Headteacher appraisals

How to commission an experienced advisor for headteacher appraisals.

Headteacher appraisal plays a vital role in the governing board’s core function of holding the school to account for the educational performance of the school and for the performance management of its staff. It is a statutory process in maintained schools and is best practice for academies.

The board’s appraisal policy will set out the arrangements for the appraisal of the headteacher. This process is delegated to the headteacher appraisal panel, a sub-group of two or three governors appointed by the board.

We recommend that all members of this panel undertake Headteacher Appraisal training to ensure awareness of the statutory responsibilities and confidence to undertake this important role.

Our next training dates are:

  • Tuesday 19 November 2024 7pm-8.30pm

These sessions can be booked:

In Oxfordshire-maintained schools, the appraisal cycle runs from 1 September to 31 August each year. The headteacher appraisal must be completed before 31 December to ensure pay recommendations can be made. 

However, it is good practice to undertake this process earlier in the school year, so that all teachers’ objectives can be linked to the headteacher's. 

As teacher appraisal must be completed by 31 October, undertaking the headteacher appraisal before this date is recommended.

In maintained schools, the headteacher appraisal panel must be supported by a suitably skilled and/or experienced external adviser appointed by the board.

An experienced adviser can be commissioned through Governor Services to provide professional guidance through the headteacher appraisal process, ensuring that you have the appropriate support to make this a useful and impactful process for all involved.

Headteacher Appraisal Package A - £650

It will include:

  • Provision of an experienced and qualified external adviser
  • The adviser will review the information provided by the headteacher before the meeting. The headteacher should provide this information and will include:
    • Information to support the decisions about last year’s objectives
    • Information to support the discussions around the objectives for the coming academic year.
  • Attendance at the ‘three-part meeting’ to review performance and to advise the panel as they set the objectives for the next year. These meetings will be with:
    • The Headteacher and Adviser 
    • The Panel and Adviser
    • The Headteacher, Panel and Adviser.

Headteacher Appraisal Package B - £750

It will include:

  • All of Appraisal Package A plus
  • Drafting of the appraisal record document, including the new objectives. This document will be forwarded to the Chair of the panel for any additions, amendments and adjustments before being sent to the headteacher for signing.

The headteacher appraisal panel should organise at least one mid-year review during the appraisal cycle to consider the successes achieved, identify any barriers to progress and consider additional support or development needs that might benefit the headteacher. 

The adviser does not support this part of the cycle. If additional support is needed, please contact Governor Services, who will be able to discuss this or any training needs with you.

To purchase one of the Headteacher Appraisal Packages, or to request further information, please get in touch with Governor Services using the contact details below.

Contact us