Headteacher

Post: Headteacher 

Number on Roll: 1625

Commencing: April 2023

Salary: L33 £97,256 – L39 £112,601 - (Up to £8k relocation support)

Contract Term: Permanent  

King James’s School is part of a Federation with Boroughbridge High School which was formally established in January 2021. Formation of the Federation was the culmination of a period of over four years during which the two schools had worked increasingly closely. The partnership between the schools has enabled richer CPD through joint events, along with sharing of learning and expertise across the staff teams. 

Our school is situated in the stunning market town of Knaresborough. The town is well connected to the A1 corridor and with easy reach of the Harrogate, York and Leeds. 

The schools and the Governing Body are committed to further embedding the partnership and are exploring opportunities to develop the Federation further, potentially by extending the partnership to other local schools. 

Following the retirement of our current Headteacher, this is an exciting opportunity to lead a large, successful, oversubscribed North Yorkshire school. You will have the opportunity to develop and implement effective strategies, raise standards and continue to improve pupil attainment and progress. With a meticulous eye for detail, you must be able to support the diverse needs of students and the provision that each individual requires, whilst maintaining the ability to balance budgetary constraints.  

About You

The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate a proven record of success working with secondary age students, have recent and substantial school leadership experience, either as an existing Headteacher, Assistant Head or Deputy Head, and be committed to providing the students with a high-quality education and environment. You must exhibit confidence, empathy and a clear focus on continuing to build a healthy workplace culture to benefit the wellbeing of staff and students. 

You will: 

• Be a committed leader with excellent interpersonal skills who can motivate and manage all stakeholders, effectively shaping and delivering the strategic plan.
• Be dedicated to helping students develop into confident, sensitive and responsible adults who are able to play an active part in society. 
• Be a collaborative leader, keen to engage actively in partnership with the Headteacher of Boroughbridge High School in developing cross-federation initiatives that deliver real benefits for students, staff and the wider community.
• Be outward looking, seeking opportunities to learn from and work with others.
• Demonstrate excellent leadership skills with the ability to challenge robustly and constructively.
• Be someone who recognises the importance of maintaining the school’s existing values, while instilling their own leadership and identity.
• Be an outstanding teaching practitioner able to set and achieve ambitious goals and continually seek to raise standards and promote our vision, values and aims in a way that is relevant and inspiring to all.
• Be able to provide excellent staff leadership and management.
• Have well-developed IT skills and an understanding of the evolving role of technology in education.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of the significance and importance of consistent data monitoring.
• Consider and shape how we can adapt our practices innovatively to promote and enhance the wellbeing of our staff team.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the social, emotional, physical and educational needs of young people, and ensure that the school provides a rounded provision to nurture them.
• Show practical knowledge and experience in raising standards.
• Be a strategic thinker able to plan in the long, medium and short term.
• Be able to review our financial resources and look at how we invest in our school, and in the outcomes and life chances of students.
• Have a continuing drive to reflect, learn and strive for positive development, for yourself, your staff team, the students and our school as a whole.
• Be someone who is capable of and confident in making difficult decisions, and ask challenging questions in order to seek the best possible outcome for our school as a whole.

We can offer you:

•  An excellent opportunity to provide strategic leadership and direction whilst building upon the high standards already in place.
• An opportunity to see the huge potential that exists and the time to make our schools outstanding in secondary education.
• A happy, caring and supportive school, with well-behaved students who respect each other and have a thirst for learning.
• A Governing Body that is committed to providing support on all matters, including more sensitive or difficult issues - this includes the wellbeing of all staff members – and who are experienced, committed and passionate about our school and ensuring our students reach their potential.
• Support from the Governing Board, our dedicated staff team, the Boroughbridge High School Headteacher and from the Yorkshire Schools Alliance.
• An ambitious curriculum, which aims to give every pupil a love for learning and enriching opportunities. 

If you feel ready to be our next Headteacher and you can bring your experience, enthusiasm, commitment and energy to deliver our vision of excellence for our passionate students and motivated staff, we would love to hear from you. 

For more information about this wonderful opportunity, how to apply and to view the job description and person specification please visit our dedicated campaign site – https://nyresourcing.co.uk/king-jamess-school-headteacher/ 

For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please call Julie Crichton on 07816251317 or email julie.crichton@northyorks.gov.uk. Julie has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this key role.

Key dates:

School Visits by appointment only: To arrange a school visit by appointment please contact Julie Crichton

·      Application closing date: Midnight, Sunday 4th December

·      Shortlisting: Thursday 8th December

·      Interviews: Monday 9th – Tuesday 10th January 

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 (see campaign site). 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 referees. 

Safeguarding

We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. ​

This post is subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records check for work with children. An online search may be undertaken as part of the recruitment process on information available in the public domain. Candidates should disclose anything that may be relevant in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. 

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) advertise vacancies on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYCC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes.