Head Teacher

Defence Children Services (DCS) Head Teacher Queen Berengaria School - Army

Ministry of Defence

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 13th June 2022

Reference number: 197726

Salary: £67,364 - £77,250

L20-L26. Specially recruited for overseas service appointees are not expected to return to the UK.

Grade: Other

Group 3 Head Teacher L20-L26

Contract type: Permanent

Business area: MOD - Army - Defence Children Services

Type of role: Education and Training

Working pattern: Full-time

Number of posts: 1

Location: Dhekelia, Cyprus

About the job

Are you an outstanding school leader with a proven track record and determination to lead school improvement?

Can you promote and develop an ethos, culture and educational provision which empowers all to thrive and succeed?

Do you have the skills, knowledge and experience to guide and inspire staff and children to reach their fullest potential?

We are very excited to be opening a brand-new school in January 2023 and are looking for an exceptional and committed leader with a proven track record in educational leadership to share our ambition and strategic vision for the school. Your energy and enthusiasm will inspire, challenge, and empower all members of the school.

Queen Berengaria School in Cyprus is a newly built school which serves the British military communities from Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaos. It is larger than many of our schools, catering for children from Foundation Stage 2 to Year 6.

Children are at the heart of all we do. We have many years of experience supporting our Service families, and we are determined to make the very best of the short time children are with us. Our aim is to encourage and develop children’s learning power, so that they know how to learn and be the best that they can be, within a warm and supportive environment.

We offer a lively and engaging curriculum, which makes the most of our unique locality here in Cyprus and enables children to enjoy living and learning in another country and culture. Every child matters, and we promote a ‘can-do’ attitude for all, ensuring children recognise that we all have different strengths, skills, knowledge and abilities. We build self-confidence in our children through valuing and respecting our similarities and differences. We consider the parent-school partnership to be a vital part of every child’s education.

Queen Berengaria School is part of Defence Children Services (DCS), a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.

The DCS Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation.

Job description

Please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack for full details of this role.

The Head Teacher is responsible for the overall performance of the school and will provide exceptional strategic leadership in order to secure success and continuing improvement across the school.

Working closely with DCS in Upavon and Cyprus, the Head Teacher will ensure high quality provision for all children at Queen Berengaria School, to improve standards of achievement and levels of progress and develop an ethos, culture and educational provision which empowers all to thrive and succeed.

The Head Teacher will provide inspirational leadership and effective management in order to successfully mitigate the challenges of mobility and ensure that all children and staff flourish and achieve their full potential

This position is advertised at 30 hours per week.

This is an established MoD post within Cyprus and any Cypriot National will not be eligible to apply as a UKBC.

Specially recruited for overseas service appointees are not expected to return to the UK.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1.

If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact

the Support Team atcandidate@support.oleeo.com.

Responsibilities

The Head Teacher’s full responsibilities may be found in the Candidate Information Pack but the key overarching requirements are:

• Delivering effective leadership and management

• Developing the school, culture and behaviour

• Establishing and sustaining effective high-quality teaching across all subjects and phases and effective use of formative assessment to inform strategy and decisions.

• Promoting a culture and practices that enables all pupils to access the curriculum with ambitious expectations for all pupils with SEN and disabilities.

• Inspire, motivate, empower and lead all to achieve

• Setting the safeguarding standard, with a clear structure and as part of that structure monitor and ensure that all safeguarding policies and procedures are followed by all teaching and support staff

• Support our schools to work together to improve the quality of teaching, curriculum provision and leadership

In addition to holding Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Level 3 Safeguarding qualification, you will either hold or be willing to work towards the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH ) and Designated Person training. A postgraduate qualification in a related field (e.g. Masters Degree) is desirable.

To be successful in this role you will require the following essential knowledge and experience and should provide evidence of this criteria in your application:

• Relevant experience as a Head Teacher

• Experience of achieving and sustaining school improvement.

• Excellent understanding of the primary curriculum, including EYFS.

• Be a great teacher – as a leader of teaching, we are searching for an individual who understands what great learning looks like in the classroom and recognises how to achieve it.

• Deep understanding of pedagogy with a curiosity about the latest developments in learning and teaching

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of what constitutes excellent learning, from creative concepts to practical application

• Demonstrate a commitment to providing an inclusive environment for children with SEND

• Broad and up to date understanding of safeguarding obligations and procedures.

• An inspirational leader with a track record of successful leadership of raising teaching and learning standards, ensuring progression and attainment for all pupils with a desire to embed a culture of continuous development for all

• Have an unrelenting focus on high standards and excellence for pupils supported by a first-rate curriculum

• Strong organisational and management skills, including coaching of staff and leaders.

• Ability to hold staff to account and challenge underperformance.

• Be a self-motivator who can demonstrate high levels of self-discipline, initiative and who is able to manage to strict and demanding deadlines.

• Ability to work under pressure and remain calm in difficult circumstances.

• Have high standards of professional integrity, whilst being resilient and confident.

• Be, ambitious, driven and energetic; visible, approachable and accessible.

Qualifications

Qualified Teacher Status

Safeguarding Level 3

Evidence of qualification will be required at interview. All qualifications/licences declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalent Qualifications will not be accepted.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Presentation
• Lesson Observation and Evaluation

Benefits

We are passionate about delivering extraordinary things for our people.

We employ people who challenge and guide each other, working within a highly capable team who will support you to develop your skills and experience.

Some of the many benefits you will receive include:

• Learning and Development opportunities for professional and personal development of skills

• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

• Access to all amenities in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs).

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave

• Superannuation is in accordance with the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

• A paid annual return flight to the UK is also provided for each family member after first having completed 12 months in post.

• Accommodation is free for the first five years of your MOD employment overseas with subsidised utilities. Thereafter a reasonable modest rent is payable.

• This post offers full relocation allowances subject to availability.

• Cost of Living Overseas Allowances is payable based on personal circumstances and marital status

The new school is situated within the Dhekelia Garrison in Cyprus. The Garrison has military housing with the vast majority of teaching staff living on base. On base, you will find shops, a cafe, a cinema, an amenities' centre, gym and swimming pool.

Cyprus has much to offer and enjoys a Mediterranean climate. The scenery throughout the island is beautiful with a wide array of beaches (many home to sea turtles) and luxury resort hotels alongside a vast number of historical and religious sites. The Troodos Mountains have a ski resort open in the winter months.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Discover My Benefits

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the

benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

This post provides the opportunity to develop continuous improvement skills and Civil Service behaviours within an organisation with Defence wide responsibilities.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

At sift you will be assessed on your:

CV

Statement of Suitability

Your CV should cover details of professional experience, training and professional qualifications and employment history, as well as giving details of relevant skills and experience.

Your Statement of Suitability (maximum 1,250 words) should include details of how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job role and responsibilities, including examples of evidence.

You will find further information on this exciting role and our dynamic organisation within the attached candidate information pack. Please refer to this when completing your statement of suitability.

The sift will take place within five working days of the closing date.

The interview will be assessed on the following:

Experience

Technical Skills (presentation, lesson observation and evaluation)

As part of the interview, you will be asked to give a short presentation to demonstrate your understanding and vision for the role. Details will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

The DfE Headteachers’ Standards 2020 provide the benchmark for assessments.

DCS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the children and young people in our care and expect all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection.

All appointments are subject to an interview, identity checks, criminal record checks and successful references. Where possible references are taken up before interview.

Interview dates are to be confirmed.

This is an established MoD post within Cyprus and any Cypriot National will not be eligible to apply as a UKBC.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey?is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name: Nicola Goulding ACEO (Cyprus)
• Email:
• nicola.goulding@modschools.org

Recruitment team :

• Email: DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk

Apply link - https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi?SID=b3duZXI9NTA3MDAwMCZvd25lcnR5cGU9ZmFpciZwYWdlYWN0aW9uPXZpZXd2YWNieWpvYmxpc3Qmc2VhcmNoX3NsaWNlX2N1cnJlbnQ9MSZjc291cmNlPWNzcXNlYXJjaCZwYWdlY2xhc3M9Sm9icyZ1c2Vyc2VhcmNoY29udGV4dD0xNTYxNTM0MTImam9ibGlzdF92aWV3X3ZhYz0xNzgwNDI0JnJlcXNpZz0xNjUzMzc5MDA4LWY4YzZhZDIxNWFjODkyOGViODZiODBiOTdjODAyZGIzYTUwOWRjNTE=