Headteacher

Opportunities like this don’t come along that often. This could be your chance to make a real difference to the learning success of our children. If you relish the prospect of working with children – including some from challenging backgrounds, are passionate about making a real difference to their future and are uncompromising in your determination to ensure that they receive the outstanding education they deserve, this could be the next step in your career.

The Governors are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, caring and inspiring Headteacher to take forward the development of this school which presently finds itself in challenging circumstances. The school was placed under Local Authority direction last summer and currently benefits from the leadership of an interim Executive Head who is a National Leader of Education.

Building on the foundations currently being put in place, the principal challenge is to turn round the school’s academic performance, so that outcomes are at least in line with the national average. There is a supportive and highly skilled Board of Governors, with whom the appointee will be expected to work collaboratively. Similarly, there is a strong, energetic and enthusiastic staff team to support the appointee, who will appreciate the direction of someone with, typically, previous headship or similar school leadership experience.

The Willows is a caring, inclusive school. With its well developed pastoral support and safeguarding team, the school plays a significant role at the heart of the community it serves. The school prides itself on being a happy, vibrant and busy learning environment where good order and discipline have been successfully embedded.

The person the Governors are seeking to appoint must be capable of:

• taking on a strategic role in school improvement, securing real, measurable change and, where necessary, innovation;
• making a real and noticeable difference to individual pupils’ achievement, as well as encouraging and supporting the continuous professional development of staff;
• making a measurable difference in meeting the specific challenges faced by the school;
• working collaboratively with all parties - staff, parents and Governors - to secure improvements in an exciting, supportive and stimulating workplace and to foster a sense of excitement about learning.

This is an ideal opportunity for somebody who is ready to move to the next level in their headship or school leadership career.

We warmly welcome visits to the school by prospective candidates. To arrange a visit to the school on either 26 February or 2 March, please telephone the Head of School, Mike Steer, on 01635 42155 or email him at: msteer@willows.w-berks.sch.uk

Completed applications should be sent to the Clerk to the Governors at: Nicki.Cother@westberks.gov.uk

The Willows School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. To achieve this commitment we will ensure continuous improvement and the development of our safeguarding processes and procedures and that our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant pre-employment checks.

We are committed to securing genuine equality of opportunity in all aspects of our activities as an employer and education provider.

Closing date: 9:00am 9 March
Shortlisting: 9 March after 9:00am
Interviews: 19 and 20 March

The Willows Primary School
Pyle Hill
Newbury RG14 7SJ