Assistant Principal (Pastoral Care)

About this Role

We are seeking to appoint an Assistant Principal (Pastoral Care) from September or sooner for our oversubscribed school, Houstone School. This is a rare opportunity to join and be part of the leadership of a great school and make it world-class: for outcomes, as a place to work and as an example to the school system.

Overall Responsibilities:

To provide high quality strategic leadership and management and operational direction, in relation to specific areas of responsibility and line management responsibilities, and in relation to whole school development areas, working in partnership with other member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). 

Promote the ethos, mission, vision and values of the school, and becoming a valued member of, and contributor to, the whole school community.

To lead and support cultural and organisational change in order to promote co-operation with partner agencies and organisations and further improve the educational opportunities and pastoral support available to pupils.

Create a culture where pupils experience a positive and enriching school life.

Uphold educational standards in order to prepare pupils from all backgrounds for their next phase of education and life.

Joining Houstone School as an Assistant Principal (Pastoral Care) is a fantastic opportunity to be part of our story - providing transformational experiences for thousands of pupils, developing our staff to be the very best they can be, and influencing the wider system by demonstrating first-hand what is achievable. 

WHY HOUSTONE SCHOOL?

Houstone School is a brand new secondary school, which opened in September 2022, we opened with pupils in Year 7-10, and from September 2023 we have pupils in all year groups. 

At Houstone, our values of aspiration, endeavour, and respect, underpinned by very high expectations and drive in everything that we do. We have a powerful culture which is warm but strict, based on clear routines, systems, and structures. As a result, our teachers enjoy their teaching with impeccable behaviour in lessons and hardworking, highly motivated pupils.

The successful candidate will be intrinsic in further developing a school that will offer families a genuine choice of an excellent education for their child, including:

• An academic, knowledge-rich curriculum that values the distinctiveness of subject disciplines
• Excellent quality, evidence-based classroom practice
• High quality personal development
• Plentiful, high quality enrichment opportunities, including trips, visits, after-school clubs and sporting fixtures

ABOUT ADVANTAGE SCHOOLS

Our values are aspiration, honesty and respect and our vision is to create a family of exceptional schools, within which students are empowered and supported to achieve extraordinary outcomes. We currently run five schools in Bedfordshire – Bedford Free School (secondary, Ofsted outstanding), Houstone School (secondary, not yet inspected), Elstow School (primary, Ofsted good), Queen’s Park Academy (primary, Ofsted good) and Laburnum Primary School. Our pupils will leave our schools prepared for a fulfilling life, including the opportunity to go to a great university and pursue the career of their choice. To achieve this, our network of schools teach an academic, knowledge-rich curriculum enhanced by an entitlement to enrichment for all.

We achieve our goals through the recruitment and retention of the best colleagues and school leaders, developing talent through sector-leading professional learning. We foster collaborative work, both across our trust and our extensive network of professional contacts, to ensure our staff can learn from and contribute significantly to the wider educational system.

We believe great staff make a great school, so we look after our colleagues well. We value hard work, but we do all we can to identify and eliminate unnecessary workload that could result in burnout.

SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT

We invest heavily in professional learning, which alongside support and coaching from our senior leadership team, a brand new, fully equipped purpose-built school, and access to expertise across Advantage Schools, means you can develop to be your very best. There is a programme of training available to all staff at different stages of their career.

We have no unwieldly marking policies; our pupils behaviour is impeccable, supported by the same day whole school sanctions where necessary and Senior Leaders have a very high profile that you are supported to develop.

HOW TO APPLY

We welcome applications from ambitious and inspirational teachers who share our traditional approach and values of Respect, Honesty and High Expectations. To apply please fill in the application form and supporting statement illustrating how you meet the person specification for this role. 

We welcome visits to the school at any time and would encourage you to apply. For a confidential discussion about the position please contact Nafisa Khan, Business Support Officer on 01582 377771 or email nkhan@houstoneschool.co.uk to arrange an appointment.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we interview and make an offer to the right candidate prior to the closing date.

Safeguarding children enrolled at the school is of paramount importance, and we are fully committed to the protection and safe care of our pupils. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate checks as well as providing proof of your right to work in the UK.