Head of School

Relocation: A generous relocation allowance may be available if appropriate.

Pension: Teachers’ Pension Scheme

We are excited to announce an opportunity for an exceptional leader with the right blend of skills, talents, experience, and values to become the next Head of School for Longdendale High School in Hollingworth, Hyde, Tameside, Greater Manchester. If you have a commitment to excellence, aspiration for our young people and an unwavering focus on improvement, we would like to hear from you. We welcome applications from established Headteachers or Deputy Headteachers for this post. 

About the School

Longdendale High School has embarked upon an exciting journey of improvement, with the full support of Stamford Park Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust formed by the ‘Outstanding’ Ashton Sixth Form College. Improvements are gathering pace, both in the quality of provision and in the school’s results. Ofsted rated the school as ‘Requires Improvement’ in February 2023, with personal development and behaviour and attitudes graded as good. This was a significant improvement from the previous inspection in 2020 which rated the school as Inadequate. The school has been on an improvement journey since joining Stamford Park Trust and has seen significant improvement in the quality of provision. Our next Head of School will be tasked with continuing and accelerating these changes with the aim to be at least a good school by the time of the next inspection.

Longdendale High School is a highly inclusive school, and currently holds: 1) The IQM Award and has been designated as a national Flagship School for Inclusion; 2) The AcSeed Award in recognition of the work the school does to promote and support students’ mental health and well-being; 3) The International School Award and 4) the Leading Parent Partnership Award.

Longdendale High School is located on an attractive site in Hollingworth, on the edge of the borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, but bordering on the Peak District National Park. It lies just off the M67 and M60 with a direct commute from much of the North West, Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale, Warrington, Merseyside and the towns and cities of South Lancashire, North Cheshire, and South Yorkshire are all within commutable distance.

About the Opportunity – who would be suited to this role

This is a unique opportunity, and you will find different aspects of this role fulfilling, dependent on your existing skills and achievements. The role would suit:

• A Deputy Head looking for their first Headship.

If you are looking for a school where you can make an impact and quickly improve the lives of children, thrive, succeed, and really make a difference, this is the ideal opportunity.

• A Headteacher of a Studio School or smaller secondary school who wants to take the next step into leadership.

You have shown that you can deliver excellent results. Now you are looking to put what you have learned to a new challenge and a different setting with the support of a truly local Multi-Academy Trust - one where the difference you make can be seen every day– this is the ideal opportunity.

• A Deputy Head, Headteacher, Principal or Head of School simply looking for a fresh challenge.

You are already leading a school, either as Deputy Head or Headteacher and you have met challenges and delivered success. Perhaps you would like to be a part of something bigger than a stand-alone Academy, with opportunities to share and grow. Perhaps you want a fresh challenge in a school where your skills and knowledge will make all the difference. Again, this would be the ideal opportunity.

We are looking for an outstanding senior leader with a strong track record of success and the vision and ambition to lead the school under the guidance, assistance and support of Melanie Wicks, the Executive Principal (Secondary) for the Stamford Park Trust’s two secondary schools. Whatever your previous experience, the Trust is committed to lifelong learning and professional development and will ensure you are provided with the skills and knowledge you may require on your own personal educational journey.

The successful applicant will:

• Possess outstanding interpersonal skills to lead, motivate and further develop a hardworking and talented staff body.
• Have the character and values that align with a school focused both upon inclusivity and striving for much higher achievement and attainment.
• Lead with an inspirational style, developing strong academic, co-curricular and pastoral systems,
• Have the political skills to engage with stakeholders within the wider community and develop the school’s contribution to the Trust, the Borough, and the Region,
• Embrace the opportunity to lead and develop a school, supported by a Trust Board that is on a journey to excellence, striving to raise standards, but also to maintain inclusivity and social mobility.

About the Benefits

Stamford Park Trust offers a number of benefits for employees including a strong investment in personal and professional development through an extensive CPD programme, free gym membership at Astley Sports Village, an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), free eye tests, access to the cycle to work scheme, a supportive occupational health offer and enhanced sick pay, free parking, tea and coffee across all academies, enhanced entitlements for long service and high street discounts.

If striving for excellence, aspiring to the best for young people and having an unwavering focus on improvement are your characteristics, we would most definitely like to hear from you.

The appointment is, of course, subject to satisfactory references and a successful enhanced DBS Disclosure.

Further details and a full application pack are available from our advisers ASDTi by visiting and downloading from www.longdendale.info by e-mailing gm@asdti.com or by calling 07736 775776.

ASDTi are available on our behalf on 07736 775776 during evenings and weekends as well and would be pleased to organise a visit to the Academy for interested candidates, or to discuss remuneration, career, or relocation expectations.

Closing date for applications: 2nd April 2024 at 10am. 

Shortlisting will take place on Monday 15th April 2024 and interviews will be held later that week, on 18th and 19th April 2024.