How to make changes to a job description

Understand what you need to do to change a job description, including consulting with staff and matching changes to statutory guidance, so everyone is clear on their roles and responsibilities.

Last reviewed on 19 May 2026
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 51151
Contents
  1. Decide why you need to change a job description
  2. Talk to your staff before changing their job description
  3. Get feedback on any changes you’d like to make 
  4. Check the existing job description
  5. Draft the new job description
  6. Make the agreed changes and put the new job description in place 
  7. Review your job descriptions every year 

FusionHR advised us on this article. The Key is a minority investor in FusionHR.

Decide why you need to change a job description

You might need to change a staff member’s job description when:

  • Job roles change: e.g. staff taking on extra responsibilities (explained below)
  • There are curriculum changes: e.g. introducing Bloom's Taxonomy  

It’s likely that you’ll need to change your job descriptions during any school restructuring to reflect any changes in roles and responsibilities.

Read our guidance on restructuring your school's staff structure to understand the process and how to stay compliant.

Job descriptions should match updated statutory guidance

You should update your job descriptions to include any changes in statutory guidance or legislation. 

Remember to update your