At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a year group, focusing on academic and personal development while managing behaviour and attendance.
- Company: Secondary Academy in Dudley with a strong community focus.
- Benefits: Autonomy in role, access to leadership training, and supportive staff culture.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth and to shape the school environment.
- Why this job: Make a lasting impact on students' lives in a vibrant community setting.
- Qualifications: Qualified Teacher Status and experience in pastoral or middle-management roles.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Opportunity
Dudley is a borough with a strong sense of community and a storied industrial past. We are seeking a resilient, empathetic, and highly organized Head of Year to lead a specific cohort through their academic and personal development. Unlike a standard classroom role, this is a middle-leadership position focused on the "whole child." You will be the architect of your year group’s culture, driving high standards of behaviour, attendance, and pastoral well-being.
The Role & Department
You will lead a team of Form Tutors, reporting directly to the Assistant Principal (Pastoral). This role is the vital link between the school, the students, and their families. You will be the primary point of escalation for behavioural or safeguarding concerns within your year group. You will work closely with the Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and the SENCO to ensure that vulnerable students receive the targeted support they need to flourish. While this role typically carries a teaching load, your priority is the strategic management of your cohort’s progress and morale.
Core Responsibilities
- Pastoral Leadership: Setting a clear vision for the year group, including leading weekly assemblies that celebrate success and address collective challenges.
- Behaviour Management: Implementing the school’s behaviour policy with consistency and fairness, managing reintegration's, and working to reduce fixed-term exclusions.
- Academic Tracking: Monitoring the progress data of your year group, identifying "underachieving" sub-groups, and implementing interventions to close the gap.
- Attendance & Punctuality: Working with the attendance officer to identify patterns of absence and meeting with parents to remove barriers to school engagement.
- Parental Engagement: Acting as the professional face of the year group during parents' evenings, transition events, and multi-agency meetings (such as Early Help or CIN).
The Successful Candidate
We are looking for a leader who can be "firm but fair" and who truly believes in the potential of every young person in Dudley. Requirements include:
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and significant experience in a pastoral or middle-management role.
- Emotional Intelligence: The ability to de-escalate conflict and build trusting relationships with students who may find school challenging.
- Data Literacy: The ability to analyse spreadsheets of attendance and attainment data to spot trends and act on them.
- Resilience: The capacity to handle high-pressure safeguarding or behavioural situations while maintaining a calm, professional demeanour.
Why Join Us?
- A role with significant autonomy to shape the character and climate of a specific year group.
- Access to specialized leadership CPD, including training in Restorative Justice, Safeguarding Level 3, and Trauma-Informed Practice.
- A supportive, "no-blame" staff culture in a borough that is investing heavily in the regeneration of its town centres and schools.
- The opportunity to make a lasting difference in a community where the school often serves as the central hub for student support.
How to Apply
Please submit your current CV to begin the application process for this Head of Year position.
Head of Year | Secondary Academy | Dudley employer: Marchant Recruitment
Join our dedicated team in Dudley, where you will have the unique opportunity to lead and inspire a year group while fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Our school prioritises professional development with access to specialised training, ensuring you grow as a leader while making a meaningful impact on students' lives. With a strong community focus and a commitment to student well-being, we offer a rewarding career path for those passionate about education and pastoral care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Year | Secondary Academy | Dudley
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former staff at the school, and connect with them on LinkedIn. They can give you insider info about the culture and expectations, which can really help you stand out in interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interview by thinking about real-life examples that showcase your leadership skills and emotional intelligence. We all know that being 'firm but fair' is key, so have some stories ready that demonstrate how you've handled challenging situations.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for pastoral care! During your interview, talk about your vision for the year group and how you plan to support students' academic and personal development. This role is all about the 'whole child', so make sure they see your commitment to that.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our community and making a difference in Dudley.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Year | Secondary Academy | Dudley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:Let us see your enthusiasm for working with young people! Share specific examples of how you've positively impacted students' lives in your previous roles. This will help us understand your commitment to the 'whole child' approach.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Year role. Highlight your pastoral leadership experience and any data literacy skills you have, as these are key for this position.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate a well-organised application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our community!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marchant Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the role of Head of Year. Familiarise yourself with the school's values, behaviour policies, and any recent initiatives. This will help you demonstrate your commitment to the school's vision and how you can contribute to it.
✨Showcase Your Emotional Intelligence
Prepare examples that highlight your ability to build relationships and de-escalate conflicts. Think about specific situations where you've successfully supported students or managed challenging behaviours. This will show that you have the resilience and empathy needed for this role.
✨Data is Key
Brush up on your data literacy skills! Be ready to discuss how you've used data to track student progress and implement interventions in the past. Bring examples of how you've identified trends and made decisions based on data to improve outcomes for students.
✨Engage with Parents
Think about your approach to parental engagement. Prepare to discuss how you would communicate with parents during meetings and events. Highlight any previous experiences where you've successfully built partnerships with families to support student development.
