Assistant Head of Sixth Form in Sutton Coldfield

Qualifications and CPD

• Good honours degree in a relevant subject area and a love of the subject.
• Qualified teacher status (and NQT/ECT induction successfully completed), with success in teaching to A level standard.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Clear responsibility for own CPD.
• Evidence of recent relevant professional development.

Experience

• Successful teaching record: An excellent classroom teacher, who uses adaptive teaching strategies and effective feedback to engage every student and support the needs of all learners.
• Secure subject knowledge in their specialist subject with the ability to teach from KS3 through to KS5.
• Experience of being either a sixth form tutor or a tutor in a vertical system including Year 12 and 13 students.
• Experience of, or willingness to learn and use, Microsoft Teams.

Personal Qualities and Skills

• Ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues, students, parents/carers and the wider community.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills with the ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure.
• Strong reasoning skills and the ability to make considered decisions.
• Emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours and attitudes.
• Ability to inspire, motivate and enthuse students, especially very able individuals.
• Strong classroom and behaviour management skills, particularly within practical learning environments.
• A strong team player with a shared approach to problem solving and achieving goals.
• Proactive, self-motivated and able to work on own initiative.
• A drive for improvement and challenging underperformance.
• Capacity to be flexible, adaptive and creative.
• Willingness to listen and act on feedback, to develop strengths and improve personal performance.
• Willingness to dedicate time to supporting students beyond the school day or at lunchtime.

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of national curriculum and GCSE/A level specifications.
• Knowledge of best practice in assessment.
• Ability to track student progress and develop key interventions to support student outcomes.
• Ability to prioritise, plan and complete tasks to a high standard with attention to detail.
• Ability to demonstrate integrity and consistency of judgement.

Values

• A love of the subject and ability to inspire engagement, confidence and resilience through guidance, mentoring and enrichment activities.
• Shares the school’s vision and commitment to Character Education.
• Commitment to supporting the successful delivery of the School Development Plan objectives: Inspirational Environment, Aspirational Students and High-Quality Teaching and Learning.
• Commitment to student achievement, staff development, and continuous improvement.

Safeguarding

• Commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for all students.
• Knowledge and understanding of health and safety issues.

What the school offers its staff

• Generous Pension Scheme - the opportunity to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (28.68% employer contribution).
• Flexible PPA with the option of up to one-third PPA taken off-site.
• Opportunity to join the BHS Healthcare Plan.
• Opportunity to sign up to our Cycle to Work Scheme.
• On site car parking.
• Individualised induction programme including the initial support of a Buddy.
• Access to the National College providing all teachers with on-demand CPD, subject and pedagogy development, workload-reducing tools, and a central system for tracking and evidencing professional learning.
• Commitment to staff wellbeing and mental health awareness.
• Access to flexible and family friendly policies and working practices.
• Termly Staff Nominations – the chance for staff to pass on thanks and positivity.
• Complimentary staff room drinks throughout the day.
• Supportive colleagues.
• Engaged and enthusiastic students.

Further details about the role

Job Purpose

To lead the support and development of students’ academic and personal progress across a year group. Liaise with parents/carers, celebrate achievement and, where needed, instigate support strategies, promoting the welfare and wellbeing of students and the highest standards of student behaviour, conduct and attitudes. To support sixth form students to develop their growth mindset, embed VESPA strategies and provide guidance with decision making for the next steps in their career pathways.

Leadership and Management

• Empower form tutors: Lead and manage a team of form tutors to ensure consistent excellent practice; ensure that the appropriate provision is in place when tutors in the year group are absent; provide update with year group issues and lead a weekly pastoral briefing for your team of form tutors as part of directed time.
• Respond to data provided by the Data Manager to monitor the progress of students in the year group. Use this to celebrate student successes and ensure support as necessary. Promote positive reinforcement, such as regular rewards assemblies, contact home and celebration events.
• Promote the highest standards of student behaviour, conduct and attitudes.
• Promote the welfare and wellbeing of students in the year group.
• Liaise with support staff to signpost students to support paths and maintain records/information in line with school policies.
• Work with the SLT Link for Personal Development and Careers Lead, to support Unifrog and the development of the PD programme for the year group. Liaise with other Year Heads and Form Tutors with regards to PD, in order to share good practice.
• Work effectively with the SENDCo and support staff to ensure SEND strategies are consistently implemented, attending meetings as necessary.
• Ensure that Form Tutors and the SLT Link are kept informed of issues regarding the year group.
• Contribute to whole school self-review and the school development plan as appropriate.
• Take an active role in shaping and contributing to whole-school training opportunities.
• Lead regular assemblies for the year group.

Student Guidance, Behaviour and Support

• Actively participate in pastoral team meetings to develop personalised interventions for students to develop aspects of their character e.g. resilience, self-esteem, courage.
• Support consistency in the application of the Sixth Form Code of Conduct, promoting the highest standards of student behaviour, conduct, attitudes, attendance and punctuality.
• Develop pastoral support plans for identified students.
• Work with the Assistant Headteacher: Head of Sixth Form to develop and follow the Sixth Form VESPA intervention programme, offering support and tracking the impact of intervention(s).
• Liaise with external agencies as appropriate under the guidance of the Deputy Headteacher: Student and Staff Development and/or SENCO.
• Liaise with the DSL Team on child protection matters.
• Prevent bullying and support victims of bullying in line with school policy and procedures.
• Respond speedily to parental communication and meet with parents/carers when necessary.
• Maintain accurate summaries of communications regarding students.

Additional Duties: As a member of the Sixth Form Leadership Team

• Support the Assistant Headteacher: Head of Sixth Form in enhancing the recruitment and retention of sixth form students through the organisation of marketing events and other opportunities to inform, promote and celebrate our sixth form offer.
• Lead the transition programme or UCAS programme as relevant to the year group with support from the Assistant Headteacher: Head of Sixth Form and offer support to the other programme.
• Contribute to Induction Day/Information Evening activities, planning and delivering year group specific parent events as appropriate.
• Manage and/or support school events lead by the sixth form.
• Attend and support GCSE and A level results days, helping students understand their results and make informed decisions about next steps.
• Develop the Sixth Form student leadership by working with the Assistant Headteacher: Personal Development and Careers Lead.
• Liaise with external agencies as appropriate under the guidance of the Assistant Headteacher: Head of Years 7 to 11 to develop opportunities for students to support mental health.
• Support work experience in Year 12 and post-18 applications, including the UCAS process, apprenticeships and work with the Early Entry University Applications Coordinator.

Commitment to safeguarding

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.