Assistant Principal (SENCo)

We are looking for an Assistant Principal (SENCO) with energy, enthusiasm and expertise to lead the SEN team to continue to support the delivery of brilliant outcomes for students.

About Us

Harris Academy Battersea will be in its 8th academic year in 2021-2022 and has established itself as one of the highest performing schools in London, judged to be Outstanding by Ofsted in 2018. In 2017, it was awarded the Evening Standard School of the Year as well as being named one of the Sunday Times Top 20 Schools in the country. We are immensely proud of our students’ achievements at Harris Academy Battersea, where their progress measures (1.08, 1.47, 1.22, 0.92, 1.39* and 1.36* P8) defy expectations and set out what it is possible to achieve with hard work from all stakeholders. This is achieved through high expectations for all stakeholders, a high-quality curriculum, brilliant teaching with each teacher wanting to get better every day and, most importantly, an embedded culture that drives every decision in the school. This strong culture wraps around the three key characteristics of the most successful schools: high aspiration, high motivation and strong social norms.

Academy Culture

The development of our students academically, personally and professionally is at the heart of everything we do at Harris Academy Battersea. We have created a new vision for the school to reflect this: ‘We develop aspirational young people to thrive in a changing world’.

Our core values of Knowledge, Integrity and Resilience underpin this vision and will form an integral part of student’s daily school life. Students should leave us not only having fulfilled their personal best in terms of academic results, but also equipped with these core values to enable them to thrive in all stages of their lives. Equally, we wish for our school and young people to serve the community and a school that the community is proud to have on its doorstep.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Operational/Strategic Planning

• To ensure that Academy practice is compliant with the SEND Code of Practice (2014) and other relevant requirements
• To advise the leadership team on the strategic development of SEN policy and provision
• To work with colleagues to formulate aims, objectives and strategic plans for the SEN provision

Curriculum Provision

• To support all staff to understand and fulfil their statutory responsibilities as specified in the SEND Policy
• To be responsible for ensuring that all SEND provisions are rigorously evaluated to ensure students with SEND are making better progress, producing termly impact reports
• To be responsible for ensuring that the outcomes from interventions are integrated into classroom teaching

Staff Development

• To work with Achievement Directors to ensure that staff development needs are identified and that appropriate programmes are designed
• To be responsible for the efficient and effective deployment of Teaching Assistants and Mentors
• To undertake Performance Management Review(s) and to act as reviewer for a group of staff

Quality Assurance

• To help to implement Academy quality procedures and to adhere to those
• To contribute to the process of monitoring and evaluation of the subject area in line with agreed Academy procedures, including evaluation against quality standards and performance criteria
• To seek/implement modification and improvement where required

Management Information

• To maintain appropriate records and to provide relevant accurate and up-to-date information
• To complete the relevant documentation to assist in the tracking of students and use information to inform teaching and learning

Communications

• To communicate effectively with the parents of students as appropriate following agreed policies
• Where appropriate, to communicate and co-operate with persons or bodies outside the Academy
• To attend all appropriate meetings

Marketing and Liaison

• To take part in marketing and liaison activities such as Open Evenings, Parents’ Evenings and liaison events with partner schools
• To contribute to the development of effective subject links with external agencies

Management of Resources

• To contribute to the process of the ordering and allocation of equipment and materials.
• To liaise with the Achievement Director to identify needs and to contribute to the efficient/effective use of physical resources.

Pastoral System

• To apply the Behaviour Management systems consistently so that effective learning can take place
• To promote the general progress and well-being of individual students and of the form tutor group as a whole
• To liaise with the Faculty Coordinators and Faculty Directors to ensure the implementation of the Academy’s Pastoral System

Teaching

• To undertake an appropriate programme of teaching in accordance with the duties of a standard scale teacher
• To teach students according to their educational needs
• To assess, record and report on the attendance, progress, development and attainment of students

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• QTS (or equivalent) and a good undergraduate degree
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development relevant to the SENCO role
• Ideally, a SENCo qualification and/or SpLD Assessment Practising Certificate, a post-graduate qualification in individual assessment at or equivalent to Level 7
• Experience of teaching SEN students
• Successful teaching experience at secondary level for at least three years
• Experience of leading whole-school initiatives
• Experience of management and the ability to lead, inspire and develop Teaching & Support colleagues
• Evidence of successful teaching experience
• Experience of working with key stakeholders

Professional Development & Benefits

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.