Changing Roles and Raising Standards: New challenges for heads of department

In this paper we argue that middle managers (i.e. heads of department) are the key to developing successful departments and successful schools. We report the results from a pilot research project into the changing role of the head of department in which we have shadowed eight heads of department in Catholic secondary schools in Birmingham and Manchester. We test the validity of a typology for analysing the leadership and managerial roles of these heads of department and report on structured interviews with them and their deputy heads. In particular, we focus on initiatives and obstacles to improving teaching, learning and achievement in their departments. This research, drawing on the 'contextualised perspective in action' as an appropriate methodology, provides an audit of the strengths and weaknesses of the leadership of the heads of department and of the other internal conditions within their departments, and a focus for development.