Deputy Head

Founded in 2004, Inspire! is an Education Business Partnership that supports and opens doors for young people aged 3-24 from Hackney and beyond. We support and inform their aspirations, raise achievement levels and enhance social mobility, giving young people access to a world of choices that may otherwise have remained out of reach. Since its establishment, Inspire! has grown rapidly and now employs 30 staff, with a turnover of £1.2m per annum. Currently working with 42 schools, more than 12,000 young people take part in our programmes every academic year, involving over 750 volunteers from our network of employers. In 2014 we established our independent school, The Inspired Directions School, offering alternative provision for a growing number of learners whose needs cannot be met within mainstream education.

The Inspired Directions School:

Our independent school, The Inspired Directions School (IDS), offering alternative provision for learners whose needs cannot be met within mainstream education achieved independent school status in June 2014 and was graded as “good” in all areas in its first Ofsted inspection in June 2015. Fundamental to its ethos are the values of Individuality, Collectivism and Progression. The personality, interests and needs of each young person are at the core of our approach. We are committed to the on-going and future progress of all our learners and have developed a broad and flexible curriculum which enables us to meet a great range of learning needs in developing a personalised timetable for each of our learners.

Inspire! is seeking to appoint a dynamic, motivated and enthusiastic Deputy Head for the Inspired Directions School. Working with the Head of School and School Governing Board, this key leadership role will support the strategic development of the School, managing day-to-day operations, leading a small team of teachers and tutors and providing support for the delivery of curriculum and programmes. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a vibrant and caring environment, supporting vulnerable young people to reach their full potential and build flourishing lives, whilst contributing to the development of the School at a pivotal time.

Successful candidates will need to hold QTS and at least two years’ experience of working with young people with SEN, including those with behavioural issues at KS3/KS4. Bringing strong leadership and management skills and the ability to build successful positive and professional relationships with students, staff and stakeholders you will play a key role in helping to ensure firm foundations are in place as we move into the next phase of the School’s development.

Responsibilities will include:

• Working with the Head of School, setting and reviewing priorities and objectives, monitoring progress towards their achievement

• Managing a small team of teachers and support staff providing a high quality, full time curriculum of learning and pastoral support as part of the Inspired Directions School

• Leading and planning operational meetings to aid the development and day-to-day running of the School

• Working closely with the Head of School, taking a lead on all aspects of student behaviour management and restorative practices

• Contributing to the delivery of the IDS curriculum, providing support to students attending the school, leading lessons and sessions

• As part of the School Leadership Team, overseeing the quality of teaching and learning in line with OFSTED requirements and those of our commissioners including schools, Local Authorities and external funders

• Representing the School at key meetings including with commissioners, external agencies supporting our learners, including Young Hackney and CAMHS and local authority strategic groups

• Attending and presenting at School Governing Board meetings when required and planning and leading school team and school leadership meetings with the Head of School

• Deputising for the Head of School when required

The salary for this post will be £34,000 per annum. Further details of the post are contained in the Job Description.

Those interested in applying should complete the Application Form and submit via email to recruitment@inspire-ebp.org.uk with the job title in the subject heading.

Alternatively you can post all documents to: Recruitment, Inspire!, 34-38 Dalston Lane, Hackney, London E8 3AZ

The closing date for applications is Friday 12th January 2018 with interviews expected to take place week beginning 15th January 2018.

Please see the right-hand column to download the relevant documents.

Inspire! is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Our recruitment and selection processes are in accordance with best practice in safeguarding children and young people.

Should you have any queries about the application process, please contact Joel McIlven (Head of School) in the first instance: joel.mcilven@inspire-ebp.org.uk or 020 7275 6060