Bedford Girls School Job Description Head of Junior School

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1 Our whole school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Summary of the role: Job Title: Location: Job Purpose: Reporting Line: Hours: Salary: Line management responsibility for: To ensure that Bedford Girls School Junior School is well led, with a unified community that forms a coherent part of the whole school, and that girls well-being, both pastoral and academic, and their behaviour and achievements, continually reflect the school values of being bold, imaginative and reflective. Head of the Junior School at Bedford Girls School Cardington Road - Bedford Provide the leadership and management of Bedford Girls School Junior School which is in line with the vision, values and ethos of the whole school. To the Headmistress of Bedford Girls School As per Teacher Contract Circa 60,000 Take responsibility for the teaching and support staff of the Junior School Main duties and responsibilities: Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of girls and staff for whom the Head of the Junior School is responsible and comes into contact with. 1. Policy/ Strategic Direction a) Work collaboratively with the Headmistress of Bedford Girls School in translating the vision for the school into agreed objectives, operational and business plans and take lead responsibility for delivering the curriculum, teaching and learning in the Junior School. b) Ensure that any proposed curriculum development is discussed with the Headmistress before submission to the Education Committee. c) Be responsible for overseeing the implementation of new and agreed curricular initiatives such as moving the school towards becoming a Thinking School. d) Identify innovative teaching and learning practices to inform changes that may need to be made to the curriculum to maximize girls learning opportunities.

2 e) Play a leading role in delivering the school s ICT strategy in the Junior School to ensure ICT is used in an innovative way in empowering and engaging Junior School girls to help improve their educational outcomes. f) Devise Junior School development plans to ensure they are linked to the School s Strategic Plan and are forward thinking and contain exciting learning initiatives. g) Be responsible for the Junior School co-curriculum ensuring that a rich variety of activities are provided for the girls in the Junior School. h) Work with the Deputy Head of the Junior School to ensure the smooth and effective day to day running of the school. i) Regularly review, co-ordinate and evaluate Junior School polices in line with whole school policies. 2. Teaching and Learning a) Review Junior School Schemes of Work to support the work of the Junior School and ensure that staff have high expectations, focus on academic rigour and are able to challenge and engage all the girls. b) Implement a system of regular review of the Junior School - monitoring schemes of work, scrutiny of work, classroom observations and analysis of data to ensure that high standards of teaching and learning are maintained. c) Ensure that curriculum planning provides continuity and progression between Junior and Senior Schools to facilitate the transition of girls and to maximize their learning. d) Work with the school s Learning Support Co-ordinator to ensure the special needs of the Junior School girls are supported and met. e) Ensure the appropriate welfare and well-being of the girls and contribute to an ethos in the school where each girl is valued, encouraged and able to thrive both educationally and personally. f) Lead the promotion of high standards of behaviour in relation to attendance, conduct, punctuality and appearance and supporting Junior School teachers in developing strategies for improving areas that may hinder the girls achievements. g) Provide a professional model for others, clearly demonstrating effective teaching, monitoring classroom organisation and displaying high standards of achievement, behaviour and discipline.

3 3. Leadership and Management of Others a) Lead by example, providing inspiration and motivation, and embody for the girls, staff, governors, parents and wider community the vision, purpose and leadership of the Junior School. b) Develop positive working relationships with and between all staff, maintaining confidentiality as appropriate. c) Work with the Headmistress in the recruitment, deployment and motivation of staff to make the most effective use of their skills, expertise and experience and to ensure that all staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. d) Provide effective leadership for the Deputy Head of the Junior School, Heads of Year and Subject Co-ordinators to ensure they are appropriately briefed, motivated and supported in undertaking their roles and responsibilities. e) Be responsible for the health and safety and child welfare matters within the Junior School including the safeguarding of the girls. F) Attend meetings of the whole school Leadership Team, as appropriate, and meetings of the Education Committee and School Committee. 4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Assessment a) Monitor the Junior School teaching to ensure that teachers are employing appropriate, engaging teaching strategies to secure effective learning across the breadth of the curriculum. b) Evaluate innovative teaching and learning practices to keep the Junior School curriculum up to date and maximize girls learning developments. c) Be responsible for the performance of Junior School staff and girls, to ensure the effective use of assessment data to inform Junior School teaching and learning. 5. Communications, Marketing and External Links a) Work with the Marketing Department to ensure that the whole school s marketing strategies are implemented throughout the Junior School b) Work with the Communications Department to ensure the Junior School website is up to date and encourage good press relations to celebrate the success of the Junior School c) Monitor and evaluate pupil recruitment to ensure Bedford Girls School Junior School is fully subscribed.

4 d) Take responsibility for events and activities which contribute to the marketing of the Junior School, such as Open Days and Assessment Days e) Develop links with feeder schools and look for ways of raising the growing profile and reputation of Bedford Girls School Junior School f) Develop and maintain relationships with Heads of other Junior Schools and professional bodies to maintain best practice and ideas. g) Support the work of the Parent Teacher Association and attend their functions h) Work closely with the parent body addressing their concerns and ensure effective communication between parents and school. i) Take Junior School assemblies and occasionally whole school assemblies that help foster the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the girls. 6. Management of Resources a) Work with the Headmistress in establishing priorities for expenditure and manage the Junior School budget. Liaise with the Bursar to monitor the effectiveness of spending and use of resources in the Junior School to ensure value for money is achieved. 7. Training and Development of Self and Others a) Lead the Junior school s NQT / GTP / New Staff Induction programmes to ensure that all new staff feel welcomed and appropriately briefed to undertake their responsibilities and make a significant contribution to the success of the school. b) Develop and maintain a culture of high expectations of self and others. c) Regularly review own practice, set personal targets and take responsibility for own development by taking part in the Harpur Trust s Senior Leadership appraisal scheme 8. Supporting the work of the Harpur Trust a) Write the annual Junior School report to the Governors. b) Attend Harpur Trust meetings where appropriate You may also be required to undertake such other comparable duties as the Headmistress requires from time to time.

5 Person Specification The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Essential These are qualities without which the Applicant could not be appointed Desirable These are extra qualities which can be used to choose between applicants who meet all of the essential criteria Method of assessment Qualifications A well-qualified graduate with QTS or the equivalent gained through experience. Production of the Applicant s certificates Experience: Successful teaching experience of Junior School pupils with a track record of consistently enabling pupils to achieve high standards. Substantial and successful experience of curriculum and or pastoral leadership and management Some experience of strategic planning or of curriculum evaluation. Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to relate well to people on all levels, to resolve conflicts in a sensitive manner, to encourage and motivate. Ability to work effectively as a leaders and be part of the senior leadership team, to show initiative and imagination, to have vision and the ability to inspire others. Skills First class organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to remain calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines, managing competing priorities. Strong analytical and problem solving skills, combined with a proactive and positive approach to change management. Effective and energetic in instigating and implementing change. Able to see through complex strategies from concept to conclusion. 5

6 Able to maintain a high work rate and to juggle a range of tasks and issues at the same time. High level of classroom teaching skills. Excellent written and spoken English and the ability to articulate and communicate clearly. A high level of competency in numeracy to interpret statistical data, and manage budgets. Bedford Girls School Knowledge Personal competencies and qualities An awareness of recent important national educational developments. A clear understanding of recent developments in teaching and learning. Good working knowledge of common ICT applications, with a clear understanding of the potential for ICT in enabling more innovative and effective approaches to learning, teaching and school organisation. A sensitivity to the needs of young people. Enjoyment of working with and liking of young people. Personal integrity, honesty, energy, stamina, enthusiasm. A willingness to give generously of their time to support school events and activities. Commitment to personal development and lifelong learning. 6