Job Description
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Due to the promotion of the current postholder, Southend East Community Academy Trust (SECAT) and Shoeburyness High School are seeking to appoint a dynamic and dedicated Assistant Headteacher to join our current leadership team adding capacity and thinking to drive our strategic development.
Our new Assistant Headteacher will further embed our vision, values, and ethos to ensure the highest standards of student conduct and high levels of engagement across the school and the curriculum in its widest sense.
This role is suitable for a leader with appropriate skills, knowledge, and experience of significant and successful work with students of all backgrounds and abilities. You will need to be an inspirational leader with a passion for making a difference to the lives of young people. This role requires an individual that is prepared to consistently uphold the highest expectations, support and develop others in doing the same but also someone that can demonstrate compassion and empathy when needed. You will manage an experienced and skilled Pastoral Team, led by the newly appointed Deputy Headteacher for Behaviour, Attendance and Engagement.
Crucially, the postholder will need to have the expertise and interpersonal skills to enable successful work with all staff in further developing and refining consistent and effective classroom engagement and positive behaviour strategies. In addition, they will need to understand and embrace the role that students and parents have in developing a positive culture and be committed to utilising the voice of these stakeholders in school improvement.
To take responsibility for a significant area of the school, including designated staff and develop this to meet challenging targets set out in the School Improvement Plan
• To provide leadership and management of the pastoral and behaviour systems in order to ensure the highest standards of:
· pupil behaviour and attitudes to learning
· attendance and punctuality
• To be responsible for the operational (day to day) running of this area
• To develop and enhance the teaching practice of others in line with the school's policies and in partnership with the Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning.
• To work closely with all members of the leadership group on behaviour management and attitudes.
The Assistant Headteacher will also have a timetabled teaching commitment of 40% complying with the teachers' standards and modelling best practice for others.
They may also be required to undertake any of the duties delegated from the Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher.
Specific to the Post
In consultation with the Deputy Headteacher, implement the pastoral vision for the school:
• To lead, direct and manage the Pastoral Support Team
• To encourage students' engagement with the education process by supporting behaviour for learning
• To oversee analysis of behaviour and attendance data and action plan accordingly
• To identify teachers' professional development needs in relation to behaviour management and lead training as required
• To implement policies, plans, targets, practices and procedures related to behaviour management systems, including the Behaviour Policy and Anti-Bullying Policy
• To guide and motivate the Pastoral Team, addressing any training and development needs
• To ensure the highest professional standards are maintained within the Pastoral Team in communication with parents, carers and outside agencies
• To chair meetings and set agendas for Pastoral Team meetings
• To work with other members of the Senior Leadership Team to formulate aims, objectives and strategic plans for the pastoral area, reflecting the needs of the SIP
• To develop strategies and actions for tackling attendance and punctuality issues within groups of students or individuals
• To keep up to date with national developments and attend relevant training
• Act as a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Leadership
Under the direction of the Deputy Headteacher:
• Support in the day-to-day management of the school
• Communicate the school's vision compellingly and support the Headteacher's strategic leadership
• Lead by example, focusing on providing excellent education for all students
• Lead on particular whole-school strategies and policy areas
• Build positive relationships with members of the school community
• Keep up to date with developments in education
• Seek training and continuing professional development to meet own needs.
Managing staff
Under the direction of the Deputy Headteacher:
• Assist with the selection and recruitment of new teaching and support staff
• Performance manage middle leaders, including carrying out appraisals, providing professional development opportunities, and holding staff to account to for performance
• Create an ethos within which direct reports are motivated and supported to develop skills and knowledge
• Commit to own professional development, proactively identifying development opportunities.
Modelling best practice for teachers
• Demonstrate excellent performance against parts one and two of the teachers' standards: teaching and personal and professional conduct
• Implement strategies and initiatives to share best practice with others in the school, developing confidence and skills in others.
Systems and processes
Under the direction of the Deputy Headteacher:
• Ensure that the school's systems, organisation and processes are well considered, efficient and fit for purpose
• Provide a safe, calm and well-ordered environment for all students and staff, focused on safeguarding students and developing exemplary behaviour
• Work with the Shoeburyness High School Academy Committee as appropriate
• Work with SECAT colleagues as appropriate
• Support strategic, curriculum-led financial planning to ensure effective use of budgets and resources
• Support distribution of leadership throughout the school.
Other responsibilities
The Assistant Headteacher will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, and follow school policies and the staff code of conduct.
Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the Assistant Headteacher will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the Headteacher.
Information about the School
Shoeburyness High School is a very successful, large and oversubscribed 11-18 Community Academy and a member of the Southend East Community Academy Trust (SECAT).
First and foremost we are a place of learning and high aspiration but we add value to this core purpose with our focus on developing the whole individual; there is something for everyone at Shoeburyness High School and we remain very proud of our fully inclusive ethos.