Head of School
Sturminster Newton High School
Dorset
- Quick apply
- Expired
- Salary:
- Leadership Pay Scale: L21 - L25 (starting point negotiable subject to skills, experience etc.)
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2024
- Apply by:
- 9 May 2024
Job overview
We are looking to appoint an exceptional Head of School with energy and enthusiasm to lead the day-to-day management of the school from September 2024. Working closely with the Executive Headteacher, the successful candidate will embody and inspire the ethos and culture of the school. You will also establish and ensure a safe and secure environment for learning and teaching that empowers both staff and children to achieve their highest individual potential, whilst giving due regard to teaching, leadership, and management needs of the school.
Core Purpose of Role
Working closely with the Executive Headteacher, the Head of School embodies and inspires the ethos and culture of the school. The Head of School establishes and ensures a safe and secure environment for learning and teaching that empowers both staff and children to achieve their highest individual potential, whilst giving due regard to teaching, leadership and management needs of the school.
Key priorities
The Head of School will:
- Uphold public trust in school leadership and maintain high standards of ethics, behaviour and professional conduct
- Under the leadership of the Executive Headteacher, develop the quality of teaching & learning, curriculum and behaviour in the school
- Ensure that pupils achieve their potential and make strong progress
- Ensure that all pupils’ needs are met
- Build positive and respectful relationships across the school community
- Serve in the best interests of the pupils
- Take responsibility for their own continued professional development, engaging critically with educational research
We can provide you with:
- A supportive and experienced staff team
- The chance to make a difference and contribute to the school’s future development
- High quality CPD and networking opportunities
- The opportunity to work within SAST, a forward-thinking and growing multi-academy trust who support the school with central services teams including School Improvement, HR, IT, Estates, Finance and Marketing.
- Support and collaboration with other schools across the Trust.
Should you wish to arrange a visit to view the school, please do not hesitate to contact Jo Bruton by emailing 4179jbr@mysnhs.net
SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. In line with KCSIE guidance, this will be part of safer recruitment checks, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.
Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis. SAST 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 candidate will have to meet the person specification and the post is subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check and Children’s Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
SAST recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce and is committed to building a workforce which reflects diversity from the communities it serves. SAST values the contributions from all staff from a wide range of different backgrounds and actively seeks to promote an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and at the same time supports fair promotion and cultural acceptance. Under the provision of the Equality Act 2010 SAST welcomes applications from everyone and operates a recruitment process which is fair and does not discriminate against or disadvantage anyone because of their age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
This role is UK- based and your right to work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.
Attached documents
About Sturminster Newton High School
- Sturminster Newton High School
- Bath Road, Sturminster Newton
- Dorset
- DT10 1DT
- United Kingdom
About us:
Sturminster Newton High School is a mixed 11-18 comprehensive school with a good reputation as a small, community focussed school serving a wide rural catchment area. We are extremely proud of our school where we set high standards for academic and personal achievement and we value the size of our school community which allows staff and students know one another and students to be treated and valued as individuals.
As a small school based in Dorset, one of our strengths is that we know our students well and are able to help them succeed on a personal level. The school promotes a happy and purposeful teaching environment, where all are supported and encouraged to do their best.
The school promotes a happy and purposeful teaching environment, where all are supported and encouraged to do their best. “pupils are now making better progress than they have in previous years.” Ofsted 2018. In September 2021 the school introduced a broad enrichment programme, designed to compensate for missed opportunities during the pandemic, where we offer a variety of academic, creative, sporting and wellbeing activities run by the school and local community.
Young people leaving this school will be confident individuals with the necessary ‘life’ skills for further success at university, college or in employment. We emphasise the development of good organisational, communication, ICT and problem-solving skills, thus developing young people who can use their initiative and relate well to others. “There is a strong moral commitment to ensuring all pupils receive a broad range of opportunities in Key Stage 3.” Ofsted 2018. In return, we expect good manners, a respect for the school and a positive attitude towards learning.
Our aim is to build upon the existing standards and successes and develop all aspects of school life whilst educating all students in the widest sense academically, emotionally and socially working in partnership with parents we strive to provide students with a broad, balanced and supportive education. “The school’s approach is ensuring that there is a rigorous and appropriate academic curriculum for all pupils that will help to prepare them for the next stage in their education” Ofsted 2018
In 2018 the school was inspected with the new OFSTED framework and judged securely ‘good’ and GCSE and A level results are strong. “Leadership is successfully combining the school’s long standing caring and compassionate ethos with a greater focus on ensuring that pupil achieve all they are capable of.” Ofsted 2018
The local area:
The school is situated on the edge of the small market town of Sturminster Newton. The surrounding area is rural comprising many farms and small towns/villages.
Within travelling distance is the Jurassic Coast, beaches and areas of outstanding natural beauty. The area is very well served by a range of village and local primary schools. The buildings in which the school is housed date from 1960 to 1995 and continual refurbishment and updating ensures that the school retains a ‘cared for’ feeling which is respected and appreciated by students.
There are extensive playing fields and superb views of the surrounding area from the school site.
Students
We currently have an admission number of 120 per year and approximately 620 on roll. This includes approximately 100 students in our Sixth Form which we run in partnership with Shaftesbury School. The partnership offers a range of A Level and other post 16 courses on our site for students based here at Sturminster Newton and at Shaftesbury.
Staff
The staff within the school are key to its success and we are fortunate in having well qualified, supportive staff in all posts across the school. Curriculum areas are staffed with specialist teachers working in specialist rooms.
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
The school works effectively with a range of partners in order to give students the widest possible opportunities at all key stages.
There is a wide range of activities beyond the classroom including lunchtime and after school clubs, enrichment sessions, visits (both during the school day and the evenings) and residential trips. Such activities are indicative of the commitment of our staff to giving the best experience of being a student at SNHS.
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