A new secondary school for North Kingston

Transcription

1 A new secondary school for North Kingston Recruitment of Principal Designate

2 Front cover and page opposite show the North Kingston Centre, which will be redeveloped to house our new school. January 2014 Dear Candidate Thank you for taking an interest in our new secondary school in North Kingston. We re delighted to be on the brink of creating a whole new school. The work our Trust has already done to open up this opportunity is well advanced and running to plan, but we need an exceptional person to lead the school and see our vision through to reality. This pack of material captures our beliefs about the school and should put across to you the scale of our ambition in developing this new institution for North Kingston. You ll see very clearly that we have both exceptionally high standards and great breadth in our curriculum and extra-curriculum thinking. We want to establish a vibrant, inclusive school that s excellent for everyone who learns there. We know we ll need someone special to bring all of these expectations to life. Among the leaders of our Trust, we share many decades of experience across all education sectors and we know we can find that special person. We will also be there to provide support and help right the way through all the exciting challenges between now and September Our new school will be one of the biggest Free Schools in England; we want to ensure it runs well and delivers a great education through experienced and qualified teachers. We expect the school to be rooted in its community, responsive to the people of North Kingston and flourishing among the support and enthusiasm shown for the new school. For all of us, Trustees, children joining the school in 2015 as well as the Principal Designate, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We hope you will be able to see your place in this story and come forward to apply for this fascinating role. If we can help advise you as you consider your application, please feel free to make contact and we d be more than happy to discuss the process and the role with you. Peter Mayhew-Smith On behalf of Kingston Educational Trust Kingston Educational Trust Trustees Peter Mayhew-Smith Kingston College Andy Hudson Kingston University Graham Willett Royal Borough of Kingston Darren Jacob Community Trustee Sue Conder Community Trustee 2

3 Delivering Outstanding Education The Kingston Educational Trust is establishing a new secondary school in North Kingston, opening in September We need a visionary and passionate leader to help bring the school into being and ensure its success. The Principal Designate will oversee the building of the new school, the recruitment of a full complement of students and the appointment of a team of staff that can deliver and drive the vision of our new school. Our new school will be at the heart of a supportive local community. We will specialise in STEM subjects with an emphasis on communication, offering a traditional curriculum with a mix of modern technologies and teaching methods. We re looking for an experienced senior leader with an appetite for innovation. Our ideal candidate will have a strong track record, together with an openness to new ideas and an enthusiasm for learning. Above all, you will have the understanding and ability to drive the delivery of outstanding education for all. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented and committed leader to start a brand new school and develop it into the school of choice in the area. Background to the school Kingston Education Trust (KET) is the body formed to start up the new secondary school in North Kingston. It was established in 2010 as a partnership between Kingston University, Kingston College and the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. KET was established to respond to community expectations that sufficient, local and fully-inclusive secondary school places should be available in North Kingston. KET bid for approval and funding to set up the new school through the Free School process and was successful in May KET has worked closely with the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames to agree on the availability of a specific site, which will be vacated in Summer 2014 and refurbished during At present, the school has no formally adopted name, but KET is currently running a competition in North Kingston to establish the full identity of the school, which will conclude in early

4 Our vision for the school Between them, the three partners have established a vision for the new school: Going Beyond What Schools Ordinarily Do Valuing all, expecting excellence, learning from the best and striving for improvement. A school with: n An inclusive ethos which welcomes all who wish to come to the school and requires everyone to be valued for who they are and what they offer. n A focus on learning to learn, which will be at the heart of our pedagogy to ensure that all of our students will learn more effectively. n The strongest possible emphasis on communication that will ensure that our students are able to interact freely and with confidence, with as wide a range of audiences and across as many forms of expression as possible. n A curriculum that promotes STEM subjects to ensure our students have a deep and rich understanding of the world around them. n A belief in the power of new technologies and the online world to develop our students as digital citizens and to enhance, support and stimulate the learning experience. n Purposeful and challenging learning across the curriculum that will help to ensure that all of our young people are able to succeed to their highest potential. n A strong global dimension that will enrich our students learning and broaden their knowledge of other people and cultures. n Successful partnerships and links to external institutions and industry experts to support our students. n A safe place for young people to interact with others, learn, play, research, explore and discover for themselves, including in online spaces. n A strong sense of identity for all our students, with an emphasis on their understanding of their valued place as young citizens contributing to the wider world. n A diverse, enriched curriculum. A significant proportion of our curriculum time will be devoted to the STEM subjects; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, but will be taught alongside more traditional subjects such as English, Humanities, Languages, and the Expressive and Performing Arts. n World-class exam results. Students will study qualifications that are of genuine value and be encouraged and supported to maximise their potential. n Regular assessment. Whilst the school will place a strong emphasis on stimulating, engaging and nurturing students, it will regularly review students progress and development, and personalise learning where necessary. n Highly-qualified, professional teaching staff who have a passion for teaching and learning. Teachers who can enthusiastically convey their subject to all students and create enjoyment and excitement. n Continuous Professional Development for all staff. In the interest of life-long learning, our valued staff will participate in their own personal and professional development to enhance their knowledge and skills and keep abreast of new technologies, methodologies and pedagogical practices, in order to enrich the daily lives of students. n Rewards for those students who achieve highly, sustain good and respectful behaviour, complete all activities with admirable effort and maintain high standards throughout their school career. 4

5 A school that: n Provides effective pastoral care to ensure that all students are wellknown and understood, and which will support all of our young people to be able to perform as well as they possibly can. n Promotes healthy lifestyles to provide our students with sound advice and guidance and opportunities to engage in a range of physical activities that will offer something for all. n Prepares young people for life beyond the boundaries of the school and after our students have moved on to the next phase of their lives. n Provides an outstanding educational experience for local children. n Nurtures and challenges children s intellectual and imaginative capacities, as intelligence is not fixed and aspirations matter. n Empowers learners and their teachers by bringing tools such as mobile devices into the centre ground of activity. The use of these technologies will be commonplace as Digital Literacy will be an overarching aspect of school life. n Strives to maximise students potential for later schooling, post-school education, training, employment and for the quality of life itself, so that they can contribute to and enjoy living within a society. n Encourages students to take a lead in shaping their own learning. A school where: n Aspiration knows no bounds, from which outcomes are outstanding and whose reputation is unparalleled. n Purposeful and challenging learning will be the cornerstone of the school s success and excellence. n Parents matter and make a difference. n All students will enjoy learning, make excellent progress, attain high outcomes and be helped to become confident individuals and responsible citizens. n Learning pathways are tailored to students individual talents and special needs, and progression of learning is closely monitored. n All students will benefit from strong leadership, an inclusive ethos and practice, excellent teaching and a broad and balanced curriculum in a local school. n The physical environment impacts positively on learning. n Young people are challenged to risk failure, to collaborate, to reflect on their experiences and learning and to be able to overcome adversity and difficulty. n Students will be encouraged to raise concerns for themselves and on behalf of others with confidence. n Sport and physical development are celebrated and friendly rivalry is seen as natural and healthy. 5

6 Structure Structure of the School Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Totals Staffing Structure Growth The school will start with Year 7 only and will be a six form entry school which will have places for 144 sixth form students per year. The numbers of pupils and the staffing needed to operate the school will build up follows: Pupils Leadership Roles Curriculum Leaders Teachers Education Support Admin Support Specialist Staff Total Staff Contracts IT Cleaning School Meals Year 1 Leadership Structure Assistant Headteacher Data Manager Principal Business Manager Support Staff Curriculum Leaders Teachers Pastoral Support Our new school will be fully inclusive and devoted to its students success. To make this a reality, its curriculum will be underpinned by a strong pastoral system, built round personal tutors who will stay with their tutor groups through the whole time they are at the school. This vertical tutoring approach will be supported by active training and development for the tutoring staff to ensure they are always well-equipped to deal with the challenges faced by young people as they grow up through school and find their feet in the world. We believe that this strategy will provide the right mix of challenge and support to ensure that every student s potential is identified and realised through their time at the school. It will be especially important for us to ensure that, as the first cohort of young people join the school s inaugural year 7, there is a high level of integration between them as well as an effective pastoral system to cultivate their ambitions. We see investment in our pastoral care system as a key priority for achieving the high levels of motivation and curiosity we aspire to for our students. We will also introduce a house system to ensure that every student has an additional point of engagement with the breadth of the school s life and can contribute to team successes in their different individual ways. We believe it is important for our school s young people to have a strong sense of belonging and mutual support within an ethos that will ask more of them while giving them the skills, confidence and encouragement to achieve more. 6

7 Role description The school s Principal will provide professional leadership and management for the new school, taking it through from design and set-up to recruitment of its first cohort in 2015 and on to expand it into a fully-fledged, outstanding secondary school. The new Principal will work with the Governing Body and the people of North Kingston to implement a shared vision of a highly effective school, designed from the start to prepare its young people for the realities of the 21st century. The Principal will lead our strategic plan through to realisation. The Principal will provide leadership that inspires and motivates pupils, staff and all other members of the school community. The Principal will take active responsibility in upholding high academic and ethical standards, ensuring care and support for all children studying at the school, right across the ability range. The Principal will manage the resources of the school in order to promote learning and to sustain a high level of outstanding performance. The duties and responsibilities of the Principal are: In leading and promoting the school n To work with the Governing Body, the North Kingston community, staff and students to maintain and deliver a shared vision for the school. n To interpret, develop and implement the founding vision and strategy for the school. n To set, communicate and uphold high academic and ethical standards for all aspects of the school s performance. n To establish and maintain a profile in the local community as a trusted and respected leader. In the management of the school n To make good use of data to ensure strategic decisions achieve the school s aims. n To work closely with the School s Business Manager to ensure effective financial and resource management. n To recruit, retain and develop high calibre staff to ensure that the school s broad curriculum is delivered to the highest standard. n To ensure continuing professional development is an integral part of the school s strategy. n To delegate management tasks to the school s senior leaders, ensuring their implementation is effectively monitored In the leadership of teaching and learning n To be a visible presence in the school, encouraging and promoting high-quality, innovative teaching. n To celebrate effective teaching and learning, promoting reflective practice and professional growth. n To develop relevant strategies for performance improvement. n To acknowledge and reward excellent teaching and address poor performance in a fair and robust manner. n To oversee the implementation of the school curriculum and ensure it is reviewed and developed to enable students to benefit from a stretching and supportive learning environment. n To ensure that strategies for inclusion, diversity, access and pastoral support are upheld at all times and develop to meet the needs of the school s population. In community engagement n To build strong, trusting relationships with parents, carers and members of the community. n To be an ambassador for the school, effectively communicating the school s vision and ethos to a wide range of external audiences. n To work with the school s Governing Body to ensure accountability for the school s performance and development. In educational culture n To embody and uphold KET s ethos for the school, where all students are provided with the foundations for life and essential personal skills are taught alongside a broad education. n To be a visible, approachable figure among the school s students, investing time in building strong relationships with the student body and using its feedback to improve the school further. n To deliver exceptional pastoral care, ensuring student welfare and personal, social and moral development underpins all decision-making. n To ensure the co-curricular life of the school is a distinctive strand, through a broad and stimulating programme of enrichment and sport in keeping with the school s mission. 7

8 Person Specification The school will seek to identify these attributes through the recruitment and selection process of application, certification, interviews, professional references and observation. Essential Qualification and Attainment n Educated to Honours degree level or above. n Qualified teacher status. n Evidence of relevant Professional Development. Desirable Qualification and Attainment n Honours degree classed at 2.1 or above. n Post graduate qualifications (including NPQH) Masters degree/post graduate diplomas. Essential Qualities n A deep and passionate commitment to the values and ethos of North Kingston Secondary School. n The ability to motivate, enthuse and engage with children and adults. n An appetite for change and development. n Flexibility and the capacity to handle the unexpected. n Energy, vigour, perseverance, stamina and resilience. Essential Knowledge n Excellent professional knowledge and understanding developed in an established educational context. n Models of learning and teaching, behaviour and attendance management. n Strategies for ensuring inclusion, diversity and access. n A commitment to personal and professional development. n The ability to maintain professional relationships at all times, acting with authenticity and integrity. n A resolute and decisive approach to conflict. n A demonstrable commitment to a robust culture of high expectations and good quality care. n Current educational trends and issues, including national policies, priorities and legislation, underpinning school effectiveness. n Curriculum design and management. n Assessment strategies and the use of assessment to inform progress in teaching and learning. n The ability to challenge and improve performance. n Creativity and a commitment to innovation, based on evidence of best practice and experimentation. n The ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences including pupils, parents, teachers, associate staff and Governors, as well as external contacts required by the role. n Principles and practice of quality assurance systems, including school review, selfevaluation and performance management. n An understanding of the practical application of key strands of KET s vision for the school, such as communication, STEM, new technologies and learning to learn. Desirable Knowledge n Financial planning, budgetary management and principles of best value. n Knowledge of primary and tertiary phases of education. Essential Leadership & Management Skills n Exceptional strategic planning skills with a proven ability to translate vision into clear, coherent plans. n Outstanding classroom practitioner who can lead by example. n Ability to manage change and work under pressure of changing circumstances. n The ability to implement effective performance management and act on any issues that arise from the reviews. n Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, co-ordinate, delegate and empower others. n Leadership and management skills to improve and maintain attainment and success. n An exceptional, collaborative, inspirational leader with proven ability to build positive working relationships, negotiate with and influence individuals and relevant groups. n The ability to communicate with and account to a Board of Governors. n Authority and ability to inspire confidence in Governors, teaching and associate staff, students and parents alike. n Analysing and using the full range of evidence, including performance data and external evaluations to support, monitor, evaluate and improve aspects of the school, including challenging poor performance. n A strong commitment to continuing professional development for all staff. n Managing the school efficiently and effectively on a day-to-day basis. Essential Experience n Experience as a senior leader in a secondary school. n Experience of whole school responsibility academic and/or pastoral. Desirable Experience n Experience as a headteacher. n A track record of success in raising achievement and bringing about improvement. n Experience of working in high performing schools. n Experience of teaching in at least two schools. n Experience of implementing strategies that encourage parents and carers to support their children s learning. Essential Safeguarding Practice n Evidence of commitment to promoting the health, welfare and safeguarding of children. n Evidence of promoting, implementing and monitoring equal opportunities across the full range of protected characteristics. n An understanding of Child Protection procedures and a commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children. n Successful completion of Secretary of State (NCSL, CWDC or local authority) approved safer recruitment training or a commitment to do so before taking up the post. n The ability to develop and sustain a safe, secure and healthy school environment, ensuring an understanding of the legal and regulatory issues related to managing a school.