Head of Economics and Business at Highbury Fields School

Salary grade: MPS/UPS; inner London allowance; TLR 2.1

Closing date for applications: Friday 10th February 2023

Start date: Friday 1st September 2023

Contract type: Permanent

What are the safeguarding requirements of the role?

‘Pupils are proud of their school. They enjoy school and feel safe’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

Highbury Fields School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects that all staff will share and demonstrate this commitment.

The position is subject to a DBS enhanced disclosure check.

In line with ‘keeping children safe in education’ and safer recruitment practices, the school will conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates. The online search is part of the school’s safeguarding procedures to determine from publicly available information whether they are suitable to work with children and young people. Shortlisted candidates will also be asked at interview about their online presence.

Who are we?

‘The school focuses on the holistic child’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

‘Pupils respond extremely well to the challenge of becoming independent learners’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

Highbury Fields School is a community in which everyone enjoys academic and social success. The school actively celebrates and promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and aims to make everyone in our community feel welcome and wanted in school.

An 11 to 18 girls’ school, we are proud to serve a culturally rich, but often underprivileged, community and are fiercely determined that every child in our care will develop into a confident young adult, who is academically and socially accomplished.

The school’s consecutive ‘outstanding’ OFSTED reports of 2016 and 2022 and our consistently high progress 8 scores – 0.76 in 2018; 0.82 in 2019; 0.6 in 2022 – have established our students’ reputation for academic excellence and we are highly regarded in the local community for our calm, focused learning environment.

However, we are neither complacent not satisfied. The school strives for excellence in all aspects of its work and over the last year we have completed revised our studied, pastoral and wider curricular to ensure we are meeting the needs of all our students in the current post-Covid context. Our intention is to take each student on an educational journey of memorable and stimulating learning experiences, that enables them to be academically and socially successful, both in school and beyond.

What is the role?

‘Leaders and staff have extremely high expectations for all aspects of school life’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

It is in this context that the school is seeking a highly skilled Head of Economics and Business to lead and grow these subject areas at the school. 

Thanks to the exceptional attitudes of our students and dedication of their teachers, the study of GCSE business is currently thriving at Highbury Fields School, with close to 60 students currently studying the subject in Year 10.  

Such is the success of the subject area and students’ enthusiasm for it, that under the guidance of an Assistant Headteacher who is an economics specialist, the school is broadening its GCSE offer to include economics from September 2023 and will also introduce A-level economics next academic year.

The Head of Economics and Business would be expected, with support from the Assistant Headteacher to lead the development of our economics and business curriculum. They would also line-manage BTEC health and social care. 

The appointed person will be an excellent practitioner, who is highly ambitious for all students in the school. They will have successful experience of teaching A-level and be able to improve the already very well-planned GCSE curriculum. Knowledge of BTEC qualifications would also be desirable, but not essential. 

If you are a current economics specialist, and are looking to develop your career in a highly supportive and innovative learning environment and you truly believe, as we do, that every child can achieve excellence, then we look forward to receiving your application.

What can we offer the appointed candidate?

‘Low-level disruption in class is very rare. Pupils come to lessons ready and eager to learn’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

The appointed colleague will have the exciting opportunity to lead the introduction of economics GCSE and A-level in the school and will be directly line-managed and supported by an assistant head with an economics specialism.

In addition, working at Highbury Fields School offers colleagues the following benefits:

·        An exceptional learning environment

·        A highly regarded internal learning and teaching development programme

·        Bespoke middle leadership training

·        Keeping well time every half term

·        A generous pension scheme

·        Reduced London wide gym membership

·        Cycle to work scheme

·        Interest free season ticket loans

·        Employee assistance programme

·        Computer purchase programme

Where should I look for further information?

‘Staff are proud to work at the school. Leaders engage with staff’ (OFSTED, September 2022)

For further information about the school, please refer to the school’s curriculum booklet and latest OFSTED report.

To arrange a conversation about the role, or a tour of the school, please email the Headteacher’s PA, Karen Bolden, HR@highburyfields.islington.sch.uk