Associate Assistant Headteacher - Partnership Post

St. Mary’s Partnership is a collective of schools growing to redefine what strong collaboration looks and feels like. Our aim is to ensure that children attend the very best school in their neighbourhood, that school budgets are spent on innovating an extraordinary curriculum and that our people (our staff teams) grow and develop to support continual improvement.

What makes our schools unique?

Our people. Whilst some schools fixate on finding and appointing candidates with impressive qualifications, we choose new entrants based on their attitude and disposition. It is this, derived from their background and personal grit and determination, that enables children under them to truly thrive.

Our investment in the future - EDTech. We spend every penny possible on improving the Quality of Education for our young people. In the last year, all schools in the Partnership have bought and use VR headsets. Virtual reality helps us to level the playing field. It enables children to experience trips that aren't otherwise possible: a walk around Machu Picchu or to travel to 1835 and understand what living conditions were like during the Industrial Revolution. Recently, we have begun to embrace and grapple with AI - teachers utilise it when creating models for learning and reports for children.

Our commitment to continued professional development. Leaders at our school do not sit around in offices distant from the children we serve. Every minute counts and to that end, you will notice coaching and development alive and a core tenet of what we do. If teachers are to thrive - they need a champion too!

Curriculum Delivery

We utilise a curriculum called 'Lion Pathways'. A sequenced learning pathway created and curated for teachers from some of the most talented and excellent subject teaching experts in their field. Over 800 lessons across all of the non-core are planned and ready for delivery. Teachers are asked to innovate and amend for classes to suit individual needs. The pathways curriculum began with our Executive Headteacher when he worked for a Trust in London. This is not an off the shelf model.

Investing in PEOPLE

Whilst you've scrolled down, and hopefully liked what you have read, we are by no means perfect. We continue to evolve, develop and curate what we do to support every single person within our team.

Since February 2024, we've developed the use of the CALM app. We are the first school in the UK using this across a group of schools. Every staff member employed has the opportunity to download the full-subscription for free (and to share this with up to 5 people in their household). We recognise that there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to mental health and, since the pandemic, we all need to look after ourselves in different ways. The app isn't a golden bullet, but it does offer a mix of things to support staff in their home lives - sleeping, meditation, daily affirmations, music and more.

We encourage you to be the teacher you want to be. Whether that's through NPQ courses, development programmes you find and are interested in, Masters study or more! We can only be as successful as the people we have in our team.

Associate Assistant Headteacher

This is a new role. One we are prioritising as a new pipeline to invest in the sustainability of our future leadership. As an Associate Assistant Head, you will be afforded release and time to support developing an area of expertise across our group of schools. The role will require you to be a keen collaborator, excited by school improvement.

In 2024-25 we have three areas of interest that our newly appointed Associate Assistant Head’s will be supporting:

·     Mathematics

·     Whole-school oracy

·     Mental Health and wellbeing in Pupils

Successful candidates will be placed at a host school, within the partnership, by the Executive Headteacher. Day-to-day you will work under the direction of the Head of School with a remit for improvement. Release will operate at 50% of your timetable, with class commitment linked to just the mornings.

This is a role to elevate you, your experience and pathway towards Headship. The role affords you the opportunity to work between schools at different stages of their journey – with our hub school (St. Mary’s) recently judged Outstanding in all areas (November 2023). Schools evolve though, and your expertise will help us on that journey. If you have a strong desire to move forward in your career, in an environment where EdTech, workload and wellbeing are helping to improve outcomes for pupils – please apply!

Information about your application:

1.     We encourage tours and for you to come and see the school and how we do things. Call Lindsey (School Business Manager) or email on: info@masonmoorprimary.co.uk – re: Tour of the School.

2.     Your interview shouldn't be a stressful experience. All shortlisted candidates receive our questions, ahead of interview, so that you can bring with you the notes and information you wish to share.

3.     Applications can only be received from those living in UK or with a right to work in the UK. We are a local authority maintained school and cannot support those with visa applications.

4.     We follow Safer Recruitment Guidance as well as Keeping Children Safe in Education updates