April 2016 Dear Candidate, RE: The post of Strategy Manager for the Swaledale Alliance Thank you for your interest in the post of Strategy Manager for the Swaledale Alliance. The successful candidate will be appointed on a 2 year contract, commencing September 2016, working 0.6fte each week, term time only. The post attracts a salary on the Leadership Scale with an ISR at L1-5. There is flexibility in how the 0.6fte could be worked. Please feel free to discuss your own situation with us. The post can also be offered as a secondment, if required. Again, please discuss your own circumstances with us and how this could work for you. This application pack has been designed to provide you with the information that you will require in order to apply for the post. It contains: An overview of the Swaledale Alliance and the role of Strategy Manager Advert Job Description Person Specification Application Form Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form How to Apply If, after reading the enclosed information, you wish to apply for this post, please provide us with the following information: A completed application form A letter, of no more than 2 sides of A4, which outlines how your knowledge, skills and experience to date meet the enclosed person specification. Application packs are available via the website www.swaledalealliance.org. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 13 th May 2016. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 24 th May 2016. Yours sincerely, Mike White Director of the Swaledale Alliance Headteacher, Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary School
An overview of the Swaledale Alliance and the role of Strategy Manager The Swaledale Alliance is a 60 school teaching school alliance in the north of North Yorkshire. Of the 60 partnership schools, 1 is a secondary school, 1 is a special school and the rest are primary, infant or junior schools. Our alliance achieved teaching school status in March 2013 and began as a partnership of 17 schools in the Swaledale area. Since then, membership has exploded and has grown to the current size within 2 years. To find out what role teaching schools have in the school-led system, follow this link. Currently, the Alliance employs a number of people to lead and support its work, as follows: Mike White (Director) Mike is paid 0.3fte by the Alliance and 0.7fte by Brompton-on- Swale CE Primary School as headteacher. He has overall responsibility for the work of the Alliance and will be the line manager for the Strategy Manager. Andrea Offord (Alliance Manager) Andrea works 30 hours per week in this role. She co-ordinates all of the Alliance s work, CPD programmes and line manages the administrative team. Michelle Watson (Administrative Assistant) Michelle works every afternoon (17.5 hours per week) for the Alliance. She supports all our initial teacher training work and is responsible for some of the administration of some of our CPD programmes. Lucy May Garrick (Apprentice Administrative Assistant) Lucy May is full time and provides a wide range of administration back up for CPD programmes, meetings, events and is the first voice you hear on the end of the phone! Brenda Higgins (Specialist Leader of Education and Peer Support Teacher Co-ordinator) Brenda provides the necessary co-ordination for these key school to school support roles. She ensures that school receive the expertise they require. Unfortunately, Brenda has expressed a wish to pursue her retirement from September 2016! The Strategy Manager will have a crucial role to fulfil in taking the work of the Swaledale Alliance forward.
The role of Strategy Manager Firstly, school to school support is a huge part of our work. All Partnership Schools that obtain Requires Improvement judgements from Ofsted receive additional funding via the School to School Support Fund. This is managed by the Swaledale Alliance. The Strategy Manager will co-ordinate the deployment of SLEs, PSTs and other system leaders in order to ensure that the support goes without a hitch. Our Partnership School Review process (a peer review model) ensure that schools are able to receive an external validation of their self-evaluation. Although this work is only just beginning to roll out across the Alliance and wider, it requires significant management, co-ordination and quality assurance. The Strategy Manager will be instrumental in this. Secondly, continuing professional development for all staff working in schools is key for improving standards and outcomes for pupils. The Alliance needs a vision for the future a co-ordinated approach with other Teaching Schools in North Yorkshire and a cutting edge model that makes a difference in the classroom. There is much work to be done. Thirdly, initial teacher training is underway in the Alliance. We are training our own teachers, but capacity issues are stunting our growth in this area. The Strategy Manager will provide the Alliance with some solutions to these problems and move our work forward quickly. Partnership Working is a huge aspect of the role. The successful candidate will be able to interact effectively with a wide range of stakeholders in schools, from pupils and teaching assistants to executive headteachers and chairs of governors. They all need to feel like they are part of the Alliance and are able to shape its future. The future is a key and final point! The vision is for teaching school alliances to become financially sustainable and not reliant on our core grant funding. The Strategy Manager will need to continue to think carefully about how the Swaledale Alliance can reach this goal at a time when all schools are tightening their belts and there is less public money available. I hope that this short commentary provides you with a flavour of the exciting challenge that lies ahead for the successful candidate. The Executive Board of the Swaledale Alliance looks forward to receiving your application.
Advert for the position of Strategy Manager Required for September 2016 Initially a temporary two-year post with a remit to make the role self-sustainable and permanent thereafter. This is a part time 0.6fte, term time only post flexible (by negotiation) with regard to days/hours worked. A secondment is available for this position. Salary Leadership Scale ISR L1-5 ( 38,598 42,597 pro-rata) Teachers pay and conditions apply. Details An exciting opportunity has arisen to support our vision and help build additional capacity in the development of the Swaledale Alliance. We are a diverse collaboration of schools working to provide a highly personalised approach to school improvement, continuing professional development and initial teaching training. We are now seeking to recruit a forward thinking individual who will help to build on the success of our first three years. The successful candidate will be fully committed to improving the educational achievements of our pupils. They will be a highly motivated and ambitious leader with a track record in school improvement and project management. They will report to the Director of the Swaledale Alliance. Applications are welcomed from individuals with: Previous employment within an educational institution, which includes some leadership experience. Strong interpersonal, networking and negotiation skills In return we offer the successful applicant: Opportunities for professional development within an autonomous framework A flexible approach to a working environment and modus operandi A diverse range of alliance partners to sustain our school improvement activities A fantastic team of senior leaders committed to the underlying ethos and core values of our alliance This appointment is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service enhanced check.
Timeline Completed applications should be returned no later than 5pm on Friday 13 th May 2016. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 24 th May 2016. How to Apply Application packs and application forms are available via the Swaledale Alliance website www.swaledalealliance.org. If you would like an informal chat to discuss the post a little further please contact the Director of the Swaledale Alliance (Mike White, Headteacher of Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary School) 01748 81168 or email headteacher@bromptonschool.net
Strategic Manager of the Swaledale Alliance Job Description Position: Strategic Manager Reports to: Director of the Swaledale Alliance Responsible for: Elements of the strategic and all operational leadership of the Swaledale Alliance, as identified in this job description Based at: Richmond School, Darlington Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 7BQ Pay Scale: Leadership Scale ISR L1-5 Contract: 2 Year Fixed Term (in the first instance) or secondment Start Date: 1 st September 2016 Key Purpose Working with the Strategic Lead for the Swaledale Alliance, the Steering Group and the Executive Board to: Manage the strategic and operational development of the Swaledale Alliance. Further develop the vision, scope and remit of the Swaledale Alliance. Manage all school to school support deployments and contracts. Manage the implementation and quality assurance of the Partnership School Review process. Ensure the longer term financial sustainability of the Swaledale Alliance. Promote engagement of existing Partnership Schools, further develop partners and partnerships and expand the Swaledale Alliance s client base. Ensure the activities of the Swaledale Alliance are making a positive difference to the outcomes of children and young people To take a strategic role in the successful development of teaching school Big 6 activities within the alliance, as follows: o Initial Teacher Training o Continuing Professional Development & Leadership Development o School to School support o Succession Planning and Talent Management o Accreditation of Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs) o Research and Development This is a unique post that requires a substantial level of self-reliance, creativity, innovation, ambition, resilience and determination.
1. Finance To assist in the development and implementation of a long-term financial plan for the future development of the Swaledale Alliance. To support colleagues in preparing budgets for approval by the Director and Executive Board. To maximise income generation for the Teaching Schools including submitting bids for funding as appropriate. 2. Leadership and Project Management To chair the newly formed Steering Group and ensure that the group develops the Alliance s offer to schools. To attend meetings and play a leading role in the Executive Board of the Swaledale Alliance To manage the Teaching School s activities through the effective management of the Alliance Manager. To plan and deliver a menu of activities in accordance with the Alliance s Core Offer. To establish and monitor policies and procedures and ensure that they meet the necessary requirements for public funding. Ensure that rigorous and robust quality assurance procedures are used to appraise impact. 3. Marketing To promote the Swaledale Alliance to different audiences. To liaise with other schools and businesses for possible joint projects. To develop the Swaledale Alliance website, in partnership with the administrative team. 4. Human Resources Management To provide line management responsibilities for the Alliance Manager. To manage the deployment of SLEs across the Alliance and beyond. 5. Training & Development of Self and Others Provide strategic direction for continuing professional development across the Alliance. Manage the Newly Qualified Teacher Programme for the Alliance.
Set personal targets and take responsibility for own continuous professional development. To manage the professional development of the Alliance Manager. 6. General Requirements Adhere to policies as set out by the teaching school s Governing Body and the Executive Board. Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance and conduct Foster positive and courteous relations with colleagues and external customers Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified. Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request for a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.
Person Specification Criteria Essential Desirable Method of Assessment Qualifications Batchelor honours degree with Further professional Application form QTS (or equivalent) qualifications Professional Experience At least 4 years of teaching experience Application form Professional Development Experience of school leadership Evidence of recent and relevant professional development Experience of senior leadership and management in school Experience of budget management and/or income generation Experience of providing/managing school to school support Evidence of leading on the professional development of staff Letter Interview Application form Letter Knowledge and Skills Knowledge of current educational trends and curriculum developments Recent involvement with the delivery of a school-based ITT programme. Interview Letter Interview Personal Qualities, Skills and Characteristics A clear understanding of quality teaching and learning The ability to inspire, challenge, motivate and empower others The ability to build and maintain positive relationships through effective interpersonal skills Evidence of partnership working across a number of institutions to establish effective provision Letter Interview Has high professional standards in all areas Has high levels of selfmotivation Can work independently