Assistant Principal - Head of House

Assistant Principal – Head of House
Excelsior Academy
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 6AF

Leadership 11-15
Permanent
Full Time
Closing Date: 12 noon Monday 8th February 2021.

The Trustees are seeking to appoint an inspirational Assistant Principal for Excelsior Academy who will share Excelsior’s ambition to become an outstanding school. The successful candidate will possess the vision, experience and commitment to enable the entire community to achieve this goal together. This post has arisen as one of the current Heads of House takes up a Deputy Headship in another school in the region.

Excelsior Academy was opened in 2008 and became the first All Through school in Newcastle, offering education to pupils from 3 to 19 years of age. Excelsior serves one of the most challenging communities both in the region and nationally. All pupils in our primary, secondary and sixth form provision have access to the same high-quality teaching, exceptional facilities and fabulous resources. Our purpose-built building provides excellent facilities for the 1500 pupils who study here. Approximately 200 pupils attend our primary school (Rainbird), 1150 in the secondary phase and 200 in the sixth form. A new Principal, James Andriot was appointed and took up post in June 2020 and his vision for Excelsior is to provide the highest standard of education and care for all children in the community and to ensure that Excelsior is a warm and dynamic place to work.

Excelsior is part of the Laidlaw Schools Trust (LST) established by our patron, Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay, in 2008. The Trust supports seven schools in the North East of England, two All Through academies, one secondary and four primary schools. LST prides itself on being a progressive, inclusive trust that supports every child to develop their talents whatever they may be. LST academies enjoy strong support from an experienced central team based in Newcastle.

This post has been recently created as part of a realignment of responsibilities across the Senior Leadership Team. In September 2020, Excelsior planned to move from the previous ‘school within a school’ model to a House based system. Three Assistant Principal Heads of House were appointed. The pandemic has temporarily halted this re-development of the pastoral system as, like many schools, the secondary moved into year bubbles. From September 2021, however, it is planned that Excelsior will move back to the creation of three secondary Houses and the successful applicant will have an excellent opportunity to be part of the team instrumental in forging this new system going forward. Each House will comprise approximately 400 pupils from Years 7-11.

Governors wish to appoint an Assistant Principal with a proven track record of successful middle or senior leadership. They must possess a strong inclusive ethos and a passion for providing outstanding pastoral care and for championing the personal development of all pupils. The successful candidate will take on the core duties of leading a House (please see job description) but will also be responsible for leading CEIAG across the academy. Excelsior was a Gatsby pilot school and is recognised regionally and nationally for its strong CEIAG provision and commitment to wider vocational opportunities for young people. Excelsior has an excellent reputation in this regard and has been recognised by Ofsted and others for the high quality of pastoral care provided for pupils and the wider community.

Further details and an application pack can be downloaded from the Careers section on the Laidlaw Schools Trust website http://laidlawschoolstrust.com/careers/ or on the Excelsior Academy website https://excelsior.laidlawschoolstrust.co.uk/

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to ‘video meet’ the Principal when making their application. Please contact Julia Mardling, PA to the Principal on 0191 2288 400 to arrange opportunity.

Closing Date: 12 noon Monday 8th February 2021.
Candidates who have not been contacted by 10th February 2021 may assume they have been unsuccessful.
Interviews will take place: Thursday 11th February 2021
Applications should be returned to: vicky.kirtley@excelsiornewcastle.org.uk
Start Date: September 2021 (or earlier by negotiation)

We are an equal opportunities employer strongly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to obtain an Enhanced Certificate of Disclosure from the DBS and a range of other recruitment checks. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate their commitment to children’s safeguarding.

Please note that we do not accept CV’s.