Teaching & Learning Consultant (KS1/KS2)

The Harris Federation is looking to appoint two Teaching & Learning Consultants to join our established team of central primary specialists.

Please note, one of these roles will be based in North London, the other will be in South London.

What experience is required?

We would like to hear from experienced primary practitioners who can evidence at least five years of primary based experience which includes three years within leadership roles, including phase leadership and/or senior leadership (AP/VP).

Please note due to the impact consultants have on our classrooms, candidates' experience must be recent and within the UK classroom. Candidates who do not have this level of experience will not be considered for the role.

How can this role benefit your career?

This role is suitable for any primary leaders who are wanting to make the move into primary headship and executive headship. The consultant role will allow you to work across a variety of school settings, resulting in experience of working across various pupil groups, academic teams and pedagogical beliefs. In turn, this exposure to various settings can then be applied to higher level leadership roles within the primary sector.

What to expect?

This is a fantastic opportunity for an inspiring and highly motivated primary leader to join a team of experienced primary specialists, as well as work collaboratively with SEND, EAL and Secondary subject consultants. Our primary consultants play a vital role in ensuring the primary provision across the federation is having a positive and impactful effect on pupils, right from EYFS up to KS2. The consultants work across the federation, with responsibilities varying from supporting senior leadership teams with curriculum development, developing NPQ programmes, and coaching trainees and ECTs during their first years within the teaching sector.

With this variety in responsibilities, the consultant roles are very sought-after posts. The role allows for individuals to have variety within their role in various areas, including roles and responsibilities, classroom settings and academic teams encountered.

About Us

Primary Education at Harris consists of 23 academies around London, with most located in areas of disadvantage, but many of which are amongst the highest performing in the country.

Our vision for Harris primary academies is that every child is safe, happy and respected. Despite in many cases replacing schools that had been considered failing by Ofsted, today the majority of Harris primaries are rated “Outstanding” and the others are “Good”.

By Year 6, the proportion of our pupils meeting expected standards in reading, writing and maths is well above average. Disadvantaged pupils, those with special education needs and with English as an additional language all surpass national scores for their cohorts.

Our primary consultants are a highly supportive team of full-time specialists who play a key part in this achievement, and help underpin Harris as a top performing MAT for primary education. Each consultant has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in teaching and learning, and who work with academy teams to help develop teachers to become exemplary classroom practitioners.

Main Areas of Responsibility

This is a unique opportunity to fast track your career into Headship. You will have the chance to gain new skills and expertise, and to extend your understanding of different leadership and teaching approaches by working across a group of academies. The role involves coaching and mentoring, team teaching classes, modelling best practice, assisting in the recruitment and selection of outstanding teachers, and developing CPD opportunities. The post holder will also have the opportunity to work with our Initial Teacher Education (ITE) team, offering subject mentoring to our in-house Harris trainee teachers.

Our consultant positions are an opportunity to develop and prepare you for senior leadership, and a variety of posts within the Harris Federation, including a future Principalship.

Whilst central team consultants have a base site at the Harris Federation Head Office near East Croydon Station (within 15 minutes of central London by rail and with fast access to the M25), consultants are expected to spend the vast majority of their time working on-site at academies. All Harris academies are located within a maximum 90-minute commute of each other, and it's through this close network that consultants can share resources, knowledge and best practice, whilst working as a team to provide our academies with on-call support from the Harris Federation.

Qualifications & Experience

If you are an inspirational and talented leader who shares our vision and ethos for education, then we want to hear for you.

We are looking for:

• QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree
• At least 5 years' teaching experience, and at least 3 years in a leadership role (ideally at Assistant or Vice Principal level, but Phase Leaders will be considered)
• A successful track record in teaching KS1 or KS2
• Flexibility to travel to Harris academies

Next Steps

Informal conversations are welcomed and visits to our academies are highly encouraged. If you would like to discuss the post in confidence please call 020 8253 7777 or email rebecca.irwin@harrisfederation.org.uk to arrange a conversation with Sabeena Hasan, Primary Director.

Rewards & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, electric car scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays) for staff who work across the full year, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

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 young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

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

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.