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So, You’re a New Primary School Subject Leader! What Now?
January 20, 2025 Marie Thornby

So, You’re a New Primary School Subject Leader! What Now?

First of all, congratulations! Whether you’re excited, nervous or (let’s be honest) a little bit of both, becoming a subject leader is a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in your school.

You’re now the champion for your subject. That means you can shape how it’s taught, ensuring that your children enjoy their learning and your colleagues feel supported.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry! With our Subject Leader Checklist, Toolkit and editable Action Plan - we’ve got you covered. You can download these helpful reources for FREE in our Subject Leader Resource Pack!

Read on to find out more about your primary subject leader roles and responsibilities and to download our FREE Subject Leader Resource Pack.

Free Subject Leader Pack Preview

Getting Started: Your Checklist

Start with the basics. Begin by thoroughly understanding what the National Curriculum (or your school’s curriculum model) outlines regarding the vocabulary, knowledge, and skills pupils need to develop in your subject.

Once you have familiarised yourself with the curriculum, assess the current state of your subject within your school. Consider factors such as the resources available, the confidence and expertise of your teaching staff, and how well the subject is integrated into the overall school plan.

Our Subject Leader Checklist is an excellent tool to support you with this process. It provides key actions to help you :

  • Gain clarity on curriculum and assessment expectations for your subject.
  • Evaluate the resources and tools at your disposal.
  • Identify areas where teaching staff may need support or professional development.
  • Plan inclusive and engaging learning experiences that meet the diverse needs of your pupils.

It's important that your subject is aligned with national or school standards but also that teaching and learning is impactful and meaningful for your children.

Primary Subject Leader Checklist

Our FREE Resource Pack includes this handy Subject Leader Checklist to help you assess current practices and identify areas for development for your subject.

Do Your Research

It's tempting to rush into creating a subject action plan and taking action that you think will demonstrate impact, but before you do, take time to research your subject thoroughly as this will ensure that your action plan addresses real priorities and creates meaningful, sustainable change. To get started:

Review Expectations

  • Review the National Curriculum (or equivalent) and your school’s Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement.

  • Examine your subject’s progression documentation to see how knowledge and skills build over time.

Consult Colleagues

  • Gather insights from your colleagues: How confident do they feel? What challenges are they facing? Who are the champions for your subject?

Talk to Pupils

  • Don’t underestimate the power of pupil voice. Ask children what they enjoy, what they’d like to learn and how they feel about your subject. Use our Pupil Voice Question List to guide your conversations.

A subject lead conducts pupil voice with primary school pupils in a classroom

Gauge children's knowledge, skills and experiences in your subject to inform effective planning

Gather Evidence

  • Examine how pupil attainment and progress are measured. Does this align with your curriculum intent and your school’s vision and values? Are children making good progress? Where is children’s learning already well-supported and which children need extra help?

  • Assess the quality of teaching and learning in your subject. What’s working well and what needs improvement?

Take Stock

  • Review what’s already in place: systems, documents, resources, schemes of work, displays, lesson plans and books. Identify strengths and areas for improvement.

 

Geography Subject Leader and pupil studying a globe

Does your subject have the resources it needs to offer children effective teaching and learning experiences? What can you already make good use of and what do you need to enhance your offer?

Create Your Action Plan

Now that you’ve mapped out the essentials, it’s time to turn those insights into meaningful action! Don’t worry—you don’t have to tackle everything all at once. Start small by identifying a few quick wins to build confidence and momentum, like sharing a helpful resource or organising a collaborative planning session.

Once you’ve got the ball rolling, set realistic, measurable goals that tie in with your long-term vision and your School Improvement Plan. Remember: meaningful change is all about taking steady, achievable steps.

To make life easier, download our editable Subject Leader Action Plan. It’s packed with examples to guide you through every step, making the process stress-free and straightforward.

Primary Subject Leader Editable Action Plan

Our FREE Resource Pack includes this handy editable Subject Action Plan to help you enhance provision and outcomes for your subject

Support Is Closer Than You Think

Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not expected to do this alone. Here’s who to ask for help:

  1. Your Mentor or Senior Leadership Team: They can help you align your subject with the School Improvement Plan or wider curriculum aims. They can also help set expectations about where your subject is and where it needs to be.

  2. Other Subject Leaders: Where possible, have a handover meeting with the previous Subject Leader. They can brief you on their work so far and help you navigate challenges and identify colleagues who champion your subject.

  3. Teachers in Your Network: Reach out to colleagues in other schools or local hubs to share ideas and resources.

  4. Professional Associations: Many subjects have fantastic organisations offering valuable training and advice.

Remember: Keep It SMART!

Leading the delivery of a subject across a school is a big responsibility and a steep learning curve. Remember what we say to children though, it’s ok to learn as we go!

Here are some tips to keep things manageable along the way:

  • Focus on One Thing at a Time: You don’t need to transform your subject overnight. Start small and prioritise.

  • Celebrate Small Wins: Whether it’s a colleague trying a new activity or a pupil enjoying your subject, take time to celebrate as this builds trust and positivity.

  • Keep It Collaborative: Your role is to lead and support - not to do everything yourself. Ask for help.

 

Primary school children sat at a table in a classroom use a tablet to show their teacher what they have learned

Nurturing children's love of a subject can be very fulfilling

Ready To Take The Next Step?

Our Subject Leader Toolkit is packed with reflective questions to elevate your leadership. It’s perfect for staff meetings and for exploring next steps, such as what CPD could upskill staff or bring fresh ideas to your subject.

Primary Subject Leader Toolkit with Reflective Questions

Our FREE Resource Pack includes this Subject Leader Toolkit to help you reflect on progress and next steps within your subject

Explore More Resources

PlanBee has everything you need to make your subject leadership journey a success - from editable action plans to subject-specific primary curriculum resources.

We have thousands of subject-specific primary curriculum resources, including standalone lessons, individual schemes of work and fully-prepared Curriculum Packs. Search by Subject, Year Group or Curriculum Objective at PlanBee.com. 

Free Subject Leader Pack Preview

Need tailored support? Our Build-a-Curriculum support service offers expert, one-to-one guidance to help you customise Curriculum Packs to meet the specific needs of your pupils and staff.

Becoming a subject leader is an exciting opportunity to inspire pupils and colleagues while shaping your school’s curriculum. So, enjoy the journey. You’ve got this!

 

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