New To Leadership Resources

Updated for 2026

Have you made a list and are you checking it twice? No? Well don't worry - getting ready for Christmas and the end of term in school doesn't have to be overwhelming. This FREE comprehensive checklist helps headteachers, deputies and SLTs organise everything from nativity performances to staff appreciation so nothing gets forgotten in the December rush.

🎄 Christmas Event Planning – nativity performances, carol services, Christmas dinner organisation and festive assembly scheduling

🎄 End of Term Essentials – staff wellbeing checks, term-end communications to parents and final assessment deadlines

🎄January Preparation – spring term planning, CPD scheduling and post-holiday transition planning

🎄 Leadership Tasks – delegation strategies, quality assurance and school evaluation priorities

Perfect for headteachers and senior leaders who want to finish the autumn term organised and start January ready.

Every summer term brings the same pressure: too much to do, not enough time to do it.

This free end-of-year checklist gives headteachers and senior leaders a clear, structured overview of everything that needs to happen before the doors close for summer – from pupil transition, end-of-year performances and statutory reporting to site maintenance, staff wellbeing and autumn term preparation.

All tasks include a notes column, delegation field and deadline tracker so you can distribute responsibilities across your team rather than carrying everything yourself. And best of all? The resource is free! ☀️

Taking on a new school business manager role or school finance position brings exciting opportunities alongside plenty of questions about where to begin. Whether you're stepping into your first SBM position, finance officer role, or any school finance responsibility, this new school business manager checklist supports your successful start.

What you'll get in this free resource:

• First 100 days school business manager task lists covering before you start through your first full term
• School finance priorities to help establish credibility and build relationships
• Essential SBM processes and compliance areas to master early on
• Fully editable document so you can tailor tasks to your specific school setting
• Peace of mind covering the fundamentals every new school finance manager needs

Perfect for new SBMs, school finance officers, finance leads, school administrators, bursars, finance assistants, or anyone starting school finance jobs for the first time.

Let us take some of the pressure off by supporting your thinking as you navigate this important transition into school finance leadership.

New to behaviour leadership or stepping into a behaviour lead role at a new school? This comprehensive starter pack provides everything you need to establish effective behaviour management systems and build confidence from day one. Whether you're starting in September or mid-year as a new behaviour lead, these practical tools help you quickly understand your school's current behaviour provision, build key relationships with staff and pupils, and set clear priorities for sustainable behaviour improvement.

☑️ 18 ready-to-use, editable behaviour templates covering essential areas including behaviour audits, behaviour action planning, behaviour risk assessments, behaviour logs, exclusion tracking, bullying incident recording, and parent communication letters

☑️ Step-by-step behaviour leadership guidance document with your first 30 days mapped out week by week, plus practical advice on adapting to your school context, building relationships with staff and establishing consistent behaviour expectations

☑️ Behaviour Jargon Buster reference guide to demystify specialist behaviour terminology for you and your staff, ensuring clear communication about behaviour management across the school community

☑️ Quick-start behaviour checklists and assessment tools for behaviour folder organisation, behaviour lead skills auditing, behaviour snapshot reviews, staff behaviour quizzes, and behaviour plan templates

Ideal for new behaviour leads, experienced behaviour coordinators moving schools, deputy heads stepping up to behaviour leadership roles, pastoral leaders, and anyone wanting structured guidance and professional behaviour management templates to establish excellent behaviour provision efficiently.

🔎 Want a closer look? Click here to preview the Everything You Need to Start Leading Behaviour pack 🔗

Are you stepping into the role of Behaviour Lead but wondering where to start or which tasks to prioritise? Firstly, congratulations! And secondly, don't worry – this free Honeyguide checklist will support your thinking right from the start.

As a Behaviour Lead, you have the important task of supporting positive behaviour and culture across your school, something which can feel challenging as you get used to the role. But don't worry, we're here to support you every step of the way with our comprehensive list designed specifically for new Behaviour Leads. Whether you're a newly appointed Behaviour Lead, taking over from a previous postholder, or moving from assistant to lead role, we've outlined key tasks for your first few weeks, half-term and full term to help you feel organised and confident.

Are you stepping into the role of Pastoral Lead but not sure where to begin or how to prioritise everything on your plate? Firstly, congratulations! And secondly, you're in the right place – this free Honeyguide checklist is designed to support your thinking right from day one.

As a Pastoral Lead, you hold a uniquely far-reaching role – one that touches safeguarding, well-being, behaviour, SEND, attendance and personal development all at once. That breadth can feel overwhelming at first. This checklist breaks it down into manageable tasks across your first few weeks, your first half-term and your first full term, so you can feel organised and confident as you settle into the role.

Whether you're a newly appointed Pastoral Lead, stepping up from a teaching, head of year or form tutor role, or an experience Pupil Welfare Leader taking over from a previous postholder, this checklist will help you hit the ground running.

Ideal for new Pastoral Leads, Heads of Year, Personal Development Leads and anyone with combined pastoral and well-being responsibilities.

Are you stepping into the role of Attendance Lead but feeling unsure where to begin or how to get a grip on everything at once? Firstly, congratulations! And secondly, you're in exactly the right place – this free Honeyguide checklist is here to support your thinking from the very first day.

As an Attendance Lead, you're responsible for one of the most complex and data-driven challenges in school leadership – one that cuts across safeguarding, SEND, pastoral care, family engagement and school improvement all at the same time. That can feel like a lot, especially at the start! This checklist breaks it down into clear, manageable tasks across your first few weeks, your first half-term and your first full term, so you can approach the role with confidence and clarity.

Whether you're a newly appointed Attendance Lead or Attendance Champion, stepping up from a pastoral or admin role, or taking over from a previous postholder mid-year, this checklist will help you hit the ground running. Ideal for new Attendance Leads, Attendance Champions, Senior Attendance Champions and anyone with combined attendance and pastoral responsibilities.

Are you a new school governor wondering where to begin? Or are you a headteacher, governance lead or chair of governors looking for a practical induction resource to share with someone joining your board? Either way, this free Honeyguide checklist is exactly what you need.

Becoming a school governor is genuinely important work but the role can feel bewildering at first. Understanding the difference between strategic and operational governance, getting to grips with school data, fulfilling safeguarding responsibilities and preparing for link governor visits all take time and guidance. This checklist breaks it all down into clear, manageable tasks, from the reading you should do before your very first meeting through to the contributions you should be making by the end of your first full term.

Whether you're a parent governor, a community governor, a staff governor or a co-opted governor, this resource will help you settle into the role with confidence. 

👉 For heads and SLT looking for ideas of what tasks they could undertake to support a new governor, see our free Start Point: Supporting a New Governor Checklist too!

Effective governors are one of a school's strongest assets but a new governor who feels unsupported, uncertain about their role or unclear about the school's context is unlikely to contribute with confidence from the start. This free Honeyguide checklist is designed to help headteachers and senior leaders get governor induction right.

Welcoming a new governor well takes more than sending over a few documents before the first meeting. It means taking the time to explain the strategic versus operational distinction, introducing them to the right people, building their confidence around school data and Ofsted expectations, and helping them find a link governor role where they can genuinely contribute. Done well, a strong induction process means governors who are engaged, effective and a real support to school leadership.

This checklist walks you through everything you need to do, from the initial welcome through to a formal check-in at the end of their first term. It's ideal for headteachers, deputies, governance leads and chairs of governors welcoming a new governor to the board.

👉 Looking for more support for new governors? The free Start Point: New to Governance Checklist gives the new governor themselves ideas of tasks to do in their first term as a member of the governing body.