SENCo: Assistant Head Teacher

Due to the promotion of our excellent SENCo, Norham High School seeks an innovative class leading practitioner to further enhance our provision for all, especially those with SEND.

Our Journey:

Norham High School is a GOOD school in all areas (https://bit.ly/3ynpH5q), we are indeed extremely proud of this as a staff team - we are proud for our children and the community we serve as it's now the school they deserve.

As Ofsted stated, "... over the last 2 years, Norham High School has transformed from its former self".

We quickly progressed from Special Measures due to our leadership, ethos, values and inclusiveness - these traits are displayed by all and I encourage a visit to see for yourself. The calm, supportive, nurturing environment, the family feel, the conduct and relationships you will see are perhaps unlike anything else - it is a genuine sight to see.

In terms of SEND, we invest funds as they should be - in pupils and staffing. As new SENCo, you will see this for yourself as with the Head Teacher, you will have trusted control of, and manage costed provision, allocating appropriate resources where and when required both at strategic and operational levels.

Initially you will be supported through an LA Service Level Agreement as you "find your feet" and learn about the unique ways in how we do things here. Support will also be provided from our outgoing SENCo. In addition to this, you will have the support of our new Assistant SENCo, my Senior Team and also my exceptional pastoral team who you will work closely with ensuring we meet the needs of all - early!

We are proud to have bespoke curriculum pathways for all our pupils, but especially those with the broad range of special educational needs we support.

For example, we are proud to have one of the largest ARP's in the North East, currently making up 10% of our school (Specialism Autism / Language & Communication). While some schools seek to decommission ARP's in order to protect results / P8, this is in no way a consideration. It is our role to be inclusive and role models - leading the way, demonstrating how things can and should be done despite serving one of the largest mainstream SEND allocations and the top 1% most deprived area of England (Chirton Ward).

In addition to our ARP, we also have our own bespoke "Curriculum Access" as well as "ACE's" pathways. As such, we effectively and efficiently meet the needs of all children - just as the COP specifies.

As well as our specialist provisions and pathways, our mainstream support and provision will also be a key focus for you - while we are a truly comprehensive school, we have 12% EHCP and 35% SEND K-code. These percentages may seem daunting, but we are small and we use this to our advantage. We know everything about our children and families, as such, we are proactive in planning to meet the needs of all, but also react to new or emerging needs swiftly.

Our candidates:

We are looking for a candidate who first and foremost is already or can quickly become an excellent SENCo and already working towards the appropriate qualifications. You will have a clear understanding of the COP and other key policies / guidance. You will not only inspire and motivate your large SEND staff team, but work collaboratively with the Head Teacher and Senior Team to strategically plan provisions ensuring the most efficient use of resources.

While highly strategic, we also want someone who is personable and highly visible. Given our context, resilience and good humour is essential not only to your success as an individual, but to leading your staff team and collaborating with the team I have established.

You will display passion, energy and integrity delivering our school’s vision and ethos. You will support curriculum design and implementation that secures high levels of enjoyment and progress for all.

As such, this role is ideal for someone who sees themselves taking a future role as a Deputy Head or Head Teacher of the future. The ARP and our model of costed provision in particular will prepare the successful candidate for a role as Head in Special School should this be a chosen pathway.

Our school, our values, our family:

At Norham High School, our motto is ‘Pride, Determination, Strength’.

We believe that every child has the right to an excellent quality of education and an enriching experience - it is our role to support children, both academically and pastorally, so that they grow to be the very best version of themselves. At the heart of our school are our family values and collegiate approach; we support each other and invest in pupils and staff alike, providing a wealth of opportunities to all. 

This includes Chromebooks and equipment for all pupils, refurbished classrooms / social areas, new technology for classrooms, and a personalised blend of welfare support that promotes a positive work-life balance - colleagues' efforts are genuinely recognised and rewarded in unique ways.

Behaviour is strong, with exceptional conduct around the school as pupils and staff greet visitors - and each other - with kindness and respect. This is due to the high expectations we have as a school for all and the explicit teaching of manners. Pupils take pride in their appearance and are smart, professional, and fully equipped for their learning. Pupils also recognise the efforts of staff and appreciate all we do.

We have a wide and growing intake resulting in the school increasing in size, this is in part due to the shift in culture and reputation but also because we are proud to be a genuine comprehensive school that serves all abilities, supporting every individual pupil to excel from their starting point. Our curriculum is broad, balanced and well thought out supporting all pupils. For example, some pupils study Triple & Computer Science, Further Maths and languages, while some pupils complete entry level or do not sit public exams - our curriculum offers multiple routes of progression, is highly personalised and bespoke. 

We are committed to improving life chances and we have a strong sense of social justice. In joining us, you too will enjoy both the challenge and reward of serving our community - all children deserve the best and we really are making a difference to children’s lives. 

We welcome you to visit us:

We would welcome exceptional candidates to visit the school to meet our children and dedicated staff team on Wednesday 7th June at either 2.00pm or 4.30pm. During this, you will be provided with a tour and pupil / staff introductions via the Headteacher. An informal discussion with the Headteacher via telephone to discuss the post further is also welcome.

For further information and to view our prospectus, please visit our website at www.norhamhigh.com. 

Applications and interviews:

The closing date for completed applications is Monday 12th June at 1.00pm. Shortlisting will take place Monday / Tuesday and successful candidates will be notified on Wednesday 14th with interviews on Friday 16th June.

Please send your completed application to Alison Tait, Norham High School, Alnwick Avenue, North Shields, NE29 7BU or via email to: Alison.tait@ntlp.org.uk

If you would like further information, please contact Alison at the above email to arrange a call with myself should you wish to discuss over the break.

You can also visit the school’s website and social media platforms.