For every new Head of Year who’s just been handed a list of 200 students, a set of keys to a room nobody’s cleaned, and about four minutes of handover.

This isn’t a policy document. It’s the guide you actually need.

What’s inside:

The role, honestly -what a HOY actually does vs what people think it is
Your first week - a day-by-day priority list, from finding your critical students to setting up your tracker
Your first 100 days -mapped week by week across four phases: Foundation, Building, Establishing, Growing
Running your year group - assemblies, tutor briefings, pastoral review meetings
Difficult conversations, scripted -a stage-by-stage structure for parent calls, from opening warmly to what to do when it gets difficult
Difficult student conversations - including what to do if a student discloses something serious
Safeguarding responsibilities - the threshold question, categories of concern, and what a HOY specifically owns vs the DSL
SEMH and wellbeing referrals - what support is typically available and how to refer
Working with your tutor team - including what to do when a tutor is struggling
Pastoral admin - the weekly rhythm that works, and the golden rule of record-keeping
Looking after yourself - the emotional weight of the role and what actually helps
Quick reference - who to go to for what, one page, print and pin above your desk