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Assistant Headteacher for Standards (Learning)

Assistant Headteacher for Standards (Learning)

St Mary's Church of England High School

Hertfordshire

  • Quick apply
  • Expired
Salary:
L14 - L18
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
Spring Term 2021
Apply by:
8 October 2020

Job overview

We believe everyone is equal, everyone deserves the best.

Are you seeking an opportunity to play a major role in seeing all learners achieve their highest potential? If so, St Mary’s CE High School is looking for an inspiring new Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for learning focusing on high prior attainers and pupil premium learners to join us from the start of the Spring Term 2021. 

St Mary’s CE High School is committed to providing a safe and caring learning environment, founded on our Christian principles. We continue to develop an excellent standard of education for all students, allowing everyone to achieve their full potential regardless of ability or background in a safe and inspiring community.

‘Pupils told us they like to learn. Sixth-form students are confident and mature young adults. Pupils are confident in their future plans. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.’ 

Ofsted September 2019

St Mary’s CE High School is one of three church secondary schools in Hertfordshire, all of which are within the Diocese of St Albans. The school is well recognised in the local community for its high-quality provision and outstanding inclusion agenda.

‘St Mary’s is an outstanding Church School’ 

SIAMS May 2015

This role will focus on the good foundations that are in place to take the school to the next level. There are challenges faced by all schools in maintaining high standards in culture, climate and outcomes to ensure the highest possible standards in learning, and this role is key to that journey at St Mary’s CE High school.

We are looking for the inspirational candidate who will lead the experienced team of staff who focus in this dimension of the school – applicants do not need to be practicing Christians, but would be expected to uphold our Christian principles of trust, forgiveness, compassion, thankfulness, friendship and love.

Your key responsibilities will be to provide strategic leadership of: 

o Innovation in learning for all pupil premium learners across the curriculum to ensure they achieve at or above the level of any other learner.

o Innovation in monitoring progress and introducing recovery strategies to raise engagement and progress across the curriculum.

o Innovation in learning for all high prior attaining learners across the curriculum to ensure they achieve at levels appropriate to their identified potential.

o Innovation in monitoring and extension strategies to raise engagement and outcomes, reaching and exceeding their potential.

o Working with the Sixth Form pastoral team innovation in increasing motivation of highly able learners to continue learning with SMHS into post-16 provision

o Working with the Sixth Form pastoral team to increase opportunities to access Higher Education with high aspirations and outcomes to access prestigious learning institutions.

Please submit a letter of application focussing on your professional and strategic experience in all of the above elements and a completed application form.

St Mary’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to undertake online safeguarding training and all positions are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Two references will be sought for every candidate that is called for interview. St Mary’s is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Contact Judith Bundock (PA to Headteacher, Mr Nicholas Simms) on head@st-maryshigh.herts.sch.uk or 01992 629124, to arrange a school visit during the weeks commencing 28th September 2020 to experience the school in action and meet the students and staff.

Application Deadline: 9th October 2020

Interview Day 1: w/c 12th October 2020


Attached documents

About St Mary's Church of England High School

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+44 1992 629124

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At St Mary’s, Cheshunt, the Governors believe that staff are the most important resource in the delivery of a high quality education provision for children and young people. The recruitment of high quality staff is critical to the success of a high performing school.

Our School is in a very strong position having been judged to be GOOD by Ofsted in October 2023. The report says

  • Pupils live up to leaders’ expectations of their behaviour. Pupils follow the      well-established routines in lessons and usually focus on learning.
  • Pupils behave well and treat each other with kindness.
  • The school  has a well-designed, ambitious curriculum. This is evident in the good      quality of pupils’ learning demonstrated in lessons and in their books.
  • Pupils speak enthusiastically about their learning from the educational visits to      local, national, and international sites of interest.
  • Pupils are proud of their school.


All members of staff – whether working in the classroom or in the non-classroom based support teams – are valued equally and each has a part to play in working together to achieve success . Our recent successes and continued improvement profile can be attributed to our work as a team and recognition that we all contribute to support of all students and their families. This makes for an effective and efficient school, where students from all backgrounds are supported to make good progress.

Staff wellbeing is valued and an important aspect of work at St Mary’s and this is recognised in our recent inspection reports. The wellbeing of staff is important because staff are expected to work very hard and to maintain very high standards at all times. In return staff are well supported, provided with effective and regular training and high quality performance appraisal. In addition, the governors are committed to providing teaching staff with increased non contact time to support high quality planning and assessment for learning. Staff feedback tells us that staff are made to feel very welcome at St Mary’s and that there is an excellent culture of peer and collaborative support.

The staffing structures of the School provide clear opportunities to support progression and professional development. A member of the senior leadership team is responsible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and programmes to support staff at all stages of their career and aspiration.

New staff are entitled to an induction programme and network of personal support appropriate to experience and level of confidence. CPD is tailored to meet the needs of staff and staff are given opportunities to contribute to whole school improvement. The Headteacher takes induction of staff seriously (see here https://st-maryshigh.herts.sch.uk/staff-induction/) and all new staff receive an induction programme that links to their role (whether that be teacher or leader, or a combination of these). There is also a robust performance management appraisal system reflecting a commitment to individual career development as well as underlining the expectation of high levels of performance to secure the continued success of our community.

Our multi-cultural student population is lively and engaging. The students have a wide range of needs including those who demand high levels of intellectual challenge and those who require carefully planned support. The future for St Mary’s CE High School is exciting and we welcome all potential or new colleagues to visit our learning community. If you are interested in hearing about opportunities at St Mary’s, visiting our School or applying for a post, please contact Pauline Llewellyn, HR Officer on recruit@st-maryshigh.herts.sch.uk

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Applications closed