Assistant Headteacher - Head of Sixth Form in Chester

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Assistant Headteacher – Head of Sixth Form will provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the Sixth Form, ensuring:

• Outstanding academic outcomes
• Exceptional pastoral care
• High-quality enrichment and personal development
• Strong and ambitious post-18 progression pathways

The postholder will contribute to whole-school leadership, promoting excellence, driving improvement and embedding the school’s distinctive Christian ethos.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership (Whole School)

• Contribute to the strategic direction, improvement planning and self-evaluation of the school
• Promote and model the Christian vision and values in all aspects of leadership
• Lead agreed whole-school priorities
• Actively contribute to the daily leadership and smooth running of the school
• Contribute to performance management and CPD through line manage selected subject areas
• Model excellent practice and support professional growth

Leadership of the Sixth Form

• Provide a clear vision and strategic direction for the Sixth Form
• Lead the academic and pastoral provision for Years 12–13
• Ensure consistently high expectations and a culture of excellence
• Line manage Sixth Form staff, including Deputy Head of Sixth Form, post 16 Pastoral Support Officer including effective delegation and support within their areas of responsibility
• Leadership of the Form Tutor team
• Work with Exams Team to support internal and external examinations

Curriculum and Teaching

• Lead the strategic development of the Key Stage 5 curriculum, ensuring it is ambitious, inclusive and responsive to student need and school context
• Contribute to whole-school curriculum thinking, ensuring that Sixth Form provision reflects and builds upon the school’s curriculum intent and vision
• Ensure the curriculum supports high-quality teaching, strong outcomes and appropriate post 16 pathways
• Work with SLT and middle leaders to secure consistently high-quality teaching and learning across the Sixth Form
• Contribute to whole-school strategies to improve teaching, including CPD, coaching and evaluation activities
• Ensure that provision is research-informed, inclusive and aligned with whole-school expectations
• Model excellent practice in teaching and learning
• Oversee the delivery and administration of the Extended Project Qualification

Achievement

• Lead regular evaluation and review of Sixth Form provision, including subject performance, student experience and value-added measures
• Use internal and external data to inform strategic decision-making, curriculum changes and intervention planning
• Challenge underperformance and support curriculum leaders in securing improved outcomes at Key Stage 5
• Lead on monitoring, evaluation and review for Sixth Form, including lesson visits, work scrutiny, student voice and data analysis

Student Experience and Pastoral Care

• Ensure high-quality pastoral systems that support wellbeing, inclusion and belonging
• Establish a culture of excellent behaviour, attendance and student engagement
• Develop a strong personal development and enrichment programme
• Develop and enhance student leadership opportunities so that Sixth Form learners are regarded as role models and ambassadors
• Foster leadership, service and responsibility in Sixth Form students
• Ensure safeguarding systems are robust and consistently applied
• Promote a strong safeguarding culture

Accountability and Governance

• Take responsibility for the analysis, evaluation and reporting of Key Stage 5 performance data
• Provide clear, accurate and strategic reports to the Governing Body/Trustees on:
• Student outcomes and progress for Sixth Form
• Retention and recruitment of students
• Post-18 destinations
• Quality of provision and strategic developments
• Contribute to self-evaluation (SEF) and improvement planning, particularly in relation to Sixth Form provision
• Ensure that Sixth Form provision is fully aligned with Ofsted and SIAMS expectations
• Accountable for the allocation of bursary funding

Post-16 Recruitment, Marketing and Transition

• Lead the strategic marketing of the Sixth Form, promoting a strong and compelling vision of the “7-year journey” from Year 7 to Year 13
• Ensure that the Sixth Form is positioned as a natural and aspirational progression pathway, both internally and externally
• Oversee the development of high-quality marketing materials, events and communication, including open evenings, taster days and digital presence
• Lead the Sixth Form team through enrolment and induction processes during the summer period, supported by SLT arrangements
• Work with SLT to ensure alignment between Key Stage 4 provision and Sixth Form recruitment strategy
• Develop strong relationships with feeder schools and external partners to support recruitment

Post-18 Progression, Destinations and Careers

• Lead the strategic development of post-18 pathways, ensuring all students are well-prepared for their next steps
• Oversee UCAS, apprenticeships and employment routes, ensuring high aspirations and successful outcomes for all
• Track and analyse student destinations data, using this to inform improvement and evaluate impact
• Ensure the school achieves strong and sustained positive destinations outcomes (including minimal NEET)
• Ensure that year 12 to year 13 retention is strong through a positive Sixth Form experience
• Work with the Careers Leader (or lead this area where appropriate) to ensure provision meets the Gatsby Benchmarks
• Develop strong partnerships with universities, businesses, employers and training providers to enhance opportunities
• Ensure all students receive high-quality, personalised information, advice and guidance (IAG)