Highfield School

HIGHFIELD SCHOOL

HEADTEACHER

ISR RANGE: L15 – L21

£52,900 - £61,288

Contents

1. Letter from the Chair of Governors

2. Job Description

3. Person Specification

4. School Overview

5. School Development Plan

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the position of Headteacher at Highfield School. The Governors and I are very pleased to send you the enclosed information about our school. I hope you will find it helpful and on behalf of the whole school community, I would like to take this opportunity of extending you a very warm welcome.

Following the appointment of our Acting Headteacher to a Headteacher post outside the Local Authority, we are looking for someone who can combine strategic vision and drive to take the school forward, with an approachable and caring nature, to help our children with a wide range of backgrounds and needs, to achieve their potential in life. The Governors are proud of the school and its staff who work very hard in challenging circumstances. We are committed to promoting an ethos and culture of celebration, whilst providing a friendly and inclusive environment with a strong pastoral care system that values every member of the school community.

When you have looked at our last OFSTED Report, you will see that we are a satisfactory school, and are striving to be the very best we can in all aspects of school life. That, simply put, is our vision. If your values and ambitions mirror ours and you believe you can deliver that vision, then we would be delighted to receive an application from you.

Visits to the school are most welcome, if you would like to arrange one, please contact the school on 0151 288 8930 or email

Applications close on Friday 18th May at 12 Noon and interviews will take place on Friday 25th May. Short listing will take place week beginning 21st May.

Applications should be returned to: -

Kara Lundy

Human Resources

Westmorland Road

Huyton

Liverpool

L36 9GL

Yours faithfully,

Mary Belchem

Chair of Governors

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title / Headteacher
Accountable to / Governing Body
Main Purpose / To provide professional leadership for a school which secures its success and improvement by securing its Mission Statement with all members of the school community and ensuring an environment for teaching and learning that empowers both staff and students to achieve to their highest potential

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Main tasks:

1 Strategic direction and development of the school: mission and leadership. The Headteacher, working with the Governing Body, develops a strategic view of the school in its community; analysing and planning for its future needs.

1.1 Lead by example, provide inspiration and motivation and embody for the pupils, staff, governors and parents the vision, purpose and leadership of the school.

1.2 Inspire and lead the school community.

1.3 Work in partnership with the Governing Body, staff, parents, LA and local community:

· To create a learning culture and ethos, providing educational vision and direction, which secures effective teaching, successful learning and achievement by pupils and sustained improvement in their spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual and physical development; preparing them for opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

· To create and implement the strategic plan and annual improvement plans, underpinned by sound financial planning, management and organisation to secure whole school improvement maintaining the cycle of continuous self evaluation and school improvement planning.

· To formulate the overall aims and objectives of the school in accordance with the mission statement and strategic plan.

· To ensure that policies and practices take account of national, local and school data, inspection and research findings.

· To monitor, evaluate and review the effects of policies, priorities and performance of the school in practice and take appropriate action.

· To ensure that the management of finances, organisation and administration support the school’s vision and aims.

· To implement the Governing Body’s policies on Equal Opportunities and inclusion for all staff and pupils.

1.4 Ensure that all those involved in the school are committed to its vision, ethos and aims, motivated to achieve them and engaged in meeting long, medium and short term objectives and targets which secures the educational success of the school.

2. Teaching and Learning

Within the context of the school, the search for excellence is pursued through teaching and learning takes place in the context of the individual needs and aspirations of the pupils.

2.1 Create and maintain an environment and code of behaviour that promote and secure good teaching, effective learning, and high standards of achievement, good behaviour and discipline and which enables teachers to meet the standards set out in the professional development framework.

2.2 Determine, organise, implement and monitor the curriculum and its assessment to ensure that they:

· Meet with statutory requirements

· Are relevant to the needs of pupils

· Fulfil the Headteacher’s duties under the 1998 Standards and

Framework Act and any subsequent revisions in relation to the

National Curriculum

2.3 Ensure that improvements in literacy, numeracy, science and information and communication technology are priority targets for pupils, including those with special educational needs.

2.4 Ensure that pupils develop study skills in order to learn more effectively and with increasing independence.

2.5 Determine, organise and implement a policy for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils and their personal and health education.

2.6 Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and standards of learning and achievement of all pupils at the school.

2.7 Determine and implement policies which promote:

· Self discipline and regard for authority and the law

· Good conduct and behaviour

· Positive strategies for developing good race relations and dealing with racial incidents

· Positive strategies and programmes for pupils’ support and clear guidance on exclusions and other disciplinary matters

2.8 Develop effective links with the community, business and industry to extend the curriculum and enhance teaching and learning, where appropriate working with and liaising with other educational institutions, HEs and collaboratives.

2.9 Create and maintain an effective partnership with parents to support and improve pupils’ achievement and personal development.

2.10 Promote extra-curricular activities in accordance with the educational aims of the school.

2.11 Participate, to such an extent as may be appropriate having regard to the Headteachers’ other duties, in teaching in school.

2.12 Maintain the principle of assessment for learning and the effective use of pupils’ data, in order to set challenging, yet realistic targets to move pupils on.

3.0 The role of the Headteacher is one of leadership

In the teaching and management of staff their unique contribution as individuals should be valued and recognised.

3.1 Lead by example as model of professional conduct and presentation, demonstrating high personal standards of expertise and commitment.

3.2 Maximise the contribution of staff to improve the quality of education provided and standards achieved and ensure that constructive working relationships are formed between staff and pupils.

3.3 Develop good working relationships with the governors, staff, pupils, parents/carers, community and the LA.

3.4 Plan, allocate, support and evaluate work undertaken by groups, teams and individuals, ensuring clear delegation of tasks and devolution of responsibilities in a manner consistent with the conditions of employment.

3.5 Implement and sustain effective systems for the management of staff performance, incorporating performance management.

3.6 Lead the continuing professional development (CPD) of staff through example, looking to develop the leadership capacity of CPD within the school.

3.7 Motivate and enable all staff in the school to carry out their respective roles to the highest standards, through high quality CPD based on assessment of needs and systematic monitoring and evaluation.

3.8 Lead and manage the staff in ways that reflect the mission statement to meet the Governing Body’s policies, while ensuring that professional duties are fulfilled as specified in the terms and conditions of Service of Teachers, including those of the Headteacher.

3.9. Arrange for a deputy headteacher or suitable person to assume responsibility for the discharge of the headteacher’s function at any time when absent from the school.

4 Efficient and effective deployment of staff and resources

In a school, the relationship between the mission statement and the deployment of all staff, finances, resources, time and energy should reflect the aims of the school community and the needs of the pupils.

4.1 Participate in the recruitment and selection of the highest quality teaching and support staff who are able and willing to contribute to the ethos of the school.

4.2 Work with senior colleagues to deploy, develop and retain all staff effectively in order to improve the quality of education provided in accordance with the mission statement.

4.3 Contribute to the formation of policies and procedures of the Governing Body concerning the school’s resource and asset management.

4.4 Set appropriate priorities for expenditure, allocation of funds and effective administration and control by: -

· Effective management of the school’s budget

· Rational allocation and monitoring of time, space and material resources

· Ensuring effective and safe arrangements for the allocation and storage of materials and equipment

4.5 Manage and organise the accommodation efficiently and effectively to ensure it meets the needs of the curriculum, the pupils and health and safety regulations.

4.6 Make arrangements for the security and effective supervision of the school building, contents and grounds.

4.7 Ensure that any lack of maintenance, repairs or modification, including breaches of Health & Safety legislation is acted upon promptly and in accordance with the delegation arrangements of the Governing Body.

4.8 Ensure effective working relationships with external agencies and services contracted to the school, to the Governing Body and to the LA.

4.9 Manage, monitor and review the range, quality and use of all available resources in order to improve the quality of education, improve pupils’ achievements, ensure efficiency and secure value for money.

5. Accountability

The Headteacher recognises his/her responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Governing Body as specified in national legislation.

5.1 Create and develop an organisation in which all members of the school recognise that they are accountable for the success of the school.

5.2 Provide information, objective advice and support to the Governing Body to enable it to meet its responsibilities for securing effective teaching and learning and improved standards of achievement, and for achieving efficiency and value for money.

5.3 Present a coherent and accurate account of the school’s performance in a form appropriate to the range of audiences, including governors, the LA, Ofsted, DCSF and others to enable them to play their part effectively.

5.4 Ensure that parents/carers and pupils are well-informed about the curriculum, attainment and progress and about the contribution they can make in supporting children’s learning and achieving the school’s targets for improvement.

5.5 Carry out any such duties as may be reasonably required by the Governing Body.

PART 9 – HEAD TEACHERS

Overriding Requirements

54.1 A head teacher’s professional duties must be carried out in

accordance with and subject to-

(a) the provisions of the Education Acts;

(b) any orders and regulations having effect under the Education Acts;

(d) where the school is a voluntary, foundation or foundation special

school, any trust deed that applies to the school;

(e) any scheme prepared or maintained by the authority under section 48 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998(78).

54.2 A head teacher’s duties must be carried out in accordance with and

subject to the following –

(a) in the case of a school which has a delegated budget-

(i) any rules, regulations or policies made by the governing body

and for which they are responsible; and

(ii) any rules, regulations or policies made by the authority with

respect to matters for which the governing body is not so

responsible;

(b) in any other case, any rules, regulations or policies made by the

head teacher’s employers;

Delegation

55.1 The professional responsibilities of a head teacher under paragraphs

56.16 and 56.17 must not be delegated other than in accordance with

paragraph 58.4.

55.2 Subject to paragraph 55.1, a head teacher’s responsibilities may be

delegated to a deputy head teacher, assistant head teacher or other

member of the staff in a manner consistent with their conditions of

employment, having regard to the nature and extent of their management

(78) 1998 (c.31) as amended by section 40 and Schedule 3 to the Act and by section 57 of

the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40).

responsibilities, and maintaining a reasonable balance for each teacher

between work carried out in school and work carried out elsewhere.

Professional Responsibilities

56.1 A head teacher may be required to undertake the following duties –

Whole school organisation, strategy and development

56.2 Provide overall strategic leadership and, with others, lead, develop and

support the strategic direction, vision, values and priorities of the

school.

56.3 Develop, implement and evaluate the school’s policies, practices and

procedures.

Teaching

56.4 Lead and manage teaching and learning throughout the school.

Including ensuring, save in exceptional circumstances, that a teacher is

assigned in the school timetable to every class or group of pupils-

(a) in the first, second, third and fourth key stages, for foundation and

other core subjects and religious education; and

(b) in the preliminary stage.

56.5 Teach.

Health, safety and discipline

56.6 Promote the safety and well-being of pupils and staff.

56.7 Ensure good order and discipline amongst pupils and staff.

Management of staff and resources

56.8 Lead, manage and develop the school workforce, including assessing