Assistant Principal – Culture, Ethos and Inclusion

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and prompting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to Enhanced DBS clearance and satisfactory employment history references.

Sir Harry Smith Community College is an 11 – 18 Academy, proud of its traditional values and innovative approaches to teaching and learning and its culture of kindness and respect.

The school is a calm and safe place, where staff and students work hard, achieve a great deal and enjoy positive working relationships.

The College serves the market Fenland town of Whittlesey, 7 miles outside of Peterborough. The College is part of the Aspire Learning Trust, working together with Park Lane and New Road Primary Schools, also in Whittlesey, to help every child achieve their full potential, to prepare them for their next educational steps, to teach them kindness and respect for all and to equip them to play a full, satisfying role in society.

In October 2018, Ofsted recognised that Sir Harry Smith Community College continues to be a Good school. They also acknowledged that we are “A vibrant, welcoming and caring school, in which pupils enjoy their learning and feel valued.”

This post will play a key role within the Senior Leadership Team, supporting the Deputy Principal to continue to create a culture and ethos that benefits everyone. We believe that this is a unique opportunity to make a significant contribution to the future of Sir Harry Smith Community College.

We want to attract a colleague with appropriate experience, passion and drive. As a result, we expect that the successful candidate will make a real difference to the aspirations and the life chances of the community we serve.

As part of our continuous drive for improvement at the College, we are looking to appoint an ambitious, hardworking and talented Senior Leader with a proven track record of success to the role of Assistant Principal. The successful candidate will have:

·        A passionate and uncompromising commitment to student achievement.

·        A track record of highly effective leadership and very positive outcomes.

·        Excellent leadership and people management skills.

As a key member of the Leadership Team, you will be responsible for the strategic direction for particular areas of work, have significant responsibilities and the opportunity to make a considerable impact on the future lives of our students. The Assistant Principal role is ideally suited to anyone aspiring to a Deputy Principal position.

Specific responsibilities will be tailored to the needs of the College and the skills of the successful candidate, although experience and passion for inclusion, student and staff engagement would be desirable but not essential.

The College has completed a £6 million building programme for expansion and refurbishment to an eight-form entry school in 2024 due to growth within the local community.

Sir Harry Smith Community College supports teachers to access the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) for Senior Leaders (NPQSL and NPQH). We can offer these excellent professional development opportunities for those interested.

What we can offer you:

·        A commitment to extending the boundaries of learning enabling all young people to become well-rounded individuals.

·        A purposeful and caring environment, where every individual is known, valued, and supported.

·        Motivated and engaged students and ambitious, dedicated professional staff.

·        A commitment to leadership, innovation, and staff progression.

We are passionate about retaining good teachers and partnership working. You will be:

·        An outstanding teacher.

·        Able to build effective working relationships with students and staff.

·        Able to provide stimulating and engaging experiences for our students, challenging them to achieve beyond their expectations and supporting them to become lifelong learners.

·        Willing and committed to developing and sharing outstanding teaching practice.

·        Able to work in partnership with children, parents, staff, governors, and the wider community.

Staff benefits include access to an Employee Assistance Programme which includes a 24-hour telephone counselling service, together with information, support and guidance on a variety of issues.

If you would like an information pack, please visit our website www.sirharrysmith.cambs.sch.uk. For more information, an informal discussion or to visit the College, please contact Miss D White, Principal, via her PA, Clair Meadows, on 01733 703991 or cmeadows@sirharrysmith.com.

Application deadline is 10am on Wednesday 8th May 2024 (We reserve the right to bring forwards the closing date if we consider that we have received an appropriate number of suitable candidates for the post). Please send completed application forms, together with a letter of application, no longer than two sides of A4, to applications@sirharrysmith.com. Interviews will take place on 15th and 16th May 2024.

Applicants are thanked for their interest in Sir Harry Smith Community College. Please note that only candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted after the closing date.