Executive Headteacher Valley Invicta Primary School Federation Maidstone Kent 107,000 to 134,000 A career defining opportunity in primary education The Valley Invicta Academies Trust* is looking to appoint an Executive Headteacher (EHT) who will lead the development of its 4 primary schools in the rapidly developing A20 corridor to the west of Maidstone in Kent: Valley Invicta Primary School at: Aylesford King s Hill Leybourne Chase Holborough Lakes Aylesford Primary School was placed in Special Measures by Ofsted in September 2012. SAT results in 2014 were well above floor and the school is now significantly oversubscribed and fully staffed with highly professional and enthusiastic teachers. Kings Hill, Leybourne Chase and Holborough Lakes are 3 new schools opening in September 2015. By 2018 there will be a total roll of 1700. The EHT will coordinate development of the federation leading a team of 4 Heads of School, and is currently a Headteacher in a highly successful school and will have developed outstanding leadership skills. Planning is already well advanced in the areas of staffing, curriculum design and marketing. The Federation will inherit the Trust s outstanding governance monitoring programme which enables the local governing body and the Trust to pursue its ambitious objective: To be Outstanding is our expectation To be World Class is our aspiration To free the Executive Headteacher to focus on educational leadership, all financial management, human resource, ICT and site care functions are delivered by the Trust s Business Centre. The Executive Headteacher will be a member of the Trust s Executive Leadership team. All Executive Leadership Team members are Directors of the Trust. Application Forms can be found online on the Trust s website www.viat.org.uk and should be returned via email before midday on Friday 3 October Interviews will take place on Tuesday 14 October and Wednesday 15 October Informal discussions can be arranged with the Trust CEO, Dr Philip Limbert, please contact Mrs Karen Baker at the Business Centre on 01622 755856 ext 3339. These will take place between 22 September and 2 October *The Valley Invicta Academies Trust is a Multi Academy Trust currently responsible for 2 secondary schools and 4 primary schools The 2 secondary schools are Valley Park School and Invicta Grammar School, both judged to be outstanding Valley Park School is the highest performing non selective school in Maidstone and Invicta Grammar School is the highest performing grammar school in the town In 2013 both were placed in the top 1% of schools nationally for added value Each school has a student roll of over 1500 The schools share a joint campus in Maidstone.
Valley Invicta Primary School Federation Executive Headteacher Interview Arrangements Tuesday 14 October 7.45 8.45 Working Breakfast Outline of the planning thus far 9.00 11.00 Tour of the 3 new sites and Aylesford Primary School 11.15 12.00 Tour of Valley Park School 12.00 1.00 Tour of Invicta Grammar School 1.00 2.00 Lunch 2.00 3.00 Finance Planning Analysis 3.00 4.00 Academic Results Analysis 4.00 5.00 School Development Plan Analysis Candidates will be asked to respond in writing to an exercise on these 3 topics. 6.30 c.8.30 Dinner (candidates and Trust colleagues) Wednesday 15 October Candidates will attend 4 panels focused on: Financial Competences F Knowledge of National Strategies N Leadership Ability L Development Planning D Time Candidate 1 Candidate 2 Candidate 3 Candidate 4 Candidate 5 8.00 F D N L 9.00 L F D N 10.00 N L F D 11.00 D N L F 12.00 D N L F Panels will last about 30 40 minutes. 1.00 2.00 Lunch 2.00 2.30 Candidates will be informed of these to be invited to attend a final full interview. These interviews will begin at 3.00pm. Candidates will be informed of the outcome of their interview by telephone after 4.30 on Thursday 16 October.
Valley Invicta Primary School Federation Executive Headteacher Person Specification ESSENTIAL Qualification Qualified teacher status Experience Experience as an effective Headteacher. A proven track record of providing vision and leading change and effective improvement strategies with strong evidence of successful outcomes for young people. Experience or strong indicative evidence that the successful candidate is comfortable and capable of successfully managing in a very high profile position. Use of innovative approaches to the development of teaching and learning, including assessment for learning. Evidence of being able to appoint successful people; proven evidence of ability to build teams; and excellent leadership in staff professional development. Leadership in pastoral/student personal development, within a robust whole federation safeguarding culture. Successful partnership working with other schools, relevant service agencies and stakeholders. Successful experience of human and financial resource management. DESIRABLE Qualification Relevant degree NPQH Further relevant professional studies Experience Ideally a highly successful serving Headteacher. Experience of leading capital projects. NLE/SLE Knowledge, skills and abilities A strong understanding of the primary sector. Knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of performance management for all staff with the ability to hold people to account and also to support and coach. Demonstrate ability to manage the process of change effectively. Thorough knowledge and understanding of national priorities, current curriculum developments and an ability to design and implement an innovative all-through curriculum based on students needs in order to maximise opportunities and standards. In-depth knowledge of best practice in teaching and learning, including the use of the latest technologies, to support student achievement. Ability to plan strategically and to monitor, evaluate and review all aspects of the federation. Demonstrate an understanding and application of school improvement and school effectiveness principles and best practice. Demonstrate ability to lead, motivate, develop and inspire staff and to encourage pupils and parental involvement. Ability to analyse and interpret student data and set challenging but realistic performance targets. Ability to develop an ethos and structure for managing behaviour which enables pupils to achieve their potential. Ability to work effectively as part of the Trust team and with Directors, governors, pupils, parents/carers, stakeholders and partners beyond the education sector. Ability to build the commitment of all stakeholders to the vision and ideals of the Trust. Ability to work effectively with members of the local community in developing the federation as a community resource. Knowledge, skills and abilities Demonstrate experience of effective collaboration with other education providers and agencies. Experience of effective implementation and use of Information Technology to innovate teaching and learning.
ESSENTIAL Equality issues Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of equality issues and legislation. Ability to integrate equality policies into service delivery and employment practices. Demonstrate commitment to equality of opportunity and inclusive education. Understanding of multicultural issues in the context of primary education. Ability to develop an appropriate environment which ensures the safety of all users of the federation. DESIRABLE Equality issues Experience of organising collaborative partnerships with other service providers. Other requirements Ability to proactively and positively market the federation on a local and national stage. Exceptional interpersonal and persuasive skills and the ability to manage and maintain good relationships with all key stakeholders. Understanding of how the media works with an ability to manage the media productively. Resilience, the ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines. Ability to think strategically, creatively and to prioritise. Ability to proactively engage a network of external relationships and networks. Willing to learn from others and to both seek and take advice. Other requirements A commitment to the academies programme. Credibility in knowledge of the full 5-11 age range. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced CRB check. Job Description JOB TITLE: Executive Headteacher (Primary Federation) ACCOUNTABLE TO: Chief Executive Officer, Valley Invicta Academies Trust PURPOSE OF THE POST Provide outstanding leadership to ensure the development of the federation. Create an environment which will achieve the federation s vision and aims. Provide access to the best possible education for every pupil ensuring consistency in practice throughout the Key Stages and continuity in curriculum development to enhance pupil progression and secure high standards. Manage the federation resources effectively. Promote and secure community, stakeholder and partner involvement in the federation. Ensure the federation contributes effectively to community regeneration and cohesion. 1 Leadership and strategic development Provide strategic leadership that secures the delivery of high standards of attainment and personal development for all pupils and staff. Provide leadership in the development of innovative teaching and learning and extended community activities that fulfils the federation s vision of being a Centre of Excellence in teaching and learning for students of all ages and the wider community. Work with other schools, partners and organisations in the public, private, business and voluntary sectors for the benefit of the federation. Collaborate with other schools so as to pursue shared Valley Invicta Academies Trust objectives, eg, attendance at regular principals meetings and conferences. Ensure that all statutory requirements are met.
Standards Ensure that the highest academic standards are achieved ensuring that the federation gains a justified reputation for excellent academic standards. Ensure that high standards are achieved both in absolute attainment and also in progress as measured by progression. Ensure consistently high standards in all key stages and that appropriate interventions are put in place to overcome any specific issues which might impact on measured attainment. Develop and implement a curriculum which produces rapid progress and the achievement of high standards and which also provides opportunities for deep learning. Ensure that teaching and learning is consistently of high quality and that standards in teaching improve over time. Monitor and evaluate teaching and learning and act appropriately and quickly on the outcomes of monitoring to ensure consistency in progress and attainment throughout the key stages. Develop consistent systems for high quality tracking of pupil progress and benchmarking systems to monitor progress, raise standards and ensure a continuous and consistent academy-wide focus on pupils achievement which engages the support of parents. Ensure that suitably challenging targets are set, including those for student attainment, progress and attendance. Develop an ethos and structure for managing behaviour which enables each pupil to learn to behave well and to learn effectively, including the management of pastoral care, pupil welfare and effective anti-bullying procedures. Develop, implement and maintain effective assessment, recording and reporting systems for pupil progress which alert leaders to problems with progress and learning and which inform curriculum planning. Involve pupils, as partners in the learning process, and in the development and decision-making of the federation. Leading people In partnership with the Governing Body, lead the selection, appointment, deployment and management of high quality staff to ensure that effective learning takes place throughout the federation. Create, maintain and enhance effective working relationships with staff, manage the effective deployment and performance of all staff by supporting and ensuring their professional development and performance management for impact on standards. Involve staff in decision-making, as appropriate, in order that those who work in the federation are committed to its development. Develop the leadership skills of staff at all levels in pupils. Regularly review own practice and performance, set personal targets and take responsibility for own development. Promote the federation ethos, values and aims, characterised by high aspirations and expectations. Managing the organisation To be responsible for the internal organisation for learning, management and control of the federation. Ensure that the Governing Body is provided with accurate, relevant and timely information to evaluate the work of the federation and to comment upon and agree annual priorities. Formulate the budget to ensure that the federation achieves its objectives. Plan, manage and monitor standards and all policies, procedures and activities within the agreed budget, setting priorities for expenditure, allocating funds/resources and securing effective administration and control. Ensure the regular monitoring of the budget, benchmarking and action when performance deviates from budget and the oversight of the use of resources at all levels in the federation. Manage and organise accommodation efficiently and effectively to ensure it meets the needs of the curriculum, extended use, health and safety requirements and promotes a positive learning environment for all. Monitor and evaluate the overall provision and use of resources to secure value for money by benchmarking. Seek all opportunities to maximise resources for the federation and its community.
Accountability Work collaboratively with the Chair of the Governing Body and the Trust and the Committee, those of its sub-committees as appropriate, to enable them to fulfil their monitoring, statutory and wider responsibilities. Produce regular reports and provide information, support and objective advice to the Governing Body on the educational, financial and community aspects of the federation to allow them to hold the federation to account. Develop an organisation in which staff recognise they are responsible for the success of the federation and individual accountabilities are clearly defined, understood, agreed and acted upon. Work effectively with external partners and stakeholders to achieve mutually agreed objectives, where relevant. Ensure that effective communications are maintained within and beyond the federation and with stakeholders. Ensure that parents/carers and pupils are well informed about all aspects of the federation and, in particular, about attainment, progress and targets for further improvement. Strengthening community Develop and encourage good relations between the federation and the local community. Collaborate with parents/carers and with other agencies to ensure that the federation meets the wider needs of its pupils, staff and the local community. Develop the federation as an asset for the local community, to enable all to benefit from the facilities for education, training, health, fitness and recreation opportunities NB: This job description is not prescriptive and may be changed, in consultation with the postholder, to meet the changing needs of the Academy.