Deputy Principal

If you yearn to be part of an ambitious, talented team of dedicated, remarkable people working together, and you are passionate about inclusion for an outstanding provision serving our amazing neurodiverse pupils and their families, then we are waiting to hear from you.

As a thriving all through special school for pupils aged 4-16 with autism, we have a unique opportunity within our dynamic Senior Leadership Team for a motivated, inspirational and energetic Deputy Principal.

Your role will be to drive outstanding autism practice, leading teaching, learning and assessment across a broad, holistic and relevant curriculum to meet the needs of all pupils.

We are looking for a leader who:

• Will lead staff to deliver high quality learning experiences for all pupils, particularly those with high levels of educational need, including complex SEMH needs
• Has a thorough understanding of the learning characteristics associated with autism and how to overcome barriers to learning within a person-centred approach
• Has significant experience of SEND through leading a holistic, quality first curriculum and pedagogy that enables communication and interaction, social thinking, emotional and sensory regulation
• Has in-depth knowledge of assessment for SEND to drive pupil achievement, including EHCP outcomes
• Has strong organisational skills and is relentlessness in driving educational improvement and raised standards for all pupils
• Has significant experience of leading and developing others, in particular middle leaders
• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Has previously led a team of people through change and improvement
• Can adapt their leadership style to a range of scenarios, role modelling behaviours and ethics
• Lives real values of kindness, respect, resilience, empathy, understanding, inclusivity and openness
• Can effectively promote inclusion, pupil welfare and safeguarding.

About us

We opened in 2012 as a new, purpose-built provision within Greenwood Academies Trust.  All our 127 pupils aged between 4 and 11 have an Education, Health and Care plan with autism as their main presenting need.

Class sizes are small ranging from 6 -12 pupils and are well supported.   Our curriculum is broad and relevant; delivered through termly themed imaginative learning projects which support appropriate pre-formal, semi-formal and formal learning pathways towards independent learning.  At Key Stage 4, a range of accreditation is offered from entry level to GCSE to prepare pupils for their next stage of education.

We are committed to making a difference to the lives of children and young people with autism.  As part of our commitment to establishing Good Autism Practice, we partnered with the Autism Education Trust (AET) in April 2020.  We deliver training to other professionals and organisations for early years through to post-16 across our region. By adopting the AET frameworks and standards alongside training programmes, we aim to add real value to our work. We are also part of the Skills Builder Universal Partnership, preparing pupils well for their next steps in education, adulthood and employment.

Medeshamstede Academy provides:

• A staff body who are dedicated and committed to achieving excellence within a culture of learning; we understand autism as a difference rather than a deficit
• Amazing pupils who are a joy to teach: every day is different!
• The opportunity to play a full part in a dynamic, thriving and diverse school community, contributing to the development of innovative and creative Academy improvement
• The opportunity to work in collaboration with our partner organisations including Autism Education Trust and Skills Builder Partnership towards a common mission, joined by shared values, strategy and outcomes
• A shared purpose: working in partnership with staff teams, therapists, families and stakeholders to continue raising standards and achieve our vision.

Being part of the Greenwood Academies Trust, you will:

• Receive access to our Employee Assistance Programme to support staff wellbeing including free counselling sessions.
• Be supported and challenged by an expert and experienced team
• Be able to share specialist best practice and work collaboratively with colleagues in other academies
• Be eligible to access bespoke development opportunities that will include first class training and CPD opportunities through the Greenwood Learning Alliance.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Laura Ives (SENCO & Principal) on 01733 821403.

For further information, please visit https://app.kallidusrecruit.com/GreenwoodAcademiesTrust/VacancyInformation.aspx?VId=97842

Closing date: 16 May 2021.

If this post attracts sufficient interest before the closing date, we may decide to close this vacancy at an earlier date, so an early application is advised.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment and undergo appropriate checks, therefore, all posts within the Trust are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

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