Senior Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour and Attendance)

Thank you for your interest in Ratton School and for considering us as your next career move. We hope our application pack is clear and informative and gives you a sense of our high aspirations for all our students.

We became a converter academy on 1st August 2012 and joined with Ocklynge Junior School on the 1st December 2017 to form the South Downs Learning Trust. The aim of our trust is to provide an outstanding educational experience for all learners in our schools. We want both schools to retain their own identity whilst working together to support the learning of everyone in the Trust community. Our aim is to develop a sustainable and exciting educational experience that places our students at the centre of all that we do and develop a community of primary and secondary academies that are the first choice for students and families in Sussex, with an outstanding reputation for high aspiration and high achievement.

Following the promotion of the current post holder, we are now seeking to appoint a passionate educator to join us as Senior Assistant Headteacher (SAHT) (Behaviour and Attendance) to further strengthen whole school strategic development and the leadership of behaviour and attendance at Ratton School. In June 2022 Ofsted said that ‘behaviour and attitudes are secure across the school’. We are looking for a talented leader to continue our journey to an outstanding school culture.

The successful candidate will have a timetabled teaching commitment complying with the teachers’ standards and modelling best practice for others and will also line manage the Attendance Team and Pastoral Team.

The person appointed to this role will join a supportive, collaborative and committed leadership team, who have a shared responsibility for all aspects of our school community. Our senior leaders are expected to lead by example and maintain high standards across the school community.

The successful applicant will need to:

·        Formulate the vision, aims and objectives of the school.

·        Establish policies, procedures and processes to enable these priorities, aims and objectives to be achieved.

·        Lead and manage staff and resources effectively.

·        Monitor progress towards the achievement of the school’s aims and objectives.

·        Lead by example, providing inspiration and motivation.

·        Have high expectations, deliver high standards and command credibility.

·        Communicate the school vision in a compelling manner and assist the headteacher in the strategic leadership of the school.

·        Work with the headteacher and SLT to drive school improvement.

·        Contribute to the SEF, SDP and other whole school documentation.

·        Strategically lead staff to ensure that students have exceptional Behaviour and Attendance.

 The new SAHT will be:

·        Passionate about providing the best possible education and care for all students.

·        Able to support SLT to lead and motivate the staff team and school community.

·        Able to support SLT on their clear and compelling vision for Ratton School.

The successful candidate should expect to lead in the following areas:

•       Securing the highest standards of attendance and behaviour across the school

•       Maintaining, developing and evaluating all aspects of our behaviour and attendance systems.

•       Leading both the attendance and pastoral teams to ensure that students receive exceptional pastoral care.

•       Developing and maintaining our behaviour graduated responses and interventions.

•       Developing and promoting our rewards and anti-bullying strategies.

The successful candidate will be able to evidence:

•       An infectious passion for ensuring all students, regardless of background, receive a high-quality educational experience.

•       Leadership skills and energy that motivate and inspire staff.

•       Excellent communication and interpersonal skills/dynamism with excellent interpersonal and team building skills.

•       The highest level of personal and professional standards.

•       A problem-solving approach.

•       Effective change management.

•       A good understanding of the current educational landscape.

•       Personal warmth and humour, coupled with resilience.

We offer an incentive package which includes:

• A comprehensive induction programme for new staff to the academy.
• On-going investment into your career development through appropriate CPD.
• Support and mentoring by a strong Senior Leadership Team and other experienced leaders.
• Access to the Bike 2 Work scheme allowing up to 42% discount on the cost of bikes and equipment.
• Full use of an employee assistance programme supporting wellbeing. 
• Staffroom with complimentary tea and coffee.
• Subsidised membership of Benenden Healthcare (affordable alternative to private health insurance).
• On-site parking.
• Free Breakfast Club/After School Club place for staff children at Ocklynge Junior School.
• Enviable setting and extensive grounds.

We look forward to receiving your application and hearing why you believe you have the passion, commitment and talent to join the South Downs Learning Trust.