Principal

Ormiston Denes Academy is located in northern Lowestoft, a thriving coastal town in the English county of Suffolk, less than 45 minutes commute by car from Norwich. It is an average, but growing, 11–16 co-educational academy with approximately 869 students. It’s one of the most historic schools in the area, home to a sports training centre, and sits proudly near an award-winning beach. The majority of the academy’s students live in the neighbouring communities and are primarily fed from one of the eleven primaries, making the school their first choice.

The academy joined OAT in June 2013, and by 2016 was recognised as making good improvements by Ofsted, and celebrated the highest ever student outcomes in history confirming its position as the top performing academy in the area. In September this year Ofsted judged the school as grade 4 for leadership and management as well as personal development behaviour and welfare. Teaching was good but because of the issues raised in the report, an overall grade 4 was the Ofsted outcome. This is something the school and OAT have taken exceptionally seriously and are confident this will be swiftly reversed, and along with the determination to continue to raise attainment the school is now strongly positioned to continue its work towards ‘good’ with the support of the very experienced interim principal.

Ormiston Denes Academy is a vibrant and caring learning community and the strong code of values guides its work and creates a secure and safe environment where all students can thrive and succeed. Staff are committed to ensuring every student reaches their full potential by having the highest aspirations and a commitment to academic excellence.

This work continues with an extremely committed and well-balanced body of staff, the unfailing support of the Trust, the challenge and constant encouragement of the governing body, the partnership we enjoy with our families, and most importantly, our enthusiastic students of whom we are very proud.

Ormiston Denes Academy offers a broad and balanced curriculum catering for all year groups, as well as a wide range of extracurricular activities; through sports and arts, STEM and music, to leadership and adventure within the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme. We aim to cater for the widest possible range of students’ differing interests and all are encouraged to get involved and enjoy this extra dimension of their work at Denes.

We know that achievement of the highest order is within our reach and we now look to consolidate our progress and continue to push for further sustained improvement. With this in mind, we are looking for an exceptional professional to lead our staff body who can demonstrate the ability to achieve outstanding outcomes and make a significant difference to the lives of the young people at the academy.

Please see the applicant information pack for more details about our academy, our students and our sponsor.

The Role

Core purpose

The overall purpose of the role is to develop and sustain an exceptional educational provision for all students in the academy.

Strategic direction and development of the academy

• Establish a culture that promotes excellence, equality, high expectations and aspirations of all students.

• Work alongside the local governing body and OAT Executive in implementing OAT and the academy procedures and policies.

• Ensure that the management, finance, organisation and administration of the academy, support its vision and aims.

• Ensure the commitment of parents and the wider community to the vision and direction of the academy.

• Continue to develop effective relationships with other academies in OAT.

• Create and implement a strategic plan, underpinned by sound financial planning, which identifies the priorities, actions and targets that will guide the academy on its journey to ‘exceptional’ in all areas.

• Monitor, evaluate and review the impact of the academy’s policies, priorities and targets to drive continuous improvement.

• Present accurate accounts of the academy’s performance that are appropriate for a range of audiences including parents, governors, OAT and Ofsted.

• Ensure a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Main tasks

Teaching and learning

• Ensure that outstanding teaching and learning is the primary objective for all staff.

• Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and standards of learning and achievement of all students, including those supported through enhanced resources, in order to set and meet ambitious targets for improvement.

• Lead, motivate, support, challenge and develop staff to secure improvement.

• Develop a curriculum that promotes outstanding literacy and numeracy skills while ensuring that the needs, interests and aspirations of individual students are addressed.

• Ensure that effective, appropriate pastoral support is available to students.

• Ensure that the academy complies with the statutory requirements that promote equal opportunities for all.

• Build upon the effective partnership with parents to support and improve students’ achievement.

• Ensure appropriate enrichment opportunities are provided and given a high priority.

Leading and managing staff

• Lead, motivate, support, challenge and develop staff to secure improvement.

• Maximise the contribution of staff to improve the quality of education provided.

• Develop effective and transformational leadership and management across the academy.

• Implement ‘best practice’ OAT performance management processes.

• Acknowledge the responsibilities and celebrate the achievement of individuals and teams.

Efficient and effective deployment of staff and resources

• Work with OAT, governors and senior colleagues to recruit staff of the highest quality available.

• Advise the governing body on the adoption of effective procedures to deal with the competence and capability of staff.

• Agree and set appropriate priorities for expenditure with the governing body to enable the academy to secure its objectives.

• Manage and organise accommodation efficiently and effectively, to ensure that it meets the needs of the curriculum and health and safety regulations.

• Manage, monitor and review the range, quality, quantity and use of all available resources in order to improve the quality of education, improve students’ achievements, ensure efficiency and secure value for money.

How to apply

You may apply using the TES online application form or the OAT application form available on the OAT website http://www.ormistonacademiestrust.co.uk/careers

 All application forms, with supporting statements, should be emailed to recruitment@ormistonacademies.co.uk. The closing date for applications is 3 January 2020 at 5pm and interviews will be held on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January 2020.

Visits to the academy are strongly encouraged as are conversations with Gwayne Webb, Regional Director. Please contact Gwayne directly at gwayne.webb@ormistonacademies.co.uk or on 07960 683 590. Visits to the academy can be scheduled for 12 or 16 December 2019.

Your formal letter of application (supporting statement) should be no longer than two sides of A4 and should address the selection criteria detailed in the person specification earlier in this document.

The academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share that commitment.