Page 26 - Handbook for House Staff Aug2024

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Head of House Appointment Process
Good practice is to use at least 4 of the following 5 stages:
1. Letters of application – this forces candidates to think about why they really want the role and what they would bring to the role.
2. Pupil nominations from whole House – all pupils in the House have an input. The current Head of House team can provide a useful perspective.
3. Nominations from House staff – important to include House Assistants and tutors. Informal conversations with other members of the House team (e.g. cleaners and catering staff) can be very informative.
4. Interview with HouseM and Deputy (you could include House Assistants).
5. Hustings – how do pupils speak to the whole House? Public speaking skills?
Feedback
Please give feedback to all candidates at end of process. These should be individual conversations. This is an important part of the learning process. Emphasise that you don’t have to have a title or an official position to be a good leader in the House. Good feedback can prevent negative pupil reactions and parental involvement!
Reasoning:
• This is an educational process about applying for leadership roles in future life.
• A thorough process means that all candidates feel they have had a fair chance.
• A thorough process can prevent negative reactions from unsuccessful candidates and their parents!
• Different candidates may have different strengths: written communication, public speaking etc.
• Feedback is an important part of the process, especially for unsuccessful candidates.