Executive Headteacher - The Whitby Secondary Partnership

The Whitby Secondary Partnership, North Yorkshire (two schools – Caedmon College and Eskdale School)

Numbers on roll: 801 Caedmon College; 454 Eskdale School

The Whitby Secondary Partnership was formed in July 2019 when Eskdale School and Caedmon College were brought together to form a federation with a single Governing Body responsible for both schools. The main aim of the Whitby Secondary Partnership was that everyone involved in secondary education in Whitby should work together to provide the best possible education and opportunities for all students in the Whitby area.

This is a first-time post and we are looking for a leader who will bring energy and commitment to developing the federation, strengthening the educational offer and maintaining a thriving Sixth Form. This leader will work as part of an executive team, to support both schools and to prepare our young people to be independent, successful adults who can make a positive contribution to society. We are looking for someone who can lead and inspire teachers to be aspirational for their pupils and themselves; someone who is able to communicate a vision and bring together staff, pupils, parents and other stakeholders to create an exceptional educational experience for our young people.

Our Opportunity:

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced educationalist and the Executive Headteacher of the Whitby Secondary Partnership will have the opportunity to develop the vision for the federation and to increase the partnership working between two established schools. You will be able to use your experience and creativity to develop and expand educational opportunities in Whitby, working closely with the Governing Body, North Yorkshire County Council and strategic stakeholders. You must exhibit confidence, empathy and a clear focus on building a healthy workplace culture that benefits the learning and the wellbeing of pupils and staff.

This is an unusual and exciting opportunity for the successful candidate – to work in a beautiful town on the North Yorkshire coast, to lead a small federation in the early stages of its development and to work with others to shape the education and opportunities of young people in the area. Combining strategic thinking with a meticulous eye for the details of implementation and planning, you will be able to drive forward our students’ progress, attainment, and their well-being and to ensure that every pupil receives the education necessary to achieve their potential.

About You:

To be successful, you must be able to demonstrate a proven track record of working with children and young people.

As the face of the federation, you must be able to:

• Develop constructive relationships between the Federation, the Local Authority, local and national statutory and voluntary agencies as well as the Federation’s educational and community partners.
• Lead the marketing strategy for the Whitby Secondary Partnership, ensuring a consistent and positive message and image is presented to the community, inspiring confidence and engagement in the Federation
• Develop constructive relationships with educational providers, businesses and community groups in the local and wider community to understand and respond to local educational and training needs
• Be responsible for the strategic leadership, internal organisation, viability, academic performance and overall success of the institutions that make up the Whitby Secondary Partnership, whilst upholding their individuality and delegating a reasonable level of autonomy to designated school leaders, as agreed with the Governing Body
• Oversee the allocation of resources to allow staff to discharge their responsibilities
• Hold the overall responsibility for the financial viability and stability of the Whitby Secondary Partnership
• Lead the strategic development of the Whitby Secondary Partnership against the backdrop of its stated vision, values, culture and ethos, being the primary interface between the Federation, governors and the wider community
• Fulfil all other requirements and duties within the school and across the Federation set by or agreed with the Governing Body of the Whitby Secondary Partnership, to meet appropriate targets or objectives against identified performance criteria in accordance with the Federation’s Performance Review Policy and Procedures
• Demonstrate commitment to your own reflective practice, continuing self-evaluation and personal/professional development as well as to that of staff working within your remit.

We can offer you:

• Headteacher induction, strong partnership and support and access to a variety of support from School Improvement and within the Partnership
• An opportunity to see the huge potential that exists and the time to make The Whitby Secondary Partnership a Champion for Learning on the North Yorkshire Coast
• Support from the Local Authority, Governing Body and a staff team who are experienced, committed and passionate about our schools
• A Governing Body committed to providing support on all matters including more sensitive or difficult issues and which include the wellbeing of all staff members
• A curriculum that aims to give every child a love for learning and enrichment opportunities
• Opportunities to further enhance our Partnership work.

If you feel ready to be our first Executive Headteacher and you can bring your enthusiasm, energy and dedication to the delivery of our development plans and our vision for our students and highly-motivated staff, we would love to hear from you.

For more information about this wonderful opportunity, to view the job description & person spec. and learn how to apply please visit our dedicated campaign site – https://bit.ly/3xEnP5T

To arrange a school visit and for an informal, confidential conversation about the role, please call Julie Crichton who is supporting this recruitment process on behalf of The Whitby Secondary Partnership and who can be contacted at North Yorkshire County Council on 07581 143421 or julie.crichton@northyorks.gov.uk

Key dates:

• School Visits on: To arrange a schools' visit by appointment please email @julie.crichton@northyorks.gov.uk
• Application closing date: Midnight Sunday 13th March 2022
• Shortlisting: Thursday 17th March 2022
• Interviews: Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd March 2022

When applying please take into account the following:

Supporting Information

The supporting information section of your application should clearly evidence your ability to meet the requirements we have outlined in the person specification. This will be used to shortlist applicants for this role and therefore it is imperative that you provide evidence as requested.

References

When completing your application, please provide two employment references.

Safeguarding

Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post will be subject to undertaking an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.