Assistant Head - Learning and Teaching

Core Purpose of Post

• To promote and safeguard the welfare of all children and young persons for whom the post holder has responsibility and with whom the post holder comes into contact.
• To maintain a high profile throughout the Blue Coat community, fostering key strategies to promote excellence in the quality of the education provided, ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the school, and working with the Headmaster and staff to sustain and enhance the standing of the school.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Leading and managing staff

• Mentor ECTs across the school following the current IStip requirements to enable them to complete their induction process and achieve excellent practice.
• Support members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in the induction process for new staff and appraisal process for allocated members of staff.
• Support the Head of Pre-Prep and Academic Lead in ensuring that all Department Improvement Plan targets are completed each year.

Academic Coaching

• Modelling excellent teaching practice in the classroom, maintaining a clear focus on outstanding learning outcomes for all children.
• Actively participating in lesson observations to identify staff strengths and areas for development.
• Supporting colleagues in developing high quality teaching materials and schemes of work.
• Keeping abreast of current pedagogies and develop and implement learning and teaching initiatives and strategies to raise standards, ensuring that colleagues embed these into their practice and that their impact on the outcomes for the children is evaluated and reported to senior colleagues.
• Leading INSET and training to develop the performance and practice of all teaching staff as required.

Strategic Direction and Development

• Deputise for the Head of Pre-Prep and Academic Lead in their absence, and provide support to them as required.
• Take an active part as a member of SMT by attending meetings, leading agenda items, devising and implementing Learning and Teaching Action Plans and agreed tasks according to agreed time scales.
• Liaise with and other colleagues to review whole school policies, the School Improvement Plan and the Academic Development Improvement Plan.

Learning and teaching

• Develop best practice models for learning and teaching and disseminate this to colleagues through training, modelling and coaching to ensure that the learning and teaching at the School is at the forefront of best practice and to ensure that improvements are implemented to agreed time frames.
• Take an active part in developing the curriculum across the School together with other colleagues.
• Support the Head of Pre-Prep and Academic Lead with the continued development of the BCS Blue.
• Ratify BCS assessment papers in conjunction with the Head of Pre-Prep and Academic Lead.
• Support the Head of Pre-Prep and Academic Lead with devising and overseeing intervention programmes and with any resource requirements.
• Monitor the effectiveness of pupil interventions, ensuring clear entry and exit points.

Curriculum Champion Programme Leader

• Liaise with the Prep Curriculum Champions to ensure that ideas for creating a progressive, challenging and creative curriculum are implemented and the impact is evaluated.

Applications must be made on The Blue Coat School Application Form and must include details of two referees, one of which should be a current or most recent employer. Application Forms, together with a supporting letter should be returned to Ms Corinna Gregory, HR Assistant at The Blue Coat School, by noon on Wednesday 12th October. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 1st November.

At interview applicants must provide original documents to confirm their identity and right to work in the UK. They must also bring proof of qualifications where relevant for the post. The documentation required by applicants is listed in the Recruitment Policy which is available on the school website and from the School.

The post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check (including a Barred List check), a satisfactory online check, a satisfactory medical fitness declaration and satisfactory references. References will be sought prior to interview.

The Blue Coat School is an equal opportunity employer.

Please note, we reserve the right to close posts and commence interviews at any time, once we have received sufficient applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.