Headteacher Job Description and Person Specification

Transcription

1 a Headteacher Job Description and Person Specification b c Badgerbrook Primary School Badger Drive, Whetstone, Leicester, LE8 6ZW 1 P a g e

2 Letter from the Chair of Governors Dear Applicant We are delighted that you have shown an interest in the role of Headteacher at Badgerbrook Primary School. Badgerbrook is an extremely popular and large primary school. Both geographically and socially, it is at the heart of the Whetstone community and enhanced by supportive Governors and parents through the Friends of Badgerbrook. The school has extensive and well-managed facilities and grounds including an ICT suite, a well-stocked library, bright and airy classrooms with interactive whiteboards and visualisers, a playing field, two adventure play areas and a school vegetable plot. Badgerbrook is currently an outstanding primary school with a reputation for high standards of behaviour and achievement. We strive to create a special place where all children, parents, governors and staff feel valued and respected and work together within a happy, friendly and caring learning community. We want everyone to enjoy coming to our school. Our current improvement priorities are to: Review and develop the 5 year strategic plan Enhance further the standards of teaching and learning across the school Review and develop an innovative curriculum Assess and track pupil progress in a relevant way Our current Headteacher, Mrs Fiona Jones, has successfully achieved the aims and agenda set at the time of her appointment in April 2012 and is now leaving us to take up promotion and a very exciting opportunity working for the Welsh government in an adviser role. The Governors are excited about the opportunity of appointing a talented and inspiring Headteacher to continue to build on the exceptional work carried out by the previous holders of the post. We are looking to appoint a Headteacher with a proven track record of leadership and drive within his or her current/previous schools who can: Continue to raise the academic standards further for all groups of pupils Provide vision and leadership, notably in raising standards of teaching and learning across the whole curriculum Demonstrate excellent communication skills Continue the existing strong partnerships amongst all the members of the school community We are of course committed to fully supporting our new Headteacher in all necessary training requirements and ensuring that he or she maintains a good work/life balance. The information in our application pack and on our website will support you in understanding the context of our school and our priorities. Please look very carefully at the job description and person specification for the relevant post. Application is via completed Leicestershire County Council application form which should demonstrate how you meet the criteria of the post. Please also check that we have the details of your referees, one of whom should be your current employer, and another should be someone who is able to comment on your performance at work from a position of responsibility, not as a peer. Please note that CVs will not be accepted as applications. This position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check for a regulated activity. We encourage you to visit the school prior to completing your application. Please contact Carol Webb, our School Business Manager, on to make arrangements. 2 P a g e

3 Please return completed application forms and supporting letters to Mrs M Moran, Chair of Governors, either by to chair@badgerbrook.leics.sch.uk or by post to the school address. The closing date for applications is 9.00am on Friday 18 th May Interviews will be held on Wednesday 23 rd May 2018 at the school. The start date for this role will be 24 th August 2018 or as soon as possible thereafter up to 4 th January Thank you for your interest in this position. Yours faithfully Mitzi Moran (Mrs) Chair of Governors Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check 3 P a g e

4 School profile Our school, which is a two form entry primary school, is situated in the village of Whetstone, 5 miles south of Leicester. Children come from a variety of social backgrounds and, mainly, private housing. Due to the good reputation of the school, pupils are drawn from a very large local area. Each year the Foundation Stage intake of 60 is full. We offer full time attendance from the start of the Foundation Stage for all pupils. Currently 127 children (31% of the school population) are out of catchment. Badgerbrook Primary School opened in September 1992 to serve a new housing estate in the south of the village. It opened with just 72 children on roll but within five years it had outgrown the original building and a two-storey extension was opened in Two small classrooms were extended in 2008 and other internal modifications to accommodate the pupils and the curriculum have taken place over the years. The building has been wellmaintained since it opened. There are currently 415 children on roll (48% girls and 52% boys).there is an ICT suite and a separate, well-maintained and well-stocked library, a large hall with gym equipment and a kitchen serving hot meals each day. Each classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard and a visualiser enabling ICT to form an integral part of teaching and learning. Badgerbrook is a partner school in the Thomas Estley Learning Alliance (TELA) and we work closely with Thomas Estley National Teaching School in a variety of ways to enhance teaching and learning. Currently TELA is a provider for School Direct Primary in liaison with the University of Leicester. Badgerbrook is a lead school in this important strategy. The school has a high reputation for its sporting achievements and for its choral excellence. Many sporting activities are offered as part of the Learning South Leicestershire Sports Partnership and the schools extra-curricular provision. The school choir performs at a variety of venues in the local area as well as in performances at school. The school also has links with the local churches and church leaders or youth workers lead key stage assemblies each week. Badgerbrook has achieved many awards including: Activemark, Beyond Bullying, EcoSchool, Healthy Schools, ICTMark and the International School Award. The school has Let s get Cooking accreditation and works in partnership with the University of Leicester, the University of Northampton and Nottingham Trent University. The school has links with all the local pre-school groups. The Foundation Stage teachers visit the pre-schools to introduce themselves to the children and to make the transition to our school easier. There is a well-developed induction programme for new pupils and their parents. School Management Structure Badgerbrook currently has 415 children divided into 14 classes, 6 in Key Stage 1 and 8 in Key Stage 2. The Leadership Team currently consists of the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Key Stage 2, the School Business Manager, the SENDCo and the Academically More Able leader. The Headteacher post will be non-class based and the successful candidate will have responsibility for teaching and learning across the school, Safeguarding and Educational Visits 4 P a g e

5 Currently there are 23 teachers (both full and part-time) working at the school, including the Leadership Team. We also employ 29 support staff for teaching and midday supervision. There are 7 administrative support staff, including a part-time ICT technician and librarian, a Premises Officer and a small team of cleaners. Our Beliefs and Aims At Badgerbrook we want everyone to achieve their personal best, be happy, highly motivated lifelong learners, able to express their feelings and ideas. We want them to be confident and independent learners and thinkers, able to work independently and with others and able to use technology effectively. We want them to adopt safe and healthy lifestyles, to value and respect themselves, others and the world in which they live and to make a positive contribution to society. In order to achieve this we aim to provide a broad, balanced, creative and challenging curriculum, create a stimulating, active and well-resourced learning environment and provide a variety of learning and teaching styles to stimulate all. We aim to create a tolerant, caring, supportive school which promotes equality and mutual respect and provides a happy, safe and secure environment. We promote strong partnerships between home, school, other services and the local community and we strive for continuous improvement in all we do. Curriculum Our curriculum is broad, balanced and based on our principal aim, which is to enable every child to achieve their personal best. Our intention is: To have a curriculum which is broad enough to provide all pupils with a good general education, which will leave them well-equipped to face the challenge of life in secondary school and beyond To have a curriculum which is flexible enough to respond to the need for change To help pupils acquire knowledge, skills and practical abilities, including those of problem solving and decision making, and to foster the effective use of language To help pupils appreciate achievement in art, music, science, technology and literature and to encourage excellence in all its forms To help children understand the world in which they live To foster the skills and understanding needed for the children to take their place successfully in society To understand respect for religious and moral values Moving On At the end of Year 6 the pupils move on to a variety of South Leicestershire secondary schools. This important step includes a number of visits and activities organised both in school and at the secondary schools, in order to make the transition a smooth and stressfree process for pupils and parents. Such activities include special science days, sports days, taster days and visits by secondary school teachers to the Badgerbrook pupils. The transition is usually an easier process for our pupils because of the size of Badgerbrook and its building and the movement of classes around the school. FOBs (Friends of Badgerbrook) There is a strong and active PTA, which has purchased many extra items for the school and currently pays for a school librarian. FOBs also organise social activities, which are wellattended and supported by parents. This is an outstanding school with outstanding leadership, management and governance. Ofsted report September P a g e

6 Job Description for Headteacher Job Title: Salary: Responsible to: Headteacher Leadership Spine Range L16 L24 Governing Body Job Purpose To provide the vision and leadership for the school; creating, maintaining and developing the conditions which enable pupils and teachers to achieve effective learning so that the school s aims and objectives are implemented in accordance with the policies of the governing body and national and local educational strategy Main Duties and Responsibilities A. Strategic Direction and Development of the School The Headteacher will: Have a strategic view of successfully developing and improving an already thriving school Consult staff, pupils, parents and governors to create a strategic plan (the School Development Plan SDP). Manage the implementation of the SDP and monitor its impact. Advise the governing body on the formulation of its policies and their implementation, and attend meetings of the governing body and its committees as requested Create an outward-facing school which works with other school and organisations in a climate of mutual challenge to champion best practice and secure excellent achievements for all pupils B. Teaching and Learning The Headteacher will assist the Governing Body by: Ensuring that the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum are met Overseeing the curriculum, pastoral care and the administration of the school to ensure that they are delivered to meet the needs of all pupils Monitoring and evaluating the curriculum for both quality and value for money Promoting the effective management of pupil behaviour and ensure a sense of calmness through the effective management of pupil behaviour Demanding ambitious standards for all pupils, overcoming disadvantage and advancing equality, instilling a strong sense of accountability in staff for the impact of their work on pupils outcomes Securing excellent teaching through an analytical understanding of how pupils learn and of the core features of successful classroom practice and curriculum design, leading to rich curriculum opportunities and pupils well-being 6 P a g e

7 Establishing an educational culture of open classrooms as a basis for sharing best practice within and between schools, drawing on and conducting relevant research and robust data analysis C. Leading and Managing Staff The Headteacher will Promote the school s ethos and create and maintain good working relationships among all members of the school community Maximise the contributions of all staff to improve the quality of education provided and standards achieved through effective deployment and delivery of the performance management process Hold all staff to account for their professional conduct and practice, addressing any under-performance, supporting staff to improve and valuing excellent practice Ensure that professional duties are fulfilled as specified in the School Teachers Pay and Conditions document Liaise with representatives of teacher organisations Sustain their own motivation and that of their staff, and have a duty of care regarding staff welfare Identify emerging talents, coaching current and aspiring leaders in a climate where excellence is the standard, leading to clear succession planning Distribute leadership throughout the organisation, forging teams of colleagues who have distinct roles and responsibilities and hold each other to account for their decision making Shape the current and future quality of the teaching profession through high quality training and sustained professional development for all staff D. Efficient and Effective Use of Staff and Resources The Headteacher will: Advise the governing body on the formulation of the annual budget in order that the school secures its objectives and ensure the regular monitoring of the budget and the oversight of the use of resources Plan, manage and monitor the curriculum within the agreed budget, setting appropriate priorities for expenditure, allocating funds and ensuring effective administration and control Manage and organise accommodation efficiently and effectively to ensure that it meets the needs of the curriculum, and health and safety requirements Seek to secure adequate resources for the school in the present and in the foreseeable future and ensure value for money throughout Ensure that the school s systems, organisation and processes are well considered, efficient and fit for purpose, upholding the principles of transparency, integrity and probity 7 P a g e

8 E. Accountability The Headteacher will: Work closely with the Governing Body and its sub-committees and secure a positive working relationship with all Governors Provide information, objective advice and support to the Governing Body to enable it to meet its responsibilities in particular its functions to set school strategy and hold the Headteacher to account for pupil, staff and financial performance - recognising that the Governing Body is accountable for the success of the school Create and develop an organisation in which staff recognise that they are accountable for the success of the school Ensure that parents and pupils are well informed about curriculum attainment and progress and are able to understand targets for improvement To be the designated Safeguarding lead and be accountable for all elements of this role F. Professional Development The Headteacher will: Sustain wide, current knowledge and understanding of education and school systems locally, nationally and globally, and pursue continuous professional development Develop effective relationships with fellow professionals and colleagues in other public services to improve academic and social outcomes for all pupils Inspire and influence others within and beyond the school to believe in the fundamental importance of education in young people s lives and to promote the value of education This position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check, satisfactory references, and proof of qualifications and the right to work in the UK. The school is an integral part of the local community and pupils are especially successful when taking part in local music or sporting competitions. Ofsted Report September P a g e

9 Person Specification for Headteacher Criteria Qualifications: Qualified Teacher Status NPQH or a commitment to undertake the qualification within 6 months of being appointed is desirable Evidence of commitment to continuous professional development Leadership Skills: The ability to lead and manage staff and pupils to work towards common goals. We are looking for evidence that candidates can: Create and secure commitment to a compelling vision for the school Hold and articulate clear values and moral purpose, focused on providing an excellent education for the pupils they serve Demonstrate optimistic personal behaviour, positive relationships and attributes towards their pupils and staff, and towards parents, governors and members of the local community Lead by example with integrity, creativity, resilience and clarity drawing on their own scholarship, expertise and skills, and that of those around them Build upon our current high levels of performance, by supporting and developing teamworking across the whole school community Initiate and manage change and improvement in pursuit of higher standards and strategic objectives Prioritise, plan and organise their own work and direct and co-ordinate and provide professional direction to the work of others Devolve responsibilities, delegate tasks and monitor performance to ensure high standards and the development of professional practice among staff, with evidence of objective assessment of the work of staff Create a structured environment where pupils and staff can thrive, setting standards and providing a role model for pupils and staff Manage and motivate staff to achieve the highest standards, within the necessarily constrained resources of the school Competence and Expertise Candidates should have the professional competence and expertise to: Command credibility and respect through expertise, experience and commitment to professional development Lead the safeguarding of pupils under the school s care and assure that we prioritise their welfare Make informed use of inspection, benchmarking and research findings, and apply good practice from other sectors and organisations Communication and Problem Solving Skills The ability to investigate problems, find and evaluate solutions, make decisions and communicate effectively. We will be looking for evidence that candidates can: Think creatively and imaginatively to anticipate and solve problems, and identify opportunities for the school Interrogate numerical and financial data with confidence and use it to make decisions based upon analysis and interpretation Seek advice and support where necessary Demonstrate reasoned judgement in difficult circumstances Deal sensitively with people of very different and demanding expectations, demonstrating an ability to avert and resolve conflict Communicate and influence effectively with, and secure the co-operation of, a wide range of people Create a culture of effective communication across the whole school community, and implement appropriate systems to support this Chair meetings effectively Develop, maintain and use an effective network of working contacts across all of the agencies and communities that the school interacts with Assessed by App/Docs/Int App/Act/Int/Ref App/Act/Int/Ref App/Act/Int/Ref 9 P a g e

10 Personal Effectiveness The ability to plan and use time effectively and to manage emotional and physical responses to events. Self-motivation and a strong positive impact on people. We will be looking for evidence that candidates can: Work under pressure and to deadlines Continue to demonstrate effective performance against their job description under pressure and in the toughest of circumstances Achieve challenging professional goals Take responsibility for their own professional development Create a strong, positive personal impact, conveying authority, confidence and warmth Demonstrate adaptability to changing circumstances and new ideas Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to equal opportunities and in dealing with any issues of perceived discrimination Demonstrate courage, vigour, pragmatism and perseverance Demonstrate enthusiasm for and commitment to the role, along with reliability and absolute integrity Abbreviations: App Application Act Activity Int Interview Ref References Docs Documentary evidence App/Act/Int/Ref 10 P a g e