Primary Deputy Headteacher
Isaac Newton Academy
Candidate Information Brief
December 2015
Dear colleague,
Thank you for your interest in the post of Primary Deputy Headteacher at Isaac Newton Academy, an
ARK School. We are delighted to have this opportunity to introduce ourselves, to give some details
about our school and to describe the kind of candidate we hope to appoint to the position.
Isaac Newton Secondary Academy opened in September 2012 in Ilford, East London, in brand new,
purpose-built accommodation. The Academy has been carefully designed with ARK’s philosophy in
mind and has facilities and resources to support a rich and diverse 21st century curriculum. It will have an
intake of 180 year 7 students each year. When full, in 2018, the secondary school will be 1,250 students
(900 11 – 16 year olds and 350 sixth formers). In 2014 the primary phase of the Academy opened to 90
reception-aged pupils. This too will grow year on year, until full in 2020. The Academy benefits from
joining a number of successful primary and secondary schools in the diverse Redbridge community as
well as being part of the ARK Schools network.
We feel both privileged and excited to have been appointed as Isaac Newton Academy’s Principal and
Head of Primary. The chance to create a new and outstanding school from scratch, designing the
curriculum, policies and procedures, structuring the school day and year and appointing the staff, is a
rare and golden one.
The Primary Deputy Headteacher at Isaac Newton Academy will be a key member of staff. The post is
ideally suited to an outstanding practitioner with a proven track record of raising attainment and
developing excellence, who is looking for a rare opportunity to be part of the strategic development of
the Primary phase. They will be someone who has relentless drive, boundless enthusiasm, resilience and
the ability to inspire and motivate others.
The Primary Deputy Headteacher will work closely with the Head of Primary and the rest of the Senior
Leadership Team in developing the Academy’s ethos. He/she will be a lead practitioner in developing
and supporting outstanding teaching and learning practice whereby all pupils make excellent progress
and maximise their potential in line with the academy’s expectations.
First and foremost, we are looking for an individual who is committed to ARK’s six pillars (see later) and
feels as passionately as we do about the school’s vision (outlined in the prospectus found on the
Academy website). You will read that at Isaac Newton Academy we have extremely high expectations of
ourselves and of each and every pupil. It is important that the post holder believes unswervingly that,
regardless of background or prior attainment, every student entering the school has the potential to
leave with a set of qualifications that will enable them to pursue their education at a top university. We
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are setting ourselves very ambitious goals, and the Deputy Headteacher will play a central role in
ensuring that Isaac Newton becomes a truly great school.
It is our vision that Isaac Newton Academy will be at the centre of the local community, with
opportunities for the students’ parents, siblings and neighbours to attend classes and benefit from the
amazing facilities. We are looking to appoint a Primary Deputy Headteacher who shares this desire to
enrich the lives of residents of Ilford and make the school a true community school.
And what you can expect from us? We will be committed to providing you with the environment,
support and resources necessary to carry out your role to an outstanding level. We will prioritise your
professional development needs. We will ensure that you receive supportive and developmental line
management and coaching.
If what you have read about Isaac Newton Academy chimes with your personal educational philosophy,
we very much hope that you will consider applying for the post. This is a key role in the Academy and a
challenging yet highly rewarding opportunity.
If you would like an information pack or wish to discuss the role, please contact Gina Webb, HR Officer,
on 020 8911 6656 or [email protected].
For any technical issues with the application form please contact the recruitment team on 0203 116
6345 or [email protected]
To
apply
please
go
to:
<INSERT
APPLICATION
LINK>.
or
visit
our
website:
http://isaacnewtonacademy.org/vacancies . Please complete your application by 11th January 2016.
Yours faithfully,
Rachel Macfarlane
Tam Broadway
Principal
Head of Primary
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Job Description: Primary Deputy Headteacher
Reporting to:
Start date:
Salary:
Primary Headteacher
January 2015
L12 – L16 (Outer London)
The Role
The exact role and specific responsibilities of the Primary Deputy Headteacher will be agreed annually
and will change regularly, to afford the opportunity to gain experience in all aspects of the school
leadership in prepartion for Headship. Negotiated changes may be made to reflect the needs of the
school and/or the Academy Improvement Plan.
The Primary Deputy Headteacher should be prepared to lead on such areas as curriuclum development,
monitoring of standards and teaching effectiveness, tracking and analysis of results/data, behaviour
management, external relations and community links, staff development, training and induction. As a
member of the senior leadership team, the Deputy Headteacher will also be centrally involved in the
overall leadership and management of the Academy.
The Primary Deputy Headteacher will be expected to deputise for the Primary Headteacher in her
absence.
General Responsibilities
Leadership and Management
·
To support colleagues, including all other members of the Leadership Team, in their work for the
development and improvement of the academy
·
To share responsibility for the management of the academy and to contribute to the consultative
and decision-making processes
·
To fully support whole school policy decisions, contribute to their initiation and sustain their
implementation and review
·
To actively promote the academy and liaise with outside agencies as necessary, representing the
Principal, the academy or ARK as appropriate
·
To contribute to discussions and decisions at Leadership Team meetings
·
To offer information, advice and perspective to the governing body and to any legitimate external
enquiry/evaluation
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·
To support and contribute to the process of writing, implementing, evaluating and reviewing the
annual Academy Improvement Plan, with understanding of its position and relevance in the cycle of
school resourcing, improvement and long term planning
·
To line manage a number of other staff
·
To work closely with the Head of Primary in creating a culture for instructional feedback that will
support the academy in driving high standards and expectations
·
To support the Head of Primary in managing the review cycle of school policies and act as a role
model in the implementation of these policies
·
To support the Head of Primary in the responsibility for the implementation of performance
development for all staff.
School Ethos and Culture
·
To maintain a strong Academy community, characterised by consistent, orderly behaviour and
caring, respectful relationships
·
To maintain a presence around the school to ensure that the highest standards of behaviour and
site-usage are upheld, to contribute to overview and review of student behaviour and to participate
in the regular whole-school supervisory duties fulfilled on a scheduled basis by the leadership team
·
To be active in issues of staff and student welfare and support
·
To demonstrate a commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of the Academy’s
community
·
To develop and maintain a school culture and ethos that is utterly committed to achievement
·
To develop and maintain strong partnerships and ensure regular and productive communication
with parents.
Teaching and Learning
·
To identify strategies for raising the attainment of students and to work towards these identified and
agreed goals
·
Support the training and development of teaching staff so as to improve the quality of teaching and
raise the level of challenge in lessons
·
Use regular assessments to monitor progress and set targets, and respond accordingly to the results
of such monitoring
·
To support the Head of Primary in leading whole school planning and assessment through accurate
record keeping and sophisticated data analysis
·
To ensure that all pupils achieve at chronological age level or above and make significant and
continuing progress
·
To maintain a teaching timetable, modelling outstanding practice in terms of classroom teaching,
preparation, marking and assessment.
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Other
·
To undertake any other professional duties as set down in the Ark schools pay and conditions of
service document, and as directed by the Head of Primary or Principal.
Specific Role and Responsibilities for Academic Year 2016
Curriculum
·
To keep abreast of statutory EYFS, KS1 and KS2 curriculum and assessment requirements and
updates, present findings and make recommendations to senior and middle leaders and
governors as appropriate.
·
To support and update staff and parents of statutory EYFS, KS1and KS2 curriculum and
assessment updates.
·
To organise and host curriculum evenings for parents.
·
To track curriculum subject skills required at key milestones for pupils from 4-18.
·
To meet with secondary subject leaders to discuss and map key skills for an all through
curriculum across all subject areas that will ensure rigour and progression for pupils aged 4-18.
·
To work with the Head of Primary to devise an all through skill based curriculum across all
subject areas in collaboration with both primary and secondary teachers.
·
To update all stakeholders of recommendations for an all through skill based curriculum.
·
To work in collaboration with staff across both the primary and secondary to encourage cross
phase projects and opportunities for pupils across the Academy.
Tracking and Monitoring Progress and Attainment
·
To track and monitor the progress and attainment of all groups of pupils
·
To ensure timely support and intervention is in place to challenge and support pupils when
required, ensuring any progress and attainment gaps that may emerge are closed quickly
·
To report and present findings to the senior team each half term on the various groups of
learners
·
To work with the SENCO to ensure appropriate provision is in place for pupils needing
additional support
·
To share and glean good practice from both Redbridge and the Ark network of schools
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·
To work with staff across the primary to ensure support is in place to plan for and close any
progress and attainment gaps that may emerge.
Person Specification: Primary Deputy Headteacher
Qualification criteria
·
Qualified to degree level and above
·
Qualified to teach and work in the UK.
Experience
·
Experience of prior successful leadership at a middle or senior level in a primary school
·
Experience of having worked successfully in at least one school in an urban, multi-cultural
setting, teaching students from backgrounds of socio-economic disadvantage
·
Experience of directly impacted on the raising of pupil attainment levels
·
Experience of having contributed to policy formulation. implementation, evaluation and
review
·
Experience of having improved and sustained an effective behaviour management policy
·
Experience of having delivered consistently outstanding lessons to students across the primary age
range
·
Experience of leading and evaluating INSET which impacts on standards
Vision and Strategy
•
Vision aligned with ARK and the academy’s high aspirations and high expectations of self and
others
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•
Understanding of the strategies needed to establish consistently high aspirations and standards
of results and behaviour in an urban school setting and commitment to relentlessly
implementing these strategies
•
Ability to effectively lead on a wide range of initiatives and areas of responsibility
•
Confident and forensic use of data to assess student achievement levels and progress, the ability
to inform and diagnose weaknesses that need addressing and to effectively action plan to raise
individuals’ attainment
•
Understanding of what outstanding teaching practice looks like and how to diagnose and
implement effective strategies to raise learning standards
•
Commitment to the importance of supporting students to develop learning dispositions and
character traits
Behaviours & Qualities
Leadership
·
Effective leadership and management style that encourages participation, innovation and
confidence
·
Ability to lead, coach and motivate staff within a performance development framework,
including professional development and effective management of underperformance
·
Ability to work in close harmony with the Primary Headteacher and the SLT
·
Ability to develop the leadership skills of others as well as to learn from others
·
Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
·
Excellent listening skills
·
Strong ICT skills
·
Passion, energy, resilience and optimism
·
Takes personal responsibility for their own actions
·
Ability to work well under pressure
·
Ability to be decisive
·
High levels of honesty and integrity
·
Genuine belief in the potential of every student
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·
Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils
·
A sense of humour and the desire to have fun.
·
Strong organisational and time management skills and ability to delegate appropriately
·
Use of data to inform and diagnose areas that need addressing
·
Ability to skillfully manage and maintain effective working relationships with parents and
other stakeholders
·
Understands what outstanding teaching practice looks like, how to diagnose and implement
effective strategies to raise learning standards
·
Ability to offer teaching to demonstration level and through this and other coaching
opportunities to be able to improve the teaching of others
Other
·
Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils
·
This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
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