Deputy Headteacher

We are seeking to appoint a Deputy Headteacher for September 2023 (or earlier if possible). This post has arisen due to the current postholder being promoted to Headship. We are looking for an exceptional leader who will be integral in driving academy improvement to enable us to achieve our vision of Transformation to Excellence for our academy community.

Candidates will need to demonstrate:

·         excellent interpersonal skills to lead, motivate and inspire both staff and students to reach the highest levels of achievement

·         set of personal characteristics and ambitions which align with that of the Executive Headteacher, Head of School and Senior Leadership Team

·         evidence of impact towards academy improvement through sustained work at senior leadership level

·         evidence of planning for and involvement in whole academy quality assurance processes and inspection; including the effective use of data and self-evaluation

·         the ability to operate at a strategic level with clear ideas for how our academy can continue to grow, thrive, and excel in the years ahead.

·         the ability to work at phenomenal pace, managing strategic thinking in a fast-moving operational environment.

The successful candidate will demonstrate clear leadership, vision and the ability to develop strong and positive relationships with all colleagues across the academy and the wider Trust. You will have proven leadership experience in a school setting including quality assurance and will write the school’s SEF to monitor our work against our plans. You will be an excellent teacher. You will require passion, determination, resilience, humour, emotional intelligence and will demonstrate an ability for agile and strategic thinking. Importantly, it is a key expectation that you engage in wider research and reading, demonstrating a willingness and ability to reflect and continue to learn and of course to complete the work you set out to do to a high standard.

The successful candidate will match the pace, passion and drive of the Executive Headteacher, Head of School and the Trust in relentlessly driving academy improvement. You will demonstrate the ability to think deeply, to plan strategically and to act decisively. You will be an inspirational leader and role model who actively lives and breathes the values and expectations of the academy and Trust.

In our most recent Ofsted report, Ofsted noted “Cockburn John Charles Academy is a ‘good’ secondary school.

“The school has improved hugely since the leaders took over. Leaders and staff ensure all pupils are valued. Leaders have raised standards. Staff have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour. Pupils behave well in lessons (Ofsted, April 2022)”

Over the past 4 years, we have developed a fantastic culture amongst the students which is rooted in strong discipline and has culminated in a student body full of aspiration, commitment, and success. “Leaders’ approach to developing pupils’ character is excellent. Leaders take every opportunity to reinforce their values and high expectations. Social, moral, spiritual, and cultural understanding is carefully embedded within subjects. Leaders create further opportunities for pupils to develop responsibility. The staff buy into Transformation to Excellence, and this makes it a unique working environment at Cockburn John Charles Academy so enjoyable and fulfilling”. (Ofsted, April 2022)

Through the teaching of our Values and Expectations, all our students will achieve their very best educational outcomes. These Values and Expectations are at the heart of everything we do. We want our students to believe that they can achieve whatever they want to with pride, resilience, and aspiration.  We promote respect and good manners; these are fundamental to our academy. We recognise the importance of each individual and the academy’s place in the local community. We aim to promote lifelong learning by developing creative, independent, and reflective learners. We believe in the equality of opportunity and in celebrating success for all.

We deliver a challenging yet inspiring curriculum and an unrivalled level of academic and pastoral support. We have demonstrated that what we offer students does support them to achieve success in the classroom and beyond; academically, personally, and socially. We aim to instill students with a love of learning as well as helping them to become responsible, independent members of the community.

We believe that all staff are role models to our students and as such should continue to grow professionally. As such, our bespoke and strategic CPD model is extensive.

We are part of a high performing Multi-academy Trust with a reputation for excellence, Cockburn Multi-academy Trust includes primary and secondary academies. Our academies work across highly diverse city communities. Standards and expectations in our academies are high – and the trust focus on rapid improvement on the journey to delivery “Transformation to Excellence.”

We currently have 2 primary academies and 3 secondary academies situated within 2 miles of each other. All our academies benefit from the collaboration and added value that being a member of our Trust offers and share our Values and Expectations. Cockburn Multi-academy Trust academies share an ambition to deliver results that compete with the very highest performing academies in the country and deliver a curriculum for students that is underpinned by breadth, opportunity and quality: one that seeks to give young people the opportunity to develop into well rounded global citizens that believe they can influence positive change in the world.

Our vision is to create opportunities within and beyond the curriculum to enable each student to become confident, independent, and successful citizens in modern Britain. Through dedication and hard work our students will have a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. We widen the aspirations of all students, to help them to reach destinations that are ambitious and fulfilling. We value the arts, both as part of the curriculum and as part of the academy’s extensive enrichment and extra-curricular programme.

 We Believe:

·         all children have a right to a quality education regardless of background or ability and have an entitlement to the opportunity of a secure progression route in their learning and development.

·         academies are stronger when they work in collaboration with each other, operate within a ‘family’ and are open to a true sense of partnership.

·         we grow the effectiveness and sustainability of our academies by developing the people within them, and that through shared and equitable responsibility for quality and outcomes; we achieve more.

Applicants would be expected to share the Trust’s high aspirations and expectations for students and staff.

This is an opportunity to make a real impact in our academy on its journey of Transformation to Excellence. If this sounds like the role for you and you are ready to take advantage of a new challenge, then we would be delighted to hear from you. We offer a secure, supportive environment, a full induction programme for all new staff and continuous professional development.