Associate Deputy Head, Inclusion

Salary: L18-22

Required for: September 2022, or by negotiation

Closing Date: 9am Monday 31st January

Interviews: Monday 7th  February

For full details please visit our website, or contact Lara Samuels on recruitment@jcoss.barnet.sch.uk

Our Vision: JCoSS is an academic, aspirational learning community, known and respected for our pioneering spirit, our humanity and our excellent outcomes.

Our Ethos: If you think you know what working in a Jewish school might be like, be ready to think again.  Our outward-looking and pluralist Jewish ethos combines an embrace of open-minded values with a deep love of the varied riches of Jewish tradition.  The staff and leadership team includes different faiths and none at all levels, and the school has a culture of purposeful good humour and humanity. We are a school like no other.

Our Results: We have a track record of outstanding academic results and our 2019 outcomes earned us the title of Sunday Times Greater London State Secondary of the Year 2020.  44% of A level grades were at A*or A, a quarter of the cohort scored at least two A grades, while 70% of Level 3 vocational grades were at Distinction or better.  In 2019 and the two years since, half of GCSE grades were at 7 or higher, a third of students achieving at least 8 GCSEs at grade 7 or better.  Our ALPS grade has been consistently 2 at both A level and GCSE, and our 2019 ‘Progress 8’ score was 0.68. Nine students gained places at Oxbridge in 2021, and (as is typical) students secured places for Medicine, Art, Architecture & Media and other competitive courses at prestigious institutions.

Staff Benefits: We appoint on potential as well as experience, and we are committed to supporting staff development.  Several non-teaching colleagues have trained with us as teachers; our rich CPL programme includes full induction for new teaching staff including NQTs, NPQH/SL/ML programmes, and financial support for MA courses, Action Research projects and many other opportunities.  Additional responsibilities are always considered for suitable candidates and we offer NQTs employment for the last few weeks of the summer term.  Our admissions policy includes priority places for the children of all staff*. Our website details a huge number and variety of staff wellbeing initiatives. https://jcoss.org/recruitment/staff-wellbeing-at-jcoss

* (Children, Jewish and non-Jewish, of JCoSS staff who have a permanent contract of employment and have completed two years of service on the last day of the summer term of the academic year prior to application)

Our Location & Community: The school is in beautiful new £50m buildings overlooking the Green Belt.  It is easily accessible from Northern, Piccadilly and Overground rail links, public buses run past the entrance and a school coach service (available to staff) serves our whole catchment area.  We attract students from eloquent and supportive communities across North London and Hertfordshire. We have approval for an additional building, allowing us to expand our intake to 217 per cohort, in response to significant long-term over-subscription. We expect to start building this academic year.

This Role:  JCoSS enjoys a well-earned and outstanding reputation for inclusion in all its forms, and this is a key post in the Senior Leadership of the School.  There are currently 97 students with EHCPs in the school, about half of which are in the autism provision and half in the mainstream; they are supported by dedicated staff teams numbering over 60 in all.  They are headed up by the SENCo and Pears Special Resource Provision (PSRP) Operational Director respectively, with a leadership structure beneath each of them, and significant administrative support.

The postholder will lead and manage the work of these two teams, champion the cause of inclusive practice in relation to learning and disability, advise the Headteacher on statutory matters in relation to SEND and coordinate the workload of consultations, Annual Reviews and (where necessary) Tribunals.  The position also includes a strong platform in the Senior Leadership Team alongside the Headteacher, 3 Deputies, 2 Associate Deputies and 6 Assistant Heads.  The SLT is cohesive, supportive and positive, and fully buys into the school’s inclusive ethos.

Both Learning Support and the Autism Provision are housed in dedicated accommodation in this recently-built school.  Current main school students present with a range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and Learning Support Assistants operate in Year Teams to provide skilled support to individuals and groups.  The PSRP (the largest provision of its kind in the UK) offers seven places per cohort to students with EHCPs on the autistic spectrum, largely high functioning, of whom most are substantially or partly educated in mainstream lessons.

This role is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional with experience of schools and with passion and strategic vision for inclusion in education.  Familiarity with relevant education legislation and guidance is essential, as is a clear understanding of funding and resource issues for SEN students and the levers by which they are managed.  Some knowledge of Special Resource Provisions is desirable but not essential.  Consultancy support is available and a full package of induction to the role will be provided.

If you are an experienced education professional, with commitment to inclusion and significant experience of leadership, and of any faith or none, we are very keen to hear from you.

JCoSS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  All posts are subject to satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) clearance.

For information, including an application pack, please click 'quick apply' or email Lara Samuels on recruitment@jcoss.barnet.sch.uk  or call our 020 8344 2220.

Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email and only shortlisted candidates may receive feedback.