Headteacher
Sir James Smith's School
Cornwall
- Expired
- Salary:
- Group 4 ISR range L22-L26 - £67,008 to £73,903
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2019
- Apply by:
- 21 January 2019
Job overview
The Governors are seeking to appoint an outstanding Headteacher to lead the school and oversee and manage its future development. Sir James Smith’s School is an 11-16 school of 490 pupils, projected to rise to over 520 over the next couple of years. The school is part of a small, developing, multi-academy trust (MAT) based in North Cornwall. Known as North Cornwall Learning Trust (NCLT) the MAT currently consists of Sir Jim’s and four primary schools.
As Headteacher at Sir Jim’s, you will have the freedom to lead the school on a day-to-day basis and work closely with the Chief Executive Officer who leads the MAT and primary Headteacher colleagues. The MAT has a centralised school funding model; this gives Headteachers the freedom to concentrate on the core business of teaching and learning.
Sir Jim’s is an oversubscribed, inclusive 11—16 secondary, rated a strong Good by OFSTED in April 2016. We are working hard to provide an outstanding learning experience for all our pupils against a background of financial challenge stemming from austerity and pressures from mental health and wider societal issues including deprivation. Over recent years KS4 outcomes have placed Sir Jim’s above average nationally, though 2018 saw a dip in achievement outcomes.
The trustees wish to appoint an innovative and highly motivated leader. You will have the drive and personality to build on the considerable progress made by the school in recent years. You will bring a strong record of school improvement and will actively embrace working closely and collaboratively with others in the MAT and elsewhere to reinforce the school’s place at the heart of the community.
We encourage you to visit us. To book a school tour and request an application pack, please contact Michelle Kirk on MKirk@sirjamessmiths.cornwall.sch.uk or 01840 213274.
If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact Judith Knock Clerk to Governors on JKnock@sirjamessmiths.cornwall.sch.uk to arrange a chat with Jon Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer.
Key dates:
School tours: Monday 14th January and Wednesday 16th January 9.30am-11.00am
Closing date: Monday 21st January
Shortlisting: Tuesday 22nd January
Interviews: Tuesday 29th January and Wednesday 30th January
Safeguarding. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS check will be undertaken.
Attached documents
About Sir James Smith's School
We are a smaller than average co-educational comprehensive school, serving a large rural hinterland in North Cornwall. It’s a fantastic place to live if you like the outdoors. Our extensive rural catchment area of 100 square miles includes 8 partner primary schools though we attract students from many others. The dispersed settlement pattern means approximately 70% of students travel daily by bus. North Cornwall is one of the least sparsely populated areas in England and Wales thanks to the glorious Bodmin Moor.
At present we have 38 teachers, and 40 non-teaching staff including 4 technicians, 1 Librarian, 8 admin assistants and 9 classroom assistants. The Local Governance Committee work closely with staff, as do various support agencies. The small size of the school means that we all know the students very well and staff work together effectively. This is a school on a humane scale where personal relationships matter.
We have a "continental day". This means an earlier start - at 8.10 am for staff and 8.25 am for students. Students have one year assembly per week. There are 5 one-hour lessons and 2 breaks of 20 and 30 minutes. The main part of the day ends at 2.30 pm. On Mondays there are meetings; on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, extra-curricular activities and late buses; on Fridays many staff go home a little earlier!
The school campus is compact and we try hard to keep the school looking the best we can.
We invest wisely in building maintenance and decoration, believing that the learning environment plays a crucial role in well-being. We share our site with: Camelford Primary School, the local Police Office, North Cornwall Adult Education and Camelford Leisure Centre.
Our school roll of 610 is rising with bigger year groups working their way up through the primaries; we will remain a ‘small’ secondary which is something our students, parents and staff value highly. Our small size makes it essential that we work in partnership with other education providers, not just other schools. To this end we work with: Cornwall College; Truro College; Callywith College; Falmouth University and Plymouth University. We also have ITT links with Exeter University.
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