5 ways to develop your career as an experienced teacher or senior leader in education

For many experienced teachers, the phrase ‘career progression’ often conjures images of leadership roles or additional responsibilities. But what if the traditional climb up the ladder isn’t the path you want to take? Whether you’re looking to develop your pedagogy, seeking a new challenge, or simply looking to advance your professional profile without stepping into management, there are plenty of alternative ways to develop in your career. 

1. Become a subject matter expert. 

If you are passionate about your subject, you can explore ways to deepen your subject knowledge. This doesn’t necessarily mean seeking formal qualifications; development can also be achieved through reading research papers, journals and articles, networking with other subject specialists, or taking advantage of online courses and webinars. 

If you do decide to take the qualification route, you could consider specialising in your existing subject area, or developing expertise in topics relevant to your profession. For teachers, this could be in areas such as curriculum development, assessment strategies, special educational needs (SEN) or educational technology. 

There are dedicated National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) which are designed to equip you with skills in specialist areas, such as behaviour and learning, leading teaching, and SEN. The in-depth knowledge gained from these courses can be immediately applied to improve student outcomes in your school community. 

2. Get involved in research. 

Getting involved in research is a powerful way for teachers to develop professionally while contributing to the advancement of education. Engagement with research projects can also provide invaluable insight into the challenges that you and colleagues face in the classroom, enabling you to contribute innovative ideas and solutions in your own school and beyond. 

At Harris, we are proud to be a founding multi-academy trust of the National Institute for Teaching (NIoT), which places us at the forefront of cutting-edge research aimed at understanding and improving educational outcomes for children. Our teachers have the unique opportunity to engage in a range of research projects; from investigating teacher retention in socio-economically disadvantage areas of England, to exploring perceptions of generative AI in education. As a participant in these projects, Harris teachers help to shape evidence-based strategies that make a real difference in classrooms across the country. 

3. Use your existing knowledge to become a mentor. 

Mentoring and coaching are not only rewarding professionally, but they can also benefit you on a personal level. Key skills in communication, problem-solving, reflective practice and leadership are all developed on courses such the Coaching Professional (Level 5) apprenticeship. Sharing your expertise may even reignite your passion for teaching, whilst simultaneously building meaningful professional relationships. 

Another rewarding pathway in this remit is to become a consultant. These roles allow experienced teachers and leaders to share their expertise across multiple schools, offering targeted support and curriculum insight and development. Sitting centrally, consultants at Harris support teachers across our academies not only with subject expertise, but also with practical support such as sharing expertise, creating resources and even providing cover in the classroom. 

4. Consider opportunities to deliver training. 

Facilitating training in your school allows you to refine your own knowledge whilst helping others. This could include leading workshops, contributing to course content, or speaking at seminars, conferences and other events geared towards professional development. 

Harris is proud to attract a high level of interest from staff who wish to become facilitators on the programmes delivered through the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership. Facilitating these courses gives teachers the opportunity to share their expertise and help shape the next generation of educators. It also adds a multitude of strings to your professional bow, including public speaking and training delivery. 

5. Develop your professional skills outside of the classroom. 

Remember, real-world experience and knowledge are invaluable in enhancing lessons. For example, a science teacher might look at opportunities to work with a research lab, enabling them to relate their teaching to real-world applications. These authentic insights are key to capturing students’ attention and deepening their engagement with their work. 

Similarly, building general professional skills such as digital literacy can equip you to use technology in a way that resonates with young learners. Integrating things like multimedia presentations and data visualisation software can turn complex topics into stimulating learning experiences.  

 

By continually investing in your own development, you become a role model for lifelong learning. Sharing your own professional development journey can motivate students to pursue their own career aspirations. That’s why, at Harris, we invest heavily in staff development and facilitate access to cutting-edge programmes and resources. After all - inspiring the next generation starts with inspiring those who teach them.

If you are interested in learning more about career development opportunities for experienced teachers and leaders at Harris Federation, why not come along to our upcoming Recruitment Fair on Saturday 8 February. This in-person event will give you the opportunity to network with our Principals and senior leaders across the federation, and interactive talks throughout the day will provide deeper insight into the support and professional development opportunities we offer. 

Register Here