New headteacher resource hub
Hit the ground running with our resources and advice to help you in your new role as a headteacher.
Tackle your new role and responsibilities 1 step at a time.
Get to grips with your key tasks, and use our templates, checklists and guides to help you save time and move forward with confidence.
Introducing yourself
Use our resources to introduce yourself to your staff, parents and carers.
Or, use KeyGPT's letter-writing tool to help you draft your own welcome message to your school.
New headteacher: welcome presentation to staff
Find out how to introduce yourself to staff for the first time and get advice on what you should cover to help you set the groundwork for building good relationships.
Headteacher's welcome presentation to parents/carers
Whether you're a new headteacher or an existing head welcoming new parents/carers, download our template to help you structure your thoughts and make sure you cover everything you need to.
New headteacher's letter to parents/carers
Use our template to write to parents/carers as a new headteacher, and read advice on what your letter could cover.
Your key tasks and first steps
Get your head around your top jobs to be done, and what to ask your team about.
Guidance for headteachers: poster
Whether you’re new to the job, or just want to know you’re up to date with requirements, download our poster to find the information you need to follow the latest guidance and best practice for headteachers.
New headteachers: taking your first steps
Use our checklist to find out what to do before you start, and get guidance on what you should prioritise in the early weeks of headship so you can hit the ground running as headteacher.
New headteacher: questions to ask your SLT
Ask your senior leadership team (SLT) these questions in the early days of headship so you can learn more about how your leadership team works, the strengths and weaknesses of your staff, and the school's context.
Key documents and guidance
Remind yourself of the important documents that you'll need to be familiar with in your new role.
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE): summary
Read the key points in KCSIE 2026 and know where to look for information on specific areas of safeguarding in the statutory guidance.
SEND Code of Practice: a summary
Read our summary to help you comply with the SEND Code of Practice. Find out how the EHC assessment process works, and share our handout with staff to help them understand their responsibilities under the code.
Conditions of service for teachers: the STPCD and the Burgundy Book
Find out whether the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) and Burgundy Book apply in your school and get an overview of the key requirements they cover.
Working together to improve school attendance: the DfE's expectations
Get to grips with the DfE's guidance on maintaining high levels of attendance. Be clear on what you're expected to do, including building relationships with families, developing a whole-school approach and analysing data.
Stay on top of changes
There are lots of updates to guidance, requirements and government policy to keep track of. Take a look at our summaries of important documents that have changed this year, and what they mean for you and your school.
Select 'save for later' at the top of the article pages, and we'll send you an email if there's another update.
Changes in education 2025/26
Get up to speed on the key changes to government guidance that are likely to affect your school this academic year, and find resources to help you take action.
Ofsted: latest updates
Stay up to date with all things Ofsted – select 'save for later' at the top of this page to receive notifications to keep you in the loop.
Ofsted inspection framework 2025: summary of changes
Get your head around the key changes to school inspections for state-funded schools for 2025, including new report cards, the inspection toolkit, and changes to the notification phone call.
Employment Rights Act 2025: a summary
Find out about the government's new legislation, which aims to improve working rights and conditions. Learn when the changes are coming into force to help you prepare.
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026: a summary
Get to grips with the key headlines in the legislation, which aims to better protect children and raise standards in education.
Budgeting and finances
Track monthly tasks and read expert advice on the main points you’ll need to consider throughout the year. Use our budget planner and annual to-do list to help you.
Budget planning: how-to and templates
Get to grips with school budget planning. Use our template 5-year budget plan spreadsheets to help you model a range of scenarios and then cost your chosen one in detail.
Budget management: annual to-do list
Download and use our budget checklist to track tasks by month across the financial year, and get advice on the main things you need to consider.
School budget monitoring: questions to discuss
With finances squeezed, use this guide to help you make the most of your school budget monitoring meetings. See what to cover and use our questions to help you spot issues and identify next steps.
Work with your governors
Use these templates and advice to help you report to your governors on key areas, including curriculum, budget and pupil achievement.
Headteacher’s report to the governing board: guidance and template
Download our template to help you report to your board – it includes the topics you'll likely want to cover, and the evaluation areas in Ofsted's 2025 inspection framework. Find out how to make sure you give your governors what they need to do their job well.
Finance: reports to governors
There's no statutory guidance on what you should report to your governors' finance committee. Find advice on what to include, use our template to set out your report, and find out what other information you could share alongside it.
Presenting your budget to governors/trustees: templates
Keep your governors/trustees fully informed about your school budget planning and decision-making with our downloadable templates. You'll find a detailed budget planner, and a planning report that will help you explain your budget planning decisions.
SEND: reports to governors
Download our SEND report to governors template, which has space to record your school's SEND profile and progress information. See examples of reports from other schools to help you decide what to include.
Strategy and planning
Once you've got the basics down, use these guides, tools and templates to plan for the year ahead and beyond.
School year planners: template
Use our editable, printable 2026/27 planners to keep up with important dates and deadlines for your primary, secondary or all-through school. They include statutory deadlines, religious holidays, and national and international initiatives.
Self-evaluation form (SEF): guidance and template
Get help writing your school's self-evaluation form (SEF). Download our template SEF, based on Ofsted's 2025 inspection framework, to evaluate your provision and identify areas for improvement.
How to develop your long-term strategic plan
Long-term strategic planning will give you an overview of the direction of your school improvement over the next 3 to 5 years. Find out how to develop a robust plan that will help you achieve your school's vision. Plus, download our template plan to save you time writing your own.
Writing an effective SIP: planning guide
Be confident that your school improvement plan (SIP) is set up for success. Use our tools to narrow down competing priorities, develop achievable actions and create SMART targets, so you don't risk overburdening your staff and can keep on track with your long-term goals.
School improvement plan: template, checklist and monitoring guidance
Download one of our school improvement plan (SIP) templates and use our checklist to help you evaluate your own SIP. Learn how you can monitor implementation of your SIP.
How to develop and embed your school's vision
Collaborate with governors to develop a vision that represents where your school aspires to be. Turn your aspirations into reality by keeping your vision at the heart of every decision you make and bringing your community on board.
Termly tasks for headteachers: autumn 2026
Keep on top of your regular and unique tasks for this autumn term with our downloadable checklist.
Termly tasks for headteachers: spring 2026
Keep on top of your regular and unique tasks for this spring term with our downloadable checklist.
Get more support from across The Key
You can find more support in your new role with a Whole School membership of The Key. Get access to safeguarding resources, CPD, and governance support.
Find the information you need, and share our resources with your team to keep everyone on the same page. For example:
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