Head Teacher Interview Questions

A Head Teacher, also known as Head Master or Head Mistress creates a positive and appropriate learning environment through the management of a school. Their duties include helping deliver the highest standard of education to the students, supporting Teachers and staff and ensuring an overall safe and successful school environment.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Head Teacher or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Head Teacher position, these Head Teacher interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Head Teacher Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Head Teacher interview questions.

1. What are some of the most important qualities for a head teacher to have?
2. Are you familiar with the educational curriculum of the country?
3. How would you deal with a situation where a parent is unhappy with their child’s grade?
4. What is your management style?
5. Provide an example of a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
6. We want to improve our communication with parents. What would you do to accomplish this?
7. Describe your process for evaluating students.
8. What makes you stand out from other head teachers?
9. Which teaching method do you prefer?
10. What do you think is the most important thing a head teacher can do for their students?
11. How often do you hold teacher meetings?
12. There is a conflict between two students in class. How do you handle it?
13. What values would you bring to the role of Headteacher?
14. What is your view on how governors can effectively support the school?
15. How important is it to be a risk-tasker as a Headteacher?
16. What measures do you take to ensure that teachers receive adequate support to meet their specific needs?
17. Give examples of how you have led change in a school?
18. What would you do to rectify a curriculum that fails to meet the needs of all pupils?
19. Give examples of how you would you assess standards throughout the curriculum?
20. Tell us about your recent experience of driving a whole school initiative?
21. If you had the opportunity to change anything about the way your school is currently run, what would it be?
22. What would you do if you noticed a teacher was not following the school’s policies?
23. Do you have any experience working with students with special needs?
24. When was the last time you updated your teaching skills?
25. What strengths will you bring to the school?
26. Give an example of facilitating change in your current school.
27. Tell me how you would go about getting the whole community behind a school initiative?
28. Give examples of how you have contributed to school improvement at your current / previous schools and what would you do here?
29. Where would you begin with a new curriculum initiative?
30. In what ways do your feel the role of Headteacher differs from the role of Deputy?
31. What do you do to ensure that your teachers are motivated and happy at your present school?
32. What role do you feel assessment has in raising achievement in schools?
33. Where would you expect this school to be in 3 years and why?
34. What do you do to make sure that pupils have high expectations of their work and themselves?

Head Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Head Teacher interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

1. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
2. What is Your Salary Expectation?
3. What is Your Greatest Strength?
4. Tell Me About Yourself
5. Why Should We Hire You?
6. Why Do You Want This Job?
7. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
8. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
9. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
10. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?