Getting Started: Your Checklist

Start with the basics. Begin by familiarising yourself with what the National Curriculum (or your school’s curriculum model) says about the vocabulary, knowledge and skills children need to secure in your subject. Then, take a good look at the current state of play for your subject in your school.

Our Subject Leader Checklist is a great place to start. It sets out key actions to help you:

• Get to grips with the curriculum and assessment expectations for your subject.

• Assess the resources available to you.

• Gauge the confidence and expertise of your teaching staff.

• Plan inclusive and enjoyable learning experiences for your children.

Do Your Research

Before you create your subject action plan:

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.

Talk to children about their experience of your subject

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.

Check what resources are already in place for your subject

Create your Action Plan

Now you understand the lie of the land, it’s time to turn your insights into action. Identify some simple wins to help gather momentum, like sharing a useful resource. Then, set achievable aims that align with your longer-term goals for your subject and your School Improvement Plan. Keep it realistic—you’re not expected to overhaul everything, everywhere all at once.

To make things even easier, you can use our editable Subject Leader Action Plan which comes complete with examples to guide the creation of your own plan.

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: hey can help you align your subject with the school’s improvement plan and 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.

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.

Developing children's love of a subject can be really 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.

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.

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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

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!

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!