At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support students with complex needs to achieve their personal best.
- Company: A vibrant school dedicated to student success and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a passionate team and enjoy opportunities for growth and impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives and help them thrive.
- Qualifications: GCSE English and Maths, experience with children, and strong safeguarding knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overall purpose of role: Our aim as a school is to help students to be happy and successful in their time with us and their future lives. We believe success means students achieve their personal best in a variety of areas: academic study, appreciation of and participation in culturally enriching activities, relationships with other people, tolerance for others, healthy lifestyles, taking responsibility, physical activities and development of skills for the future. We want our students to lead rich and rewarding lives. This role is designed to help achieve these goals by developing strategies and working effectively with others to create a safe, happy and positive climate where success is celebrated and all students are helped to achieve their best.
As a Head of Year with a particular focus on vulnerable pupils, you will be required to meet the general requirements of this post. In addition, you will be required to fulfil any reasonable expectations from the Headteacher. The post will require you to work in partnership with the Headteacher, Senior Leadership Team, governors and staff to ensure the continuous improvement of the school. You will be responsible for specific tasks and the development of whole school initiatives, which will be determined in consultation with the Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour and Attendance) and pastoral team.
Safeguarding requirements: This post requires the post holder to work in settings with children and young adults. Any employment offer is therefore subject to the results of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Key outputs:
- Help to develop a culture in which every student is valued, encouraged and supported.
- Support the Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour and Attendance) and pastoral team in establishing the vision and strategies for excellent student progress, behaviour, attendance and support.
- Communicate behaviour strategies and expectations effectively to all staff to help meet the needs of identified students.
- Develop strategies to help overcome obstacles staff may experience in students achieving their personal best.
- Identify barriers students may face in improving their attendance and/or behaviour and act on them.
- Monitor behaviour, attendance and wellbeing of students and provide regular updates for the Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour and Attendance) and pastoral team.
- Support the form tutors to help them achieve the best possible standards of behaviour and outcomes for their tutees.
- Help ensure the learning and special educational needs/vulnerabilities of individual students are met, particularly vulnerable groups, such as disadvantaged students, underachieving students, young carers, children that are looked after or previously been looked after and those with low attendance. This will include making timely SEND referrals and support for students in your allocated cohorts.
- Monitor the implementation of the Behaviour Policy and behaviour logs across your allocated cohorts through Arbor, providing evidence through data analysis for middle leaders, SLT and strategic SIP meetings to discuss students of concern.
- Work with other staff to ensure attendance and punctuality have a high profile throughout school. Lead on strategies to help support high levels of attendance and punctuality across all students in your year group.
- Work with the Deputy Head (Pastoral) to oversee and quality assure the alternative provision/external support provided for specific students in your allocated cohort.
- Discuss/share sensitive issues with parents/carers, for example, behaviour, uniform, wellbeing, safeguarding, attendance etc.
- Work with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to effectively implement the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, by following up any minor logs of concern.
- Attend Parents’ Evenings where required to support students and families in your allocated cohorts.
- Develop effective working relationships with outside agencies, parents/carers etc to best support students with specific needs.
- Act as the staff lead for My Support Plans where required for students in your cohort and review these regularly.
- Celebrate successes amongst the students, through effective communication with home/delivering assemblies.
- Evaluate own performance and undertake professional development to help achieve the highest possible standards in the role.
- Undertake any other duties associated with the role, as may be decided by the senior leadership team/Headteacher.
- Support the transition of students from one year group to the next.
- Ensure high standards in detentions, working with the other heads of year to ensure consistency.
- Ensure high standards in Reflection, working with other heads of year to ensure consistency and strategic oversight of the isolation provision.
- Deliver targeted interventions with allocated students to support improvements in academic performance, attendance, behaviour and wellbeing.
- Work in collaboration with the Inclusion team and SENDCo to support the complex needs of those students within your allocated cohorts.
- Lead on the new student induction process for identified students.
Expertise in Role Required (At selection - Level 1)
Essential Criteria:
- Be qualified in GCSE English and Mathematics (Grade 4/C).
- Experience of working with children of mixed age ranges preferably in a school environment.
- Experience of promoting high standards of attendance.
- Experience of working with families.
- High level of Safeguarding understanding.
- Understanding of relevant policies/code of practice and awareness of relevant legislation.
- Understanding of child development and learning including Special Educational Needs.
- Experience of providing support and advice to students and their families.
- Experience of planning, monitoring and evaluating work.
- Experience of short, medium and long term planning at an operational level.
- Ability to work as a member of a team and/or independently.
- Experience of delivering defined projects to a deadline and managing a complex workload.
- Willingness to work flexibly within scope of overall hours, e.g. early morning visits and occasional evening meetings, deliver assemblies.
Desirable criteria:
- Experience of dealing with sensitive issues.
- Experience of leading assemblies or similar for groups of students.
We very much encourage and welcome potential candidates to visit during the Academy Day. Please call or email to make an appointment.
Head of Year - Complex Needs employer: Whitcliffe Mount, A Share Academy
As a leading educational institution, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where every staff member is valued and encouraged to grow. Our commitment to professional development ensures that you will have ample opportunities to enhance your skills while making a meaningful impact on the lives of our students, particularly those with complex needs. Located in a vibrant community, we celebrate diversity and promote a culture of collaboration, making this an ideal place for passionate educators to thrive.
Contact Details:
Whitcliffe Mount, A Share Academy Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Year - Complex Needs
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school culture! Before your interview, take some time to visit the school and chat with staff and students. This will help you understand their values and how you can contribute to creating that positive climate they’re after.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your experience! When you're in the interview, share specific examples of how you've supported vulnerable pupils in the past. Talk about strategies you've implemented and the impact they've had on student success.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss collaboration! The role involves working closely with various teams, so be prepared to talk about how you’ve successfully partnered with others in previous roles to achieve common goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to ask questions! Show your interest by asking about the school's initiatives for student wellbeing and how they measure success. This not only demonstrates your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Year - Complex Needs
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:Let us see your enthusiasm for working with students, especially those with complex needs. Share personal experiences or insights that highlight your commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Head of Year role. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate how your skills and experiences align with what we're looking for.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your writing clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read. Avoid jargon and focus on communicating your ideas effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you 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’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Whitcliffe Mount, A Share Academy
✨Know Your Students
Before the interview, take some time to research the specific needs of vulnerable pupils. Understand the challenges they face and think about how you can support them. This will show your commitment to their success and help you stand out.
✨Showcase Your Strategies
Be prepared to discuss specific strategies you've used in the past to improve attendance and behaviour. Share examples of how you've worked with staff and families to create a positive environment. Concrete examples will demonstrate your capability.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Highlight your experience working with various stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and external agencies. Discuss how you’ve built effective relationships to support students' needs. This role requires teamwork, so showing your collaborative spirit is key.
✨Prepare for Safeguarding Questions
Given the safeguarding requirements of the role, be ready to discuss your understanding of child protection policies and your experience in this area. Think of scenarios where you’ve had to act on safeguarding concerns and how you handled them.
