Vice Principal – Organisational and Workforce Learning and Development

The William Henry Smith School is an Outstanding residential special school serving 14 (and growing) Local Authorities across the North of England. 

Further expansion of its provision, including the purchase of two further properties in the local community, and considerable development of commissioned services, and high demand have created the opportunity for this new and exciting Senior Leadership role. 

The successful applicant will have licence within the realms of the School’s strong ethos and culture, to shape the direction of learning and development across the service, contribute to the daily and strategic functions of the school, and future developments and expansion projects.

We are a non-maintained school for boys aged 5-19 experiencing complex Social, Emotional, and Mental Health challenges (SEMH). Our students have a breadth of special educational needs, including learning difficulty and disability. We are a not for profit charitable organisation providing education, health and therapy, and care. Opportunities for success are provided through a diverse programme of bespoke individual learning pathways and life skills across the 24-hour curriculum, which serve to develop resilience and skills for life-long learning, happiness and an improved Quality of Life. The school has a strong ethos and culture, built upon firm foundations that underpins all our work on improving outcomes for our students and their families, and our staff team. 

‘Staff work in a continuous learning environment. They have many opportunities for professional development. A well-crafted induction programme develops into specialist training opportunities. The school equips staff to provide effective care for children’. (Ofsted 2020).

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic, highly motivated, experienced individual with leadership experience who has the appropriate skills to: - 

1. Join the Senior Leadership Team and provide outstanding leadership within the school, which secures its success and continued drive for improvement. 

2. Provide strategic direction in relation to the national picture of SEN and the changing tide of needs across Local Authorities. 

3. Provide strategic direction in relation to the entire learning and development lifecycle. 

4. Develop and implement a Learning and Development Strategy.

5. Build relationships with key stakeholders including colleagues and local, regional and national partners to support the delivery of organisational priorities.

6. Create an environment that promotes increased levels of accountability and ownership that aligns with the culture of the school and its services.

7. Develop and embed induction and continuous professional development, improvement and learning across the organisation, evaluating programmes to ensure outstanding CPD for all staff across all departments, and further enhance leadership capability. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years’ experience working as Learning and Development Manager, preferably within a school or education setting. 

The successful candidate will be passionate about learning and development, be innovative and highly motivated. Working effectively at a strategic level, applicants should have a proven effective leadership, excellent organisational and communication skills, and a flexible and creative approach.

The successful applicant will have: 

• A Degree qualification

• Senior Leadership experience

• Experience in promoting the strategic workforce and professional development of all staff

• Experience of organisational strategy and culture, and future capability needs in order to identify learning priorities 

across an organisation

• Understanding and ability to create learning environments where staff can continuously develop to be their best

• Experience of a learning culture that drives engagement in CPD

• Experience of delivering training 

• Creative ability to identify and implement opportunities to build and strengthen our offer

• Experience of marketing and selling services to external agencies and stakeholders along with the ability to offer an outstanding service that fits in with their current needs and potential opportunities

• Ability to analyse data and trends 

• Experience of working within an educational setting

• Ability to demonstrate exceptional attention to detail 

• Ability to contribute to collaborative working and be highly motivated.

We offer:

• An attractive salary 

• A competitive defined contribution pension scheme

• BUPA Membership 

• A higher level of employee assistance healthcare cashback plan

• Mobile Phone 

• Remote Working Technology  

• A full induction programme, including an outstanding network of support 

• A learning and development programme and CPD

• Clinical supervision/life coaching

• A staff wellbeing programme

• Assistance with childcare savings and cycle to work scheme

• Subscription to Head Space and Perks at Work online apps

• 50% towards the cost of branded workwear.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and young adults, and expect all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service background check (this is a position working in regulated activity). We are also committed to promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of children, young people, young adults and staff, reflecting life in modern Britain. 

For further information on this post please contact Sonia Stewart, (HR) at  Sonia.stewart@whsschool.org.uk. Application packs can be requested by email from  reception@whsschool.org.uk (previous applicants need not apply).

Closing date for applications: Monday, 7th June 2021

Proposed interview date: w.c. 14th June 2021