Headteacher

Applications are invited for the post of Headteacher at The Gryphon School. This is a fantastic opportunity to join and lead a vibrant school community with a very dedicated and hardworking staff team, excellent facilities and wonderful students.

The school is part of SAST, which is a multi-academy trust, with 18 schools (5 secondaries and 13 primaries) across Dorset and South Somerset. As a Trust we have more than 5,700 students and over 850 members of staff has. At the heart of the trust is the desire to work in partnership, to collaborate with others and to be outward facing for the benefit of children and staff. We believe in preserving Schools in their local community.

The Gryphon School is one of our leading secondary schools, serving students from across the local area. It has an excellent reputation, and strives to continuously improve the education it delivers.

We are looking for an outstanding individual who:

• Provides inspirational, strategic and professional leadership and management
• Is an excellent senior leader and teacher
• Has a passion for education
• Is able to inspire and motivate our learners and staff
• Has high expectations to enable students to be the best that they can be
• Is able to promote high standards of behaviour, mutual respect and care for all
• Is a team player with the desire to learn and lead
• Is sympathetic to our Christian values
• Is committed to partnership, collaboration and sharing, an essential component of being part of a Trust

We can provide you with:

• Supportive, experienced school team of staff
• 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.

You are warmly encouraged to get in touch prior to application to discuss the position. Steve Smith, Director of Education is available to have an informal discussion with interested applicants about the role. Please contact him by email on Steve.Smith@sast.org.uk. You are also most welcome to visit the school.

For a recruitment pack and online application form, please visit the trust website: www.sast.org.uk

You are asked to provide the following:

• A completed application form.
• A letter of application of no more than 2 sides of A4 explaining your vision for the school and how your skills and experience would enable you to fulfil the role of Headteacher at The Gryphon School Completed applications should be returned by email to recruitment@sast.org.uk

AST 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.

The Gryphon School, part of SAST, has an absolute commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The Trust and School follows the national and Somerset policies and procedures for child protection and security and the interview will include questions about safeguarding children. Current and/or previous employers will be contacted for references as part of the verification process pre-appointment checks if the applicant is short listed. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure check with the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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.