Often things happen in schools “because that is how it’s done” and no one thinks to change it.

But when I was appointed founding head of a north London comprehensive in 2016 I had a blank canvas from which to start.

So I drank a lot of tea, did a lot of thinking and asked “why” even more than normal. If I couldn’t think of a good reason to do something, it didn’t happen. In time, the school became home to 80 teachers and 1,100 pupils.

Since then I have left the school and now serve as international director at Wellington College International, where I am on the other side of the interview table and support our partners appoint founding heads, such as for our newest school in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Meanwhile, hundreds of new schools are set to open in the coming years in key regions such as India and the Middle East - each seeking its founding head. So, what advice can I give those who find themselves staring at a metaphorical blank canvas?

1. Talk about the big picture

At open events, you’ll face many big questions such as: “What will the school be like?” You need a succinct answer.

To do this I created a set of values that would underpin everything we did, so I could talk about something tangible when the school existed only in my head.

This also helps guide your decision making by being able to refer back to your vision.

2. Pick the right people

Policies, processes and procedures can always be changed - but you only get one chance to appoint every person you will work with in a new school.

As such make sure they know what they are letting themselves in for, understand the challenges of working in a new school, and are willing to get stuck in on new areas. If someone needs the certainty of an established environment they probably won’t be the right fit.

For example, the founding head of year moved through four different offices in the first three years of the school on the path to becoming deputy head. Spotting people with that ability to adapt is key.

3. Remember to dream

This is the moment you can create a school as you think it should be - so seize it.

I decided we would teach Mandarin and Spanish instead of French, and introduced compulsory extracurricular activities for all students in a bespoke “Head’s Challenge” of house competitions and activities to ensure we had an exciting offering for students.

I also decided to make our school days slightly longer but finish our autumn term a week earlier - all opportunities to try something new.

4. Accept you can’t know everything

It is tempting to want to have all the answers - but you just can’t. Even if you are on top of the finances, have conducted a tree survey and decided on the right number of books for the library, the “unknown unknowns” will occur.

Perhaps the first week flood on the evening of our first parents’ event suggests I was right. We had enough mops to keep the water away from the main school computer server, and the rain abated before the parents arrived.

That’s another tip for a founding head; roll your sleeves up - you’ll have to muck in.

5. It’s not all your fault

Following on from this, when every decision is made by you, it can be easy to believe that if something goes wrong it is your fault and you have failed.

That way madness lies. Things go wrong and you have to accept that you can’t see all eventualities. The key is to have the ability to fix the problem with your team (see point 2.) and work together (point 3.).

6. Enjoy the milestones

When you’re knee-deep in a new school, it can be easy to miss the milestones but try and notice them and appreciate them as they pass - the first time you see the uniform being worn, the first assembly, trip, show and sporting fixture - they are all signs your school is flourishing.

Perhaps even more notable is the second time something happens and you realise you are becoming a new school with history - and don’t have to make everything up as you go any more. It is a special time that will seem like a distant dream when you look back. Remember to enjoy it.

Chris Woolf is international director at Wellington College International

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