Headteacher

A creative, collaborative and aspirational Headteacher required to lead a vibrant school in Torquay, Devon

Contract: Full time, permanent position within an ambitious and growing Trust

A brief context of the school

Cockington Primary School is a modern 2/3-form entry school currently part of Coast Academies Trust. The school benefits from strong relationships with a private onsite nursery, recent improvements to the Foundation Stage & Year 1 outdoor learning areas and close proximity to the beach. Following an inadequate (serious weaknesses) judgement from Ofsted in October 2021, Connect appointed their School Improvement Lead as the Acting Headteacher from January 2022. The staff team are fully committed to rapid improvement and positive changes are already evident since the inspection. The new headteacher, with the full support of the Trust and the School Improvement Lead, must be committed to improving the longer-term educational provision and culture of the school, so that it is judged at least Good at its next full inspection. Please visit their website for full details.

Key requirements of the post

• To provide high quality strategic leadership in all aspects of leading a school and inspire skilled and committed staff to deliver excellent outcomes for children, through a positive and nurturing ethos built on relationships
• A successful career as a headteacher (or senior leader) with a proven track record of improving outcomes for all children and ideally recent experience of rapidly improving a school from RI or Inadequate Ofsted judgements
• Good knowledge of SEND and a commitment to inclusive education for children of all abilities and backgrounds
• Excellent leadership and teaching skills, using your knowledge of successful evidence-based strategies
• A commitment to learn from, share and develop excellent practice across the Trust, supported by and working closely with the Trust School Improvement Lead, to improve children’s life chances and global awareness.

Why join us?

• The opportunity to work in an improving school with great potential, alongside great children, staff and leaders
• Close support from the Trust Leadership Team and help steer the growth and direction of Connect, to support the Trust’s educational, operational and growth aims
• Be part of a growing Trust which is at a truly exciting juncture. The 3 Coast Academies Trust Schools will be joining Connect in September 2022. Our Ocean Conservation Curriculum is really taking shape and our growing Trust will enable even more children to benefit from this knowledge about climate change and ocean literacy principles. Connect Schools will soon be educating 3300 children, successfully operating 3 specialist SEN support centres as integral parts of our 8 schools and providing effective support and development for over 400 staff.
• The role is based in Torquay, on the beautiful Devon coastline, with easy access to a range of amazing places, including the Southwest peninsula, Dartmoor, Cornwall and the ocean.

If reading this inspires you to find out more about our schools and you would like to be part of an ambitious Trust Leadership Team, please email Hollie Strathearn via admin@connectacademytrust.co.uk for a full application pack.

You can also book an informal discussion with the CEO Stuart Bellworthy if you wish and we are strongly encouraging school visits on Friday 18th February, although other dates may be available. The closing date for applications is midday on Monday 28th February. March interview date(s) tbc. Connect is fully committed to equal opportunities, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS criminal record check.