Executive Headteacher - Whaplode and Weston CofE Primary Schools

What skills and experience we're looking for

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This Job Description should be read in conjunction with the standards for Headteachers as set out in the latest version of the School Teacher and Pay Conditions Document and with the Trust Code of Conduct. An Executive Head should support an ethos of integrity, compassion and excellence throughout the school and wider Trust and communities in which they serve. An Executive Headteacher will work collaboratively as part of the wider Trust, with the understanding that it is one organisation working in partnership to achieve the best outcomes for all pupils. The postholder may be required to work on projects to support any of the Trust schools as directed by a member of the Trust Executive Leadership Team.

An Executive Headteacher will provide strategic leadership and hold overall accountability for direction, standards achieved and quality in order to:

• Provide the leadership and management to enable every pupil high quality education and which promotes the highest possible standards of achievement and well-being.
• Secure the long-term success of their Schools by maximising the skills and resources held across the two or more schools.
• Build system-wide leadership capacity at all levels through actively developing strategic structures in line with the Trust models, staffing structures and roles and responsibilities.

In addition to the Executive Headteacher (EHT), a school will also have a Head of School (HoS) and, as such, responsibilities/duties may be delegated by the EHT as appropriate. Each school will also be supported by a Business Partner and a team of central experts in the areas of HR, Finance, Estates, H&S, Operations and Governance.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

CREATING THE FUTURE OF THE TRUST SCHOOLS

• Embed the Trust vision across the Schools.
• Work with the Academy Committee to create a local vision for the Schools which is consistent with the Trust vision and values.
• Motivate others to create a shared learning culture and positive climate through distribution of leadership through teams and individuals.
• Translate the vision into agreed objectives and operational plans.
• Develop and implement school structures to maximise and deploy both resources and expertise to raise achievement across both schools.
• Ensure effective succession planning at all levels across the schools.
• Build in regular opportunities for cross-school and cross-leadership working to maximise strengths and develop further joint working.
• Strategically lead curriculum development and innovation to ensure a vibrant, locally relevant and engaging curriculum is in place to ensure children receive a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum that helps to prepare them for secondary education and beyond.
• Ensure the continuous and consistent focus on pupils’ achievement, using data and benchmarks to monitor progress.
• Ensure agreed methods of teaching and learning are consistently implemented across the schools.
• Establish and monitor creative, responsive and effective approaches to learning and teaching.
• Set high expectations and set stretching targets for each school community.
• Monitor, evaluate and review school practices and promote improvement strategies.
• Robustly tackle under-performance at all levels across the schools.

DEVELOPING SELF AND WORKING WITH OTHERS

• Display and live out Leadership Behaviours that act as a beacon of excellence for others and support the Trust values.
• Working within Trust policies, ensure the maintenance of effective strategies and procedures for staff induction, professional development and performance review.
• Promote and maintain a culture of high expectations for self and others.
• Ensure effective planning, allocation, support and evaluation of work of teams and individuals.
• Regularly review own practice, set personal targets and take responsibility for own development.
• Maintain a consistent and continuous focus on the development of staff and students ensuring resources are deployed effectively across schools to enhance progress.
• Actively manage own workload, setting a good example to others to allow a genuine culture of work/life balance.
• Ensure that the range, quality and use of all available resources is monitored, evaluated and reviewed to improve the quality of education for all students and provide value for money.

MANAGING THE ORGANISATION

• Ensure the ongoing development of an organisational structure which reflect the visions of the Trust and enable effective and efficient operations.
• Develop a focussed School Development Plan for each school, that articulates the core priorities, the timescales in which these will be achieved and the success criteria for each of these.
• Prepare and regularly update an accurate School Self Evaluation (SEF) document that accurately reflects the current picture of the school with regards to Leadership, Quality of Education, Personal Development, Behaviour and Attitudes.
• Ensure evidence-based improvement plans to promote continuous improvement.
• Effectively and strategically manage the human, financial and physical resources of the Schools.
• Have a strategic overview of all health and safety regulations to ensure that the school meets the needs of the curriculum and health and safety regulations.
• Strategically plan the recruitment and deployment of staff across schools.

SECURING ACCOUNTABILITY

• Consistent with the Trust vision, enable everyone to work collaboratively within the schools and across the wider Trust to achieve excellence for all.
• Ensure individual staff accountabilities are clearly defined, understood, agreed and recorded.
• Work with the Academy Committee to enable it to meet its responsibilities and those defined in the Scheme of Delegation.
• Ensure every individual child has access to high quality teaching and learning that allows them flourish and become all that God intended.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY

• Create and promote positive strategies for challenging any prejudice.
• Treat people equitably and with dignity and respect to create and maintain a positive school culture in line with the Trust’s ethos, values and Code of Conduct.
• Ensure that the school collaborates with other agencies to promote the academic, spiritual, moral, social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of students and their families.
• Lead and develop the school culture and curriculum which takes into account the richness and diversity of the school’s communities and of those around the school.
• Ensure a range of community-based learning experiences are available.
• Collaborate with other agencies to ensure pupil and community needs are met.
• Develop strategies to ensure strong community links are established and maintained.
• Develop, where suitable, joint community events that promote the ethos of the Trust.
• Market and promote schools and the Trust via social media and other communications, sharing its unique selling points, vision and values.

SAFEGUARDING

• Be the Designated Safeguarding lead.
• Ensure that the school is a safe place for children, ensuring that all safeguarding procedures are of the highest standard.
• Oversee the recording and management of safeguarding concerns and ensure compliance with statutory guidance.
• Oversee the management of the Single Central Record (SCR).
• Ensure consistent and thorough procedures and practices of all staff in relation to being vigilant to the safeguarding of all children including liaison with outside agencies.

OTHER

The duties and responsibilities in this job description are not exhaustive. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties that may be required from time to time within the general scope of the post. Any such duties should not substantially change the general character of the post. Duties and responsibilities outside of the general scope of this grade of post will be with the consent of the postholder. The postholder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with LAAT Equal Opportunities policies. The postholder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the LAAT Health and Safety policies and procedures. All employees need to be aware of the possible abuse of children and vulnerable adults and if you are concerned you need to follow the Academies’ Safeguarding Policy. In addition, employees working with children have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of during the course of their work. As a Diocesan MAT, we uphold the Church of England’s Vision for Education and are looking for someone to join our team who can support not only this but our own vision for Education, celebrating the Christian Distinctiveness of our schools.

ABOUT WHAPLODE

At Whaplode, we have the highest expectations of children in both their learning and conduct. We teach respect and kindness for all, whilst encouraging our children to show compassion to others, to show forgiveness to all, and to face challenges with hope, courage and perseverance. Working in partnership with parents, carers, governors, the LAAT Trust and our community is essential in ensuring our success. An atmosphere is fostered at Whaplode which gives children the confidence to express their individuality, demonstrate their talents and know that success in any aspect of their lives will be rewarded and celebrated. At this school, we place a high priority on ensuring that both children’s physical and mental wellbeing are met. These areas are as valued and supported through our detailed PSHE curriculum and pastoral support. Our church school inspires everyone to believe in their ability to succeed through learning in a joyful and encouraging Christian atmosphere. We encourage our children to learn as much as possible and achieve their individual potential whilst developing respect and consideration for others.

ABOUT WESTON

We celebrate diversity and demonstrate inclusivity. Inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan, in which the Samaritan helps the Jewish traveller despite the differences between their people, we believe that we are all the children of God and that each member of our community deserves equality of opportunity and achievement. Weston St Mary Church of England Primary School prides itself on being a small school with a big heart! We offer our pupils a world-class curriculum, small class sizes, a beautiful learning environment and excellent pastoral care. At Weston, our children have access to a knowledge-rich curriculum which prepares them for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century and raises aspirations. We provide them with the knowledge and skills they need in order to succeed within an ever-changing society, helping them to know more and remember more. As well as enabling them to develop a depth of knowledge across a range of subjects, we look to nurture within them the ability to think critically, questioning the views of others whilst building, evidencing and articulating their own.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), medical, online and social media prohibition from teaching, right to work, satisfactory references, suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.