Senior Leader/English Specialist

Working in a school can be one of the most rewarding, exhilarating and exciting places to be.  We also recognise that it can be frustrating and hard work!  We spend a considerable amount of time at work, so it is vital that we are in a place where we feel supported, fulfilled and can enjoy our working life.  We believe we have this at Cleeve Meadow.

Cleeve Meadow School is an ambitious and dynamic new SEND school providing a highly specialised education for 120 students between 11 and 19 years of age, who have moderate learning difficulties and may have associated additional needs.  Our school is a place where traditional values meet innovation.  We have staff who are passionate about the very best education for our young people, we aim to inspire learners to seek what they do not yet know.  You will find our school has a thoroughly inclusive approach to all we do, celebrating varied successes of individuals and groups regularly.  Together, working in partnership with parents and carers, we successfully foster and develop a positive attitude in our young people and a belief in achieving beyond their expectations.

The school is particularly distinctive from existing local provisions as it works in dual partnership with its co-located mainstream school, Cleeve Park, wherever possible to maximise inclusivity of SEN students to mainstream education and providing access to mainstream teaching and shared facilities.  Staff also benefit from partnership working and shared professional development.

Cleeve Meadow aims to ensure that all students have the maximum opportunity to participate fully in society to enhance their life chances.  The support and guidance students receive from staff will give them the confidence to learn independently and strive to achieve.  The school aims to be a centre of excellence for its students, parents/carers, staff, local authorities and the wider community.

As a subject lead and senior leader, you will lead on subject, assessment and tracking, marking and feedback.  You will also have the skills and personality to support the school in ensuring effective safeguarding provision.  You will also have the opportunity to play a role in the development of the school curriculum vision.

We are looking for an experienced English specialist who can work with us to ensure the best possible teaching in English through an inspiring and relevant curriculum and a focus on skills for life. We are also interested in hearing from leaders with an experience of planning a whole school approach to literacy including assessing, monitoring and tracking.

If you are seeking to be an inspirational and innovative leader who can motivate and inspire students and really make a difference, then Cleeve Meadow is for you.  We require someone who will share our passion and ambition to provide an excellent education to our students who are engaging and rewarding to work with.  

As school leaders, we see our role as enabling you to be your best self in the classroom and develop as a teacher.  As the expert in your field, our role is to ensure you have the very best conditions to get the very best from our students.  We believe in fostering a supportive approach and have an open door policy for all staff.  We have a strong commitment to staff wellbeing and see work/life balance as a vital element to a fulfilling career.  You will receive ongoing support and CPD opportunities across the school and wider TKAT family.

     For this role, you will have: 

Essential

Is a qualified teacher with qualified teacher status

Evidence of relevant CPD

Has a clear philosophy for the education of young people

Possesses leadership and management skills and the personal qualities to build strong relationships with all stakeholders

Inspires confidence and trust, is approachable, shows integrity and care for others

Can demonstrate experience of:

Thinking strategically

Leading and bringing about effective school improvement

Implementing and managing change

Has strength of subject knowledge and expertise to be able to develop an excellent curriculum at KS3/4/5 for English

Has knowledge and expertise in effective assessment and tracking of all key skills in English

Has knowledge and expertise in leading literacy development for groups of students and across the school

Can demonstrate experience of:

Focusing on pupil’s achievement using data and benchmarking to monitor progress for every child

Monitoring, evaluating and improving teaching and learning

Can act as a role model and mentor to support the development of the most effective teaching and learning strategies

Has knowledge and experience of whole school quality assurance processes and systems

Can communicate well and explain ideas clearly

Has an understanding of the role progress data plays in school planning and the ability to develop the school use of data

Can demonstrate experience of:

Leading staff development and CPD on areas of expertise

Able to articulate core values of the school within the community

Able to set up an appropriate work/life balance and model it to staff

Can demonstrate experience of:

Working effectively with parents

Building effective relationships with the community and other schools

Desirable

Experience in a Special School Setting

Experience of Senior Leadership in a school

Experience of building and communicating a coherent, compelling vision at a departmental level

Experience of teaching and learning strategies appropriate for special school setting

Ability and flexibility to offer teaching across other subjects and to contribute to whole school off timetable days

Previous experience of working with student progress data

Previous experience of development of whole school assessment and feedback procedures

Previous experience of overseeing external examination processes within subject or across school

Experience of special school wider community outreach

Working for TKAT:

In return, as an employee of The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT), you will benefit from:

● A wide variety of opportunities for professional development, including the potential to develop your career at more than one TKAT academy;

● Opportunities to work flexibly, where possible;

● Our support for your wellbeing at work; and

● The rewards of working to improve the life chances of our pupils.

Safeguarding

TKAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full Safer Recruitment process, including an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.

Equal Opportunities

TKAT is committed to equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates, regardless of any protected characteristic for example race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. All applications are treated on merit. This includes applications from individuals wishing to work full time, part time or on a flexible basis.