Headteacher

We are looking for a dedicated and inspiring professional to lead Bristol Free School through the next phase of its development.  We seek a candidate who is committed to the academic success of every student.  Bristol Free School is privileged to have a completely comprehensive intake providing for students with significant learning challenges through to those who will in 2018/19 take up Oxbridge and Russell Group university places.  This summer, we will receive the GCSE results of our first stable year group; as well as our first A Level results.

Bristol Free School opened with just Year 7, in 2011. The governors' objective was to provide a community secondary school for the children of their Neighbourhood Partnership Area; who historically experienced excellent community-based primary education, but who then progressed to as many as twenty four different secondary schools.  That objective has been met; and Bristol Free School is now the school of choice for parents in BS9 and happily, also in the parts of BS10 nearest the school site.  The school has been heavily oversubscribed for four years, and, at the request of the LA and local parents, raised its PAN from 150 to 200 in 2015.  Over £6million in additional LA and DfE funding has been invested in the school’s buildings and sports facilities to accommodate our growth in student numbers.   This includes a purpose built sixth form area with a common room, cafeteria, study and specialist classrooms.

Bristol Free School is a special place to work, characterised not only by high academic standards but by the relaxed, friendly and respectful relationships between adults and students.  We have an enviably high level of subject expertise among our staff; and Bristol Free School is the Edexcel maths hub for the South West. Teachers are committed to students’ progress both inside and outside the classroom.  A typical evening sees up to six teams playing competitively against other Bristol schools, in rugby, athletics, netball, basketball, swimming and running.  Students are involved in a range of extra-curricular and study-extension activities.  Our Duke of Edinburgh award scheme has the biggest uptake of any school in Bristol outside the fee-paying sector.

Bristol Free School is one of five secondary schools in the Russell Education Trust MAT (the effectiveness of which has been singled out by Ofsted and the DfE). All RET schools were born from a partnership between local parents and RET; and this partnership remains very healthy.  Of the four inspected schools, two have been judged Outstanding and two Good with Outstanding features; of which Bristol Free School is one.  The five RET schools develop RET shared systems and best practice through the joint working of Chief Executive, Headteachers and Advisers and a variety of cross-trust teacher networks.  RET and parents’ representatives sit on the Local Governing Body which enjoys a high level of delegation and professional support.

We look forward to receiving your application. Visits to the school can be arranged on the 2nd March or 6th March.  Please contact the Headteacher’s PA Lisa Holyoake on l.holyoake@bristolfreeschool.org.uk to arrange.  Any colleagues interested in discussing the post informally with the RET CEO should email Karen Lynch’s PA (Elizabeth.Bogle@russelleducationtrust.org.uk) to arrange a phone call.