching and learning, ensuring that the school's IT infrastructure is up-to-date, secure, and effectively supports the needs of the institution. They also provide training and support to staff on the use of technology within the school.

L

  • Lead Practitioner

    A lead practitioner is an expert teacher whose main role is modelling and leading improvement in teaching across a school or trust. In maintained schools in England, lead practitioners are paid on the separate leading practitioner pay range in the STPCD. They usually report to a senior leader responsible for teaching or staff development.

M

  • Maths Lead

    The Maths Lead oversees the teaching and learning of mathematics within the school.

  • Medical Lead

    Medical leads help schools manage pupil medical needs, care plans, medicines, staff awareness and safe responses to health-related issues.

  • Middle Leader

    A middle leader leads a team, subject, phase or year group while still teaching. In maintained schools in England, middle leadership posts are usually paid through teaching and learning responsibility (TLR) payments under the STPCD. Middle leaders report to a member of the senior leadership team.

  • Music Lead

    The Music Lead is responsible for overseeing the teaching and learning of music within the school. They ensure that the music curriculum is engaging, relevant, and meets the needs of all students.

O

  • Office Manager

    A school office manager runs the school office: reception, communications, records, admissions and attendance administration, and often parts of finance and HR administration. The post is not defined in law; it carries out administrative duties that belong to the school. The office manager usually reports to the school business manager or headteacher.

P

  • PA

    Personal Assistant. Supports a senior leader or manager with administrative tasks, scheduling and communication.

  • Pastoral Leader

    A pastoral lead leads a school's care, guidance and support for pupils' personal development, behaviour, attendance and wellbeing. The post is not defined in law; it carries out school duties on behaviour, attendance and safeguarding, often working closely with the DSL. Pastoral leads usually report to a deputy or assistant headteacher.

  • PE Lead

    The Physical Education Lead is responsible for overseeing the planning, delivery, and assessment of physical education within the school.

  • Phonics Lead

    Leads the teaching and development of phonics, a key part of early reading instruction.

  • PSHE Lead

    Coordinates the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education program within the school.

S

  • School administrator

    School administrators handle the day-to-day administration that keeps a school running: reception, phone and email, pupil records, attendance follow-up, letters, trips and payments. The roles are not defined in law. Administrators usually report to the office manager or school business manager; a PA reports to the headteacher.

  • Science Lead

    Manages and coordinates the teaching and learning of Science within the school.

  • Senior leadership team (SLT)

    Member of the senior management team, often including roles such as Headteacher, Deputy Head, or department heads.

  • Senior Teacher

    An experienced teacher with additional responsibilities, which may include mentoring, curriculum development, etc.

  • Site Manager

    A site manager looks after a school's buildings and grounds: security, maintenance, cleaning, contractors and premises compliance such as fire, water and asbestos checks. The post is not defined in law; legal duties sit with the employer, the dutyholder and the school's competent person. The site manager usually reports to the school business manager or headteacher; in trusts, sometimes to an estates lead.

  • Subject Leader

    A subject leader leads the curriculum, teaching and assessment of a subject across a school. In primary schools the role is usually held alongside a class; in secondary schools it is usually a head of department leading a team. Subject leaders report to a senior leader and, in maintained schools, are often paid a TLR.

T

  • Teacher

    A teacher plans and teaches lessons, assesses pupils' progress and contributes to the life of the school. In maintained schools in England, teachers' duties and working time are set by the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document, and their practice and conduct are assessed against the Teachers' Standards. Teachers report to a middle leader or phase leader and ultimately the headteacher.

W

  • Wellbeing Lead

    Wellbeing leads support a whole-school approach to staff and pupil wellbeing, helping schools build healthy culture, support systems and sustainable practice.

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