Headteacher

The Palmer Academy is a two-form entry primary academy serving the Katesgrove ward of Reading. 

At The Palmer Academy we are committed to inspiring the futures of the children we serve through a creative, inclusive and relevant curriculum which enables and encourages them to question the world around them and be curious learners. This results in our children understanding that ‘enquiring minds’ result in ‘inspiring futures’.

We nurture and support our children and equip them with the skills, knowledge and attitudes they need to become confident, determined and respectful young adults who have exciting and ambitious aspirations for their futures.

Palmer children will achieve academic success through a curriculum and ethos which teaches them essential skills and traits for life, such as tenacity, resilience and determination. They leave our school well prepared for the next stages of their education and life in the modern world, with a rich understanding of the subjects they have been taught.

We provide a range of opportunities for children to move learning from the short-term to their long-term memory, resulting in a deep and connected understanding of the subjects taught and the world around them.  By the time learners leave The Palmer Academy, they have had many opportunities to learn and practise a range of skills, knowledge and values which prepare them to be citizens of the world.

We respect and embrace all cultures, ethnicities, races, values and beliefs within our community, and celebrate the positive contribution and impact they have on the school. Working together in partnership leads to our children making connections between what we are learning in school and how it relates to the community and world around them.

The Palmer Academy was inspected by Ofsted in June 2017 and judged to be good in every discipline. This means that the school is due to be inspected during the early part of the 2022-2023 academic year. 

What we are looking for in our next headteacher:

REAch2 Academy Trust and The Palmer Academy, Reading are seeking to appoint a new Headteacher to start in January 2023 or earlier if possible. 

We are seeking a headteacher with drive and enthusiasm who will look to deliver the best possible education to all students at The Palmer Academy. Having undergone several staff and leadership changes in recent years, we are looking for our next headteacher to add stability and to develop existing staff members and enable them to be the best that they can be. With the support of REAch2 and the other schools in cluster 9, we are looking for our next headteacher to develop the school and move it forward at a fast pace to become the outstanding school that it can be. We are also eager for our next headteacher to further develop the established links with the local community, while at the same time fostering new ones. 

Being part of REAch2:

There are 60 schools within our organisation, grouped into ten clusters. The Palmer Academy sits within cluster nine, which currently consists of four primary academies in the Reading area. The cluster is led by a deputy director of education and supported by a variety of central team staff based remotely. Being part of that cluster family, you will benefit from the expertise, support and opportunities offered by the largest, primary only, multi-academy trust in the country; you will have the freedom to shape The Palmer within our guiding principles, to open up opportunities to develop your career; to take care of your wellbeing at work and to enable you to flourish as an individual.

REAch2 will offer you the kind of rewards you can only find in a Trust that is improving the prospects and life chances for thousands of children across the country.

To find out more about the school and REAch2 we strongly advise that you visit our websites:

https://www.thepalmeracademy.com/ 

https://reach2.org  

We can offer:

• The freedom and autonomy to shape and develop The Palmer Academy within our guiding principles.

• A wide range of professional development opportunities and the opportunity to work with some of the best educational professionals in the country,

• Membership of the Teacher’s Pension Scheme TPS, 

• Access to professional coaching and mentoring,

• Annual leadership events, workshops and conferences,

• The support structure of the local cluster, Deputy Director of Education and the wider REAch2 central team.

As part of REAch2 employee benefits we also offer an eye care scheme, access to an Employee Assistance Programme for you and your immediate family and membership to ‘perks at work’ – which includes discounts on holidays, shopping, family days out and much more.

• In addition, for this post, the Trust is in a position to offer relocation assistance and a performance related bonus which will be agreed with the successful candidate and assessed against the successful completion of performance criteria.

We will be hosting a recruitment event where our leaders and members of the HR team will be on hand to discuss our current vacancies, potential career paths and what it’s like to work for Reach2 Academy Trust.

We would like to invite anyone with the drive and passion for school improvement to come and meet us for themselves, to find out more about Reach2 Academy Trust and what we have to offer.

Location: The Palmer Academy, Northumberland Avenue, Reading RG2 7PP

Dates:

- Monday 27th June 2022 – 4:30pm – 6:00pm

To register for the event, please email hrsupport@reach2.org

For current positions, please see the recruitment page of our website. Careers - REAch2 Academy Trust

Places are limited so be sure not to miss out and register your interest today. 

Please note that shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a REAch2 Application Form.