Assistant Principal

Oxted School is a large, vibrant, and successful Ofsted rated ‘Good’ school in Oxted, Surrey, with over 1700 students aged 11-18 on roll. Founded in 1929, Oxted School is strongly rooted in the local community that we are so proud to serve. The school is part of The Howard Partnership Trust (THPT), comprising of four secondary, six primary and three special schools. THPT commits to providing the best possible education for young people of all abilities and backgrounds, enabling them to flourish and thereby increase their life chances.

At Oxted School we have high expectations and aspirations for every member of our school community, with a broad, challenging, and inspiring curriculum, a robust and caring pastoral system, and a commitment to inspiring a love of learning. All members of the Oxted School community are valued and supported, ensuring that they can achieve their very best. We certainly have much to be proud of, but we are ambitious and not complacent. This is where you come in.

Working closely with the Principal and the senior leadership team to support leading Oxted School into the future will be a exciting career move. We are looking for an inspirational, dynamic Assistant Principal who has the skill and drive to help the school achieve its vision of becoming one of the very best schools in the country. It’s crucial that our new Assistant Principal can empower staff to give their absolute best, where all pupils are supported and challenged to thrive and succeed.

We are open-minded about where you might currently be working, although you are likely to already be an experienced and successful middle or senior leader who feels ready for your next challenge. You will need to bring with you a proven track record of excellence, an unwavering belief that extraordinary academic success is possible, and a demonstrable ability to inspire staff. The size and scale of the school and site means that this is undoubtably a demanding role, but a hugely rewarding one too. You will be fully supported on your journey by the Principal, senior leadership team and THPT and have regular opportunities to collaborate across the wider trust.

If this exciting opportunity sounds like a good fit for your skills, experience, and aspirations, please get in touch to discuss the role in more detail. For an informal and confidential conversation, please contact Helen.Sullivan@thpt.org.uk or

Alexander.Thompson@thpt.org.uk to arrange or for more information on how to apply.

Closing date: 13 May 2024

Day 1 Selection Process:  21 May 2024

Day 2 Selection Process: 24 May 2024

THPT value their staff highly, as reflected in the excellent retention rates across the Trust. THPT also operate an extensive Rewards and Benefits Scheme that includes Loyalty & Service Awards, access to discount schemes, membership of the Teacher Pension Scheme, and access to the Employee Assistance Programme through Health Assured.

All adults employed by the Trust have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations. 

The Howard Partnership Trust welcomes applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, age or sexual orientation. 

We really want you to shine as part of our application and selection process, so that you can truly perform at your best and feel comfortable. Our processes are extremely flexible, so please let us know what we can do so that you can be at your best throughout the application and selection stages. Please contact Helen Sullivan or Alex Thompson by email, so that we can help create the perfect environment for you for the assessment/selection process.

All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview.

Benefits

Within The Howard Partnership Trust (THPT) there are career development opportunities available across a large number of partnership schools. In addition, THPT is also able to offer:

• An opportunity to be part of a dynamic and developing organisation.
• Electronic Vehicle salary benefit.
• An excellent benefit package including Cycle to Work, Sainsbury’s Loyalty Discount and access to discount Schemes.
• A fantastic teachers pension scheme, including generous employer contributions.
• Rewards and benefits scheme that includes Loyalty and Service Awards.
• Full access to the Employee Assistance Programme.

Essential Criteria

Values and Behaviours

The Howard Partnership Trust is a values-based organization which seeks to recruit individuals who can demonstrate our values.

Our values will be assessed through the selection process. We therefore ask all applicants when providing their supporting statement to incorporate not only how they meet the essential criteria for the role but to also how they demonstrate our values.

Our THPT values are:

• Integrity - displaying honesty and having strong moral principles.
• Partnership - working together and taking collective ownership to achieve the same goals.
• Advocacy - working hard on behalf of others to maximise their success.
• Resilience - finding success again after something difficult or negative has happened.
• Compassion - displaying empathy towards and a desire to help others.
• Aspiration - aiming high to achieve success.

Safeguarding and Further Information

The successful candidate will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The Howard Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Due to the nature of this role, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure  to be undertaken. In making your application, it is essential you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind-overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up; any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.