Information Pack Behaviour and Achievement Mentor At Compass School we believe that everyone in the Compass School Community will confidently reach the destination to which they aspire. This applies to everyone, including our staff team. Our four values of aspiration, integrity, exploration and resilience are reflected in all areas of the school and our work. We are extremely passionate about ensuring that our students meet the challenging targets that we set for them, and we strive to be outstanding and innovative practitioners ourselves. This is a unique opportunity in a challenging, urban environment where over two thirds of our students are eligible for the pupil premium. Our aim is to grow a school which inspires our students to fulfil their potential, and which challenges our entire staff team to be the best they can be. Our philosophy is simple: to have extremely high expectations of our students, of ourselves, and of what we can achieve. The successful candidate will excel in their area of expertise and will strive to be outstanding, with a track record of improving outcomes for the students they work with. They will have the relevant experience for the post, the drive and enthusiasm to go above and beyond in all areas of school life, and the flexibility to fit in with a small but growing team. The appointed person will be accountable to and line managed by the Senior Leader of Achievement, the member of the Compass Senior Leadership Team responsible for behaviour. Will you join us in reaching our aspirations? If you share our values, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and are excited by the prospect of making a real contribution to a new and growing school, we want to hear from you. About Compass School Compass School Southwark is a four-form entry, mixed, 11-18 free school that opened in September 2013. Founded by a varied and experienced group of Trustees, the school will grow to offer an exceptional education to 600 young people in the heart of Bermondsey. Benefits of working at Compass School We offer competitive inner London salaries on our own pay scale, and reward staff with our performance related pay scheme. All staff receive laptops and an annual entitlement to high quality CPD, along with the opportunity to take flexible days off when needed. We also operate a subsidised health care scheme for those who wish to participate, and other work related benefits such as cycle to work and childcare voucher schemes. Next Steps The deadline for application is Monday 10 th July 2017, 12 noon. Interviews will take place ASAP The start date for the appointed candidate is 1 September 2017 For further information about the school and the Trust, please go to www.compass-schools.com. If you have any questions, contact us at recruitment@compass-schools.com or 0203 542 6506. Compass Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding children and all appointments will require an enhanced DBS check.
Behaviour and Achievement Mentor Responsible to: Senior Leader of Achievement (SLT) Start date: September 2017 Hours: 40 hours per week; Mon Thurs 08.30 17.00, Fri 08.30 15.00 Salary: up to 21,000 depending on experience plus benefits (subsidised health care, ride-to-work, flexi-days) Role summary Behaviour and Achievement Mentors at Compass School are an integral part of the Achievement Team, with a focus on ensuring that all students achieve their potential and that any barriers that may prevent this are tackled and removed. At Compass School, we believe that Quality First Teaching is at the heart of a strong inclusion policy and is the key driver of progress and achievement. However we also acknowledge that our students often need support which cannot only be provided in the classroom. The role of a Behaviour and Achievement Mentor is to maximise the potential and opportunities for all students (including vulnerable learners) whilst meeting their individual academic support needs. This will include supporting colleagues developing and deploying strategies to ensure students make outstanding progress. This will involve small group interventions, 1:1 support and targeted support and interventions through close partnership with both families and external agencies. You will work as part of the school s Achievement team consisting of a Leader of Achievement, Heads of House and a team of behaviour mentors. You will be assigned to a core group of students who are currently underachieving and work with staff, families and external agencies to overcome barriers to learning and develop a culture of aspiration and success. Specific Role responsibilities Work with the Inclusion Team, Achievement Team and Leader of Achievement to ensure that Compass School is inclusive and provides appropriate academic support for all students. Work closely with students who require interventions beyond the classroom and monitor their progress, including but not limited to: o Diagnostics of barriers to learning, supporting the Inclusion Team and Senior Leader of Achievement. o One-to-one sessions for identified students as part of a programme of interventions and monitoring the use of student reports as necessary. o Group discussions and enrichment activities around self-esteem, relationships and focus, and life goals. o Dispute and conflict resolution, and restorative justice meetings. o Engagement with external agencies and enabling the delivery of external programmes o Preparation and submission of CAF forms and monitoring impact and outcomes of these o Monitoring of attendance and punctuality, working with families to increase school attendance o Leading lunch and break time supervision, observing and working with students around conflict resolution and relationships o Supporting the work of the schools internal exclusion and parking provision o Deputise for the Heads of House o Support in classes and lessons where progress below expected levels o Supporting the whole school detention process and follow up with parents and students Provide drop-in support for students who do not feel able to discuss concerns with a teacher.
Support teachers with behaviour for learning strategies within their classrooms and in student preparation for learning and attendance at interventions and additional learning opportunities. Leadership Given the small size of the school and the need for all staff to take a lead, Achievement Mentors will be expected to: Get involved in decision-making, where possible, in order to feel a sense of ownership/involvement Have a sense of Corporate Responsibility for the outcomes of pupils at Compass School Southwark Build an expectation of high achievement and contribute to the development of the school ethos Be willing to go above and beyond expected levels of commitment to ensure the success of the school Achievement and progress Ensure that the students enjoy a safe and healthy environment in which standards of behaviour support learning and the social development of student. Provide highly effective teaching and learning opportunities within their subject area. Create a learning environment that is positive, affirming and supportive. Keep up to date with creative and innovative practices in teaching and learning, and use as appropriate Develop successful and inclusive approaches to teaching, including supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities and of the more able. Provide extra-curricular opportunities to support development and progress. Communication and Partnership Support in the pastoral care of pupils. Create, maintain and enhance effective working relationships with staff. Maintain an effective system of record keeping, reporting and communication with parents, students and colleagues to ensure that the aims relating to each student s progress are achieved. Look for and use opportunities to support the development of the whole child through spiritual, moral, social and cultural activities
Person Specification The person specification is related to the requirements of the post as determined by the job description. Experience Essential Experience of working with young people (11-16) A vision for how student attainment can be improved and maintained Experience of successful behaviour for learning strategies Understanding of different models of support for students with SEN, EAL, and Gifted and Talented. Evidence of successfully using coaching and/or facilitation skills to bring about sustainable improvements in student attitudes/behaviour/outcomes Desirable Experience of working in a school in an urban environment Experience of working with young people from challenging backgrounds A clear understanding of the factors which lead to educational disaffection in young people Education & Qualifications Essential GCSE English and Maths, minimum Grade C Further educational study Relevant training for working with young people aged 11-19 Right to work in the UK Desirable Accreditation in a relevant subject or area Skills Essential Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills (including written, oral and presentation) An ability to communicate effectively with teachers, students and parents An ability to work autonomously and as part of a team Passionate about inclusive practice and equality of opportunity Excellent time management Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to think innovatively and creatively Keen to get involved in wider school life Desire to go above and beyond in improving outcomes for young people in the local community Commitment to the protection/safeguarding of all students Self-reflective practitioner who always seeks to improve Desirable Able to be a strong visible presence within the school, supporting staff and students NOTE: This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Our School The Compass Schools Trust was set up with one thing in mind: to provide outstanding schools for students, teachers and parents, delivering inspirational education to young people. This means the very best teaching standards, the highest aspirations for every pupil and the highest expectations of each and every one of them. The first and currently only school to be opened by the Trust, Compass School Southwark, opened in September 2013 with the ambition to become an outstanding local school. In a short space of time, Compass School has already become the school of choice for many families in our local community, and we are providing a unique education to the children that we serve. Everyone in the Compass School Community holds the unshakeable belief that every child can achieve their goals and aspirations given the right support and challenge. This is reinforced in our vision that everyone in the Compass School Community will confidently reach the destination to which they aspire. These are not just words. The Governing Body and staff team at Compass are fully committed to ensuring that this statement is fulfilled for all of our students and parents, for our staff, and for members of the wider community. Since the school opened in 2013, we have quadrupled the number of students enrolled, moved sites twice, and seen our staff team go from strength to strength. Working at Compass School is challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. The school and its community are on a fantastic journey, and we are incredibly excited about what we will achieve. Our Vision At Compass School Southwark, we believe that education is about more than just academic achievement. We want to engage and enhance all aspects of our student s lives and in doing so help them to determine their own course, with a good understanding of the world and opportunities around them. Supporting and actively promoting the ethos of the school is the responsibility of every member of staff. Our values of aspiration, integrity, exploration and resilience are central to everything that we do. Our school development plan, behaviour policy, approach to teaching and learning, and the way that we act, are all based around these values.
Aspiration All students should aspire to reach a particular destination in their lives. Our role at Compass School is to support our students in ensuring that their aspiration is ambitious and achievable, and do our very best to ensure our students reach that goal. Integrity We expect our students, staff and parents to act with integrity at all times. Day to day this means courteous and positive communications with each other, always being honest with themselves and others, and representing themselves and the school in a positive way. Exploration Students should enjoy learning, be curious and want to explore beyond the subject matter they are taught in the classroom. At Compass School we develop this value through our core enrichment programme which encourages students to try new things, through our trips and visits which require students to explore and answer questions, and through the challenging curriculum delivered by our superb staff. Resilience We firmly believe that our young people need to be able to respond confidently to the changes and uncertainty that they may face in their lives. We also know that resilient children are happier children. Through developing self-management skills, promoting a strong tradition and culture in school, and broadening knowledge as part of our varied curriculum, we can ensure that Compass students are able to overcome any adversity. We aim to be one of the best schools in the country, renowned for delivering outstanding academic results, developing world-class opportunities for our students and staff, and ensure a global outlook and high aspiration in every student, regardless of their background. A unique opportunity As a brand new school, we have chosen to do some things differently to other secondary schools in Southwark. Some of the key features of Compass School are: We are, and will always be by choice, a small secondary school, with a strong sense of family and community Small class sizes, with an average of 25 students per class A resolute focus on getting the basics right: numeracy, literacy and the ability to relate to people and places A challenging and stimulating curriculum which encourages students to explore and excel, to fully reach their potential An extended school day, which finishes no earlier than 4.30pm on Monday to Wednesday, 3.30pm Thursday. Opportunities and experiences outside of the classroom to develop skills which are important for adult life and employment A healthy learning environment, with a minimum of two hours a week of sport and free breakfast and fruit for all students Advice, guidance and inspiration for students towards higher education, training and employment from Year 7
Enrichment Our core curriculum is enhanced through our extended school day, which allows us to provide at least one hour per day of enrichment activities to our students. These activities are a core part of the school day and are not optional. Staff are required to teach at least one enrichment class per week, and can offer to support students with more enrichment activities if they choose. We actively encourage staff to share their passions and interests with our students. Academic excellence Compass School Southwark is a fully inclusive school, with a core academic curriculum followed by all students. Everyone in the Compass Community has a positive work ethic and expectations of progress are higher than the national expectation. Literacy & numeracy Literacy and numeracy, along with the ability to relate to people and places, form the core of the Compass Curriculum. Almost half of the timetable in Key Stage 3 is focused on the core subjects of English, Maths and Science. In Years 7 to 9, all students will study English and Maths for one hour each day, including one hour a week of silent reading. Inclusion Compass School Southwark is a fully inclusive school in every sense of the meaning, accessible to students of all backgrounds, faiths and abilities, and regardless of learning or special educational need. High quality teaching, differentiation in lessons and mixed year group classes where appropriate ensures that students can make better than average progress in all subjects, regardless of starting point. Challenge At Compass School, we ensure that all students can reach their potential. To achieve this we stretch all students with a challenging curriculum and a growth mind-set approach which encourages students to embrace challenge and want to learn. Our Gifted and Talented cohort of students are called Trailblazers and are offered a range of opportunities to excel. Pastoral care We understand that students will only reach their potential if they feel happy, safe and secure at school. Compass School is organised with pastoral care and support in the centre, and we pride ourselves on our supportive community. Students are organised into small Learning Families, led by staff tutors, who will provide support and guidance for each student. Learning Families are themselves organised into Houses, with each House containing students from every year group. Weekly Assemblies, sporting competitions, theatrical performances and other activities are co-ordinated through the House system. This strong, inclusive pastoral system promotes a sense of cohesion and belonging, and provides students with a smaller cohort of close peers with whom they will share their school experience. It facilitates friendly competition, vertical learning and opportunities for students to form close social bonds with students of different ages/year groups.
Learning environment School is open from 7.45am to 5.30pm with the core school day running from 8.20am to 4.30pm. This extended day provides extra time to focus on ensuring every pupil is supported to achieve in academic subjects, along with providing the space and time to develop broader skills, with an expectation that every pupil will participate in afterschool sport and creative and cultural activities. Compass School is currently located in temporary accommodation. Our facilities are all recently refurbished, and allow for inspirational teaching across the full curriculum. Specialist facilities for sport, science, art and technology are all provided. Within the next few years, a brand new state of the art school building close to our current site will serve the staff, students and community of Compass School. Everyone will have an opportunity to share their ideas on how the school is designed, and we aim to create a strong sense of pride and ownership of the school site.