St Jude s Church of England Primary School

St Jude s Church of England Primary School A village school in the heart of the city

Welcome to St Jude s St Jude s Church of England Primary School Dear Colleague, Thank you for your interest in becoming the Headteacher of St Jude s CofE and for exploring the opportunity to lead our wonderful school. Our current, much-loved and highly respected Headteacher is retiring in July after sixteen successful years here, so we are looking to appoint someone to ensure that the next stage of our journey continues that success and builds on the school s strengths. St Jude s C of E is a village school in the heart of the city. Based in Southwark SE1, it is a warm, attractive and successful oneform entry school with lots of character. Opposite the Imperial War Museum and a short walk from Waterloo and Elephant and Castle stations, we offer not only access to a wealth of resources in the capital city, but also excellent travel links. We currently have 167 pupils on roll. Our pupils come from a wide range of backgrounds, both traditional London communities and recent arrivals striving to make a new life in this great city. As a Church of England school, we work hard to implement the church s mission to serve all the children and families of the parish and neighbourhood. We are very involved in St George the Martyr Church in the Borough and currently have six foundation governors serving on the Board of Governors. We are very lucky to have wonderful support and links with local businesses, including Shell, Taylor-Wessing and Dundas and Wilson, who support the school on a weekly basis. Our Choir has performed in the Shard, the Royal Festival Hall and for the Chelsea Pensioners. Indeed, there are many ways in which the school ensures an enriched curriculum for the children. All Southwark schools benefit from a highly regarded school improvement service which provides advice, support and challenge to school leaders. Each school has an allocated Senior Adviser and headteachers new to post are offered an induction programme and a peer mentor. Furthermore, the Diocese offers newly appointed Headteachers a series of tailor made New Leadership Seminars, addressing key aspects of leadership in Church Schools. Diocesan Advisers support all Headteachers at school base and run termly Headteachers meetings and conferences. This pack contains information about the Headteacher appointment and the school, but please do visit our website, where you will discover more about the school www.stjudessouthwark.co.uk We would very much welcome a visit from you so that you can see the children and staff in action just ring Denise Hawkes, the school s administrator on 020 7928 5484, or email d.hawkes@st-judes. southwark.sch.uk. Completed applications, with supporting statements of no more than three sides of A4, should be submitted to d.hawkes@ st-judes.southwark.sch.uk by 12 midday, Monday 7th April 2013. Shortlisting will take place on 24th April and interviews on Wednesday 7th and Friday 9th May. I m extremely proud to be part of such a wonderful school and look forward to receiving your application and to have the opportunity to meet you soon. With kind regards, Veronica Quinn Chair of Governors 2 We respect and value each pupil s background, culture and experience

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Job description JOB PURPOSE: To plan, lead, develop, support, administer and monitor the academic, religious, pastoral, social and financial life of the school community in pursuit of the aims of the School and to help realise the School Improvement Plan in full. RESPONSIBLE TO: The Governing Body. WORKING WITH: All teaching and support staff and stakeholders. ETHOS To promote and foster the inclusive Christian ethos and values in which individuals feel valued and where personal endeavour and responsibility are encouraged. To maintain high morale and confidence and set an example of professional standards and leadership. To implement a suitable system of guidance and support for pupils and staff including liaising with parents/carers and outside agencies. To maintain a high standard of behaviour supported by policies and practices that promote self-discipline, independence, responsible attitudes and a spirit of caring and friendship towards each other and the wider community. To foster and promote a sense of community within the school, including relationships with all pupils, staff and parents/carers and to encourage links between the school and the local community as well as the Church. SHAPING THE FUTURE To ensure that the vision for the school is clearly articulated, shared, understood and acted on effectively. To work with the school community to translate the vision into agreed objectives and operational plans that will promote and sustain school improvement. To demonstrate vision and values in every day work and practice. To ensure creativity, innovation and the use of appropriate new technologies to achieve excellence. To ensure that strategic planning and the school culture and curriculum take account of the diversity, values and experience of the school community at large. LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT To work with the Governing Body to develop and review the school improvement plan, under-pinned by sound financial planning, identifying priorities and targets to ensure pupils achieve high standards and that teachers effectiveness continues to improve and develop. To monitor, review and evaluate the work and organisation of the school to ensure effective implementation of policy and practice that will enable all pupil groups to maximise achievement and minimise all forms of educational disadvantage. To manage and monitor finance and resources effectively and ensure they are clearly linked to the priorities of the school. To lead, inspire and manage the staff team, to ensure that all are able to develop professionally and to promote teamwork and collective responsibility. To develop leadership at all levels and maximise the positive impact of systems. To lead the development, review and monitoring of policies. To lead the school in creating a caring, stimulating and secure environment for all pupils where they can develop personally, socially and academically. To lead the school in providing a broad and balanced curriculum that: meets the needs of all pupils; enables all pupils to achieve their full educational potential and make progress in their learning; and promotes their good behaviour and safety as well as their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. To be confident in all areas of financial management, seek to secure additional financial and non-financial resources for the school and ensure that the finances, management, organisation and administration effectively support the strategic vision and direction of the school. To value the importance of their own professional development and promote a good work-life balance for themselves and colleagues. PUPILS To ensure the highest standards of achievement across the wide range of abilities and needs of pupils through high expectations and a curriculum designed to challenge and stimulate. To ensure the effective management of pupil behaviour at all times throughout the school and when engaged in authorised school activities outside the school premises. To identify and provide for the specific needs of every pupil. 4

Job description To support and ensure the provision of a broad, balanced and enriched curriculum for all pupils ensuring equality of access to the whole curriculum. To promote and celebrate the positive benefits of living within a culturally and ethnically diverse society. To foster and encourage the interests and particular talents of all pupils. To maintain and develop effective systems of planning, assessment and record keeping, and communicating with parents/carers and pupils to ensure that individual aims and progress are achieved. To take overall responsibility on behalf of the Governors for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all pupils through the school s pastoral care and Behaviour Policy, taking account of current legislation including Child Protection and Safeguarding. DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM To lead, develop and monitor through regular review a broad, balanced and flexible curriculum within the requirements of the national curriculum and aims of the school. To ensure a wide curriculum throughout the school, continuing to develop a creative cross-curricular programme. To take account of the needs and aptitudes of all pupils through appropriate curriculum planning, assessment and evaluation to ensure high standards and optimum achievement for each pupil while minimising disadvantages of any kind. TEACHING AND LEARNING To promote and ensure the development of effective classroom practice leading to high levels of achievement and enjoyment for all pupils. To monitor standards of teaching in the classroom and appraise the quality of teaching throughout the school. To lead and motivate staff and to ensure that they have access to advice and appropriate training. To ensure that there is effective induction and professional development for newly qualified teachers and all other staff. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES To ensure the entitlement of all pupils to an appropriately differentiated broad, balanced and enriched curriculum. To promote equality of opportunity in the appointment and the promotion of all staff. To ensure that equality of opportunity (in accordance with the Equality Act 2010) is placed at the heart of all school activities. COMMUNITY AND RELATIONSHIPS To ensure effective liaison with Southwark Diocesan Board of Education and Southwark Council. To develop and maintain positive links with the parish clergy of St George the Martyr, Borough High Street, and other local churches. To maintain and develop effective links with other local schools including those to which pupils transfer. To ensure that the school promotes positive and effective links with the local community and outside agencies. To promote a positive and effective relationship linking home and school in a supportive working partnership, ensuring parents/carers are fully informed about all matters relating to the education and well-being of their children. To provide opportunities for consultation between parents/carers and staff and encourage their involvement. GOVERNANCE To provide appropriate timely information for the Governing Body and keep Governors fully informed about and involved with the school. To attend Governing Body meetings and to advise and assist Governors in the discharge of their duties in maintaining an effective and efficient school. To develop a good working partnership with the Governing Body. To be responsible with the Governors for the appointment of all staff in accordance with the school staffing policies as adopted through Southwark Council and the SDBE to ensure that staff have the potential to achieve the agreed aims and objectives of the school. To be responsible with the Governors for staff discipline, in accordance with the policies adopted through Southwark Council and SDBE. To ensure that all appropriate HR policies are in place and implemented. To implement the school s Performance Management Policy. THE SCHOOL PREMISES To take overall responsibility with the Governors for the planning, development and stewardship of the school s environment, buildings, plant and equipment, ensuring compliance with current Health & Safety requirements. To promote an attractive safe learning environment that stimulates learning and enhances the appearance of the school. 5

Person specification The Governors wish to appoint an inspirational and highly principled individual who will have the following strongly held beliefs and attributes, which are essential and desirable for the role: Essential criteria Desirable criteria A. Qualifications Degree-level qualification or equivalent. NPQH accreditation. Qualified Teacher Status. Up-to-date safer recruitment and safeguarding training. Clear evidence of commitment to own professional development. B. Knowledge, skills and experience Ability to support and build on the School s strong Christian ethos and to maintain its close link with the Parish church. Ability to maintain and build on the school s inclusive practice, embracing the different faiths, cultures and languages of the school community. Successful senior leadership experience as a Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher or Assistant Headteacher. A strong record as an outstanding teacher. High aspirations, commitment and the ability to implement effective strategies for raising standards for all pupils. Experience of developing, leading and evaluating a whole school initiative that resulted in improved pupil outcomes. Ability to interpret, analyse and use a wide range of data and information effectively to drive school improvement. Successful experience of coaching, mentoring and appraising staff to improve the quality of teaching. Ability to manage change successfully, encourage innovation and empower others to carry the vision forward. Ability to develop a creative curriculum, including ICT, that excites and interests pupils, enriches their experience and leads to excellent outcomes. A confident user of ICT, including its use in tracking, evaluating and presenting school performance both accurately and effectively. In-depth knowledge and understanding of current educational priorities and Ofsted expectations. Experience of Ofsted inspection at a senior level. 6 Knowledge and/or experience of successful financial and resource management, including specific funding initiatives, e.g. pupil premium funding. Experience of working with both internal and external stakeholders, e.g. local schools, the Diocesan Board, LA, businesses and agencies, to develop and enrich opportunities for pupils. Experience of developing the home-school partnership and securing the active participation of families in pupils learning, including those who may be harder to reach.

Person specification We are very proud of our school and work hard to see that each child achieves the very best they can. Essential criteria Desirable criteria Evidence of promoting and achieving high standards of behaviour and attendance. A good understanding of equalities, and inclusion across all aspects of school life in both principle and practice. Commitment to, and experience of, safeguarding pupils and securing their health and well-being. Consistent approach to discipline with both children and staff. C. Personal qualities An enthusiasm for, and love of, learning. Strong communication skills and evidence of their effective use with pupils, staff, families, governors and the wider education, church and local communities. Emotional resilience, stamina and flexibility when dealing with challenging issues and circumstances. High expectations of self and others. The ability to lead and manage with flair, tenacity and a sense of humour. Ability to delegate to all staff. 7

St Jude s Church of England Primary School Colnbrook Street London SE1 6HA T: 020 7928 5484 F: 020 7401 3405 E: office@st-judes.southwark.sch.uk www.tesprime.com