Director of Teach (West London Teaching School Hub)

Teach West London is the Teaching School Hub serving Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow. Its vision is to empower schools to achieve the highest standards for students through effective classroom practice and school leadership. It has consciously developed a model of local partnership working and aimed to build capacity within partner schools. In the 18 months that it has been in operation it has been highly successful in engaging with schools across the four boroughs (as well extending its reach nationally in some areas). 331 schools currently make use of its networks overall either as part of the Early Careers Teacher programme and/or the National Professional Qualifications both of which it delivers in partnership with UCL. It also delivers some stand-alone CPD training in core curriculum areas and SEN.

In September 2022 Teach West London, working closely with Hillingdon and London West Alliance SCITTs, was successful in achieving accreditation as an ITT provider under the new guidelines. We will therefore start recruiting trainees in the summer of 2023 in readiness for the September 2024 launch. The Hub is also preparing to take over the Appropriate Body role from September 2023.

The successful growth of Teach West London gives opportunity for an extension of the Leadership Team to form a Senior Leadership Group for the Hub. The group will also include the Trust Executive Head/CEO and the Trust Director of Finance & Operations. Two new roles are therefore being advertised: Head of Teach West London Teaching School Hub and Director of ITT. In both cases the roles demand a strong vision, an entrepreneurial drive and an infectious energy for the significant challenge of reshaping Teacher Training in West London.

The role of Head of Teach West London has been created to lead the overall development of the Teaching School Hub, building on the success of its set-up phase. Teach West London is in the exciting position of projecting further growth and seeks to appoint an ambitious Head of Teach West London who can oversee the short-, medium- and long-term planning in order to fulfil the Hub’s potential. S/He will work alongside the Twyford Trust Executive Team and will be responsible to the Trust Directors for the delivery of annual implementation plans. S/He will be responsible for budget planning and building of staff capacity as well as performance management and quality assurance. S/He will also take direct responsibility for the setting up of the TWL Appropriate Body Service which will ensure strong professional contact with the majority of schools within the network and will manage the Programme Directors. S/He must be able to command the respect of colleagues within the Trust and the network of schools in the area of professional development and school improvement and will make a significant contribution to building the reputation of both the Teaching School Hub and the Trust. S/He must also lead the overall communication strategy, ensuring Teach West London has a high and positive profile for existing teachers and schools as well as future trainees. The new post-holder will be responsible for securing the contract for the future of the Hub (current contract is a 3-year fixed term from 2021-24).

This role is suitable for an experienced senior leader with a passion for and a strong track record in both training/developing teachers and raising school standards. The ideal candidate will have experience of both leading innovation and change and sustaining school standards through effective curriculum design/delivery and pedagogy. S/He will have been engaged in developing best practice in classroom delivery using evidence-based approaches and research and is likely to have held significant SLT responsibility in the areas of Curriculum and Assessment or Staff Development. S/He will be aware of the resource challenges of delivering the Hub programmes (ITT, ECT, NPQ & CPD) to a high standard at school level and will ensure systems are developed at the Hub which genuinely support schools to do this well. 

How to apply

Please visit the Vacancies page of the Twyford Trust website to download the job description and application form: https://twyfordacademies.org.uk/job-vacancies

Applications must be submitted to Recruitment at Twyford School by the closing date and time above. They should be emailed to recruitment@twyfordacademies.org.uk

Closing date: 9am, Friday 9 December 2022

Interview date: w/c 2 January 2023

'The school reserves the right to research shortlisted candidates on social media platforms and the internet, and the recruitment panel may take this information into consideration during the recruitment process'.

The Twyford Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undergo the child protection screening appropriate to the post, including an enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and references from previous employers. For more information about the DBS please see www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check

You will also be expected to sign and adhere to the school’s SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE and SAFE WORKING PRACTICE AGREEMENT which is available as a download on the school website Vacancies page.