Assistant Headteacher in Birmingham

To lead and support the three science Heads of Department, providing strategic oversight of the Science Faculty, promoting a collaborative culture that enables the sharing of effective practice between departments. To provide strategic leadership for Personal Development across the school, ensuring that all pupils benefit from a rich, inclusive and ambitious programme that supports their personal growth, character development, preparation for adult life and understanding of British values. The postholder will lead all aspects of the school's Personal Development provision and related quality assurance processes, ensuring the school is fully prepared for Ofsted inspection and demonstrates excellence within the Personal Development judgement area. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will contribute to the overall strategic leadership, management and continuous improvement of the school.,

• Ensure Personal Development is embedded within the school's vision, values and improvement priorities.
• Lead the development of policies and procedures relating to Personal Development.
• Monitor national developments and statutory requirements and ensure school compliance.
• Advise governors and senior leaders on Personal Development provision and outcomes.
• Contribute to School Development Planning and self-evaluation.

Ofsted Leadership

Lead the strategic development and evidencing of the Personal Development judgement, managing and supporting the Head of PSHE, to ensure that the school can demonstrate:

Personal Development Curriculum

• A coherent and sequenced programme of personal, social, health and economic education.
• Effective relationships, sex and health education.
• High-quality religious education and citizenship opportunities.
• Teaching that promotes pupils' understanding of protected characteristics and equality.

Character Development

• Opportunities for leadership, service and responsibility.
• Programmes that develop resilience, confidence and independence.
• Recognition and celebration of pupils' wider achievements.

Wider Experiences

• A broad and inclusive enrichment programme.
• Educational visits and residential opportunities.
• Participation in sport, arts, culture and community activities.
• Strong pupil engagement regardless of background or need.

Preparing Pupils for Life in Modern Britain

• Promotion of fundamental British values.
• Effective careers education, information, advice and guidance.
• Development of employability and enterprise skills.
• Opportunities to engage with employers, further education and higher education providers.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Promote respect and tolerance throughout the school community.
• Ensure pupils develop an age-appropriate understanding of diversity.
• Monitor participation rates and remove barriers to inclusion.

Quality Assurance and Evaluation

• Lead the monitoring and evaluation of Personal Development provision.
• Maintain an accurate Personal Development Self-Evaluation Framework (SEF).
• Produce reports for governors, trustees and senior leaders.
• Analyse pupil participation and engagement data.
• Evaluate the impact of Personal Development initiatives and adapt provision accordingly.
• Lead internal reviews and external validation activities.

Careers Leadership

• Ensure full compliance with Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory careers guidance.
• Lead the strategic development of careers education.
• Line manage and support the Head of Careers and monitor impact.
• Ensure pupils receive impartial advice and guidance at key transition points.

Student Voice and Leadership

• Develop meaningful opportunities for pupil leadership.
• Oversee student council and pupil consultation arrangements.
• Ensure student views inform school improvement priorities.
• Promote active citizenship and community engagement.

Safeguarding and Inclusion

• Work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to ensure Personal Development supports safeguarding priorities, and is compliant with KCSIE
• Promote mental health, wellbeing and online safety.
• Ensure vulnerable pupils are fully included in enrichment and leadership opportunities.
• Contribute to attendance, behaviour and inclusion strategies.

Leadership and Management

• Model the highest professional standards.
• Contribute to the strategic leadership of the school.
• Lead and develop staff within their areas of responsibility.
• Manage allocated budgets effectively.
• Present reports to governors and trustees.
• Undertake performance management responsibilities.
• Support school events and activities.
• Act as a visible and influential senior leader.

Key Responsibilities: Line management of Science

The postholder will provide strategic oversight of the Science Faculty through the leadership and management of three subject leaders: Head of Biology, Head of Chemistry and Head of Physics. The postholder will ensure coherence, consistency and excellence across the faculty while empowering subject leaders to develop their respective disciplines.

Strategic Faculty Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for the Science Faculty across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.
• Support the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics with improvement planning and self-evaluation.
• Ensure consistency of expectations, standards and practice across Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• Promote a collaborative culture that enables the sharing of effective practice between departments.

Leadership of Subject Leaders

• Line manage and support the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• Hold subject leaders accountable for standards of attainment, progress, teaching quality and curriculum implementation within their disciplines.
• Provide coaching, challenge and professional development to subject leaders.
• Support succession planning and leadership development within the faculty.

Curriculum Leadership

• Support the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics with curricula are ambitious, knowledge-rich and effectively sequenced.
• Support the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics to monitor curriculum implementation and impact.
• Ensure that curriculum planning reflects current educational research, examination requirements and best practice.
• Champion scientific literacy and opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.

Raising Standards

• Support the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics to analyse performance data and identify priorities for improvement.
• Support the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics to monitor the performance of key pupil groups and ensure effective intervention strategies are implemented.
• Establish a culture of high expectations and academic excellence throughout the faculty.

Quality Assurance

• Support the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics with the monitoring and evaluation of teaching, learning and assessment.
• Support faculty reviews, learning walks, work scrutiny and quality assurance activities.
• Support the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics to use evidence gathered through quality assurance activities to inform department improvement planning.

Staff Leadership and Development

• Foster collaboration between teaching and support staff across all science disciplines.
• Support the recruitment, induction and retention of high-quality staff.
• Ensure that early career teachers, trainee teachers and aspiring leaders receive appropriate mentoring and development opportunities.
• Support the development of faculty-wide expertise in pedagogy, curriculum design and assessment.

STEM, Enrichment and Personal Development

• Support the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics with the development of a comprehensive STEM enrichment programme across the subjects.
• Support the Heads of Chemistry and Physics with a programme of opportunities including clubs, competitions, lectures, educational visits and partnerships with universities, employers and scientific organisations.
• Ensure that Science makes a significant contribution to the school's Personal Development strategy.
• Promote careers education through meaningful engagement with STEM industries and professions.
• Increase pupil awareness of pathways into further study and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Resources and Compliance

• Hold overall accountability for the effective deployment of faculty resources and budgets, delegating as appropriate to the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• Ensure equitable allocation of resources across Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• Oversee compliance with health and safety requirements, including CLEAPSS guidance, laboratory safety and risk assessment procedures, delegating as appropriate to the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• Ensure that laboratories, equipment and learning environments support high-quality teaching and learning.

Accountability

The postholder will be accountable for the following:

• The overall effectiveness of the Science Faculty.
• The performance and development of the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

The following accountability will continue to be delegated to the Heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and the postholder will retain responsibility for supporting the subject leaders:

• Standards of attainment and progress across Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• The quality of curriculum implementation and teaching across all science disciplines.
• The effective management of faculty budgets, resources and health and safety.
• The contribution of Science to whole-school priorities, including Personal Development, careers education, enrichment and school improvement.
• The quality and impact of Personal Development and Science provision.
• Participation rates in enrichment and wider opportunities.
• Effectiveness of careers provision.
• Pupil leadership participation.
• Evidence of strong pupil understanding of diversity, inclusion and British values.
• Positive stakeholder feedback from pupils, parents and staff.
• Readiness for Ofsted inspection and the strength of evidence supporting the Personal Development judgement.

Supervisory Responsibility

You will be responsible for all of the following, with either direct or indirect line management responsibilities as appropriate.

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in a Science related subject.
• Good honours degree or equivalent.
• Evidence of relevant professional development.
• Experience of successful middle or senior leadership.

Essential Knowledge

• Current Ofsted Education Inspection Framework and associated guidance.
• Statutory requirements for PSHE, RHSE and Careers Education.
• Gatsby Benchmarks.
• Equality Act 2010 and protected characteristics.
• Safeguarding legislation and guidance.
• Effective approaches to character education and pupil leadership.

Essential Experience

• Successful leadership of a significant whole-school responsibility.
• Successful leadership of a Science faculty.
• Experience of school self-evaluation and improvement planning.
• Leading curriculum or pastoral development.
• Using data and evidence to improve outcomes.
• Preparing evidence for inspection or external review.
• Working collaboratively with parents, governors and external agencies.

Essential Skills

• Strategic thinking and planning.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to inspire and motivate staff and pupils.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Ability to evaluate impact and drive improvement.
• Resilience, integrity and professional credibility.

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