Headteacher Donnington Primary School

Candidate Information Pack

Ref:

October 2016

Email: admin@donnington.brent.sch.uk Website: www.donnington.brent.sch.uk

October 2016

Dear Applicant,

On behalf of the Governors of Donnington Primary School I would like to thank you for your interest in applying for the exciting position of Headteacher of our School.

Donnington is a single form entry School located in Brent. Our population is very diverse, reflecting the local community. Our small size means every child is valued as an individual and we have a strong sense of family and community regardless of race, origin, religious belief or physical ability.

The School is relaxed, happy and hard-working. We take pride not only in our community spirit and the personal well-being of the pupils, but also in the sound educational standards achieved. Donnington was rated as Good by Ofsted in our last inspection (February 2013).

The role of Headteacher is pivotal to the future success of our children and the School. Maintaining and improving excellence is rewarding and challenging and the Governors and Staff are committed to supporting the successful candidate in this complex and fulfilling role.

If you have vision and the ability to build on the Schools achievements and take it forward in the years to come then we would be delighted to receive your application.

Yours Sincerely,

Rebecca Elliott(Chair of Governors)

Email: admin@donnington.brent.sch.uk Website: www.donnington.brent.sch.uk

Brent – The place to be, the borough to work for

Brent is a place of contrasts and a destination for thousands of British and international visitors every year. Home of the iconic Wembley Stadium, the world famous Wembley Arena, the new London Designer Outlet and the spectacular Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, it provides a stage for cultural, sporting and religious events of national and international importance.

Our new Civic Centre is on Engineers Way (opposite Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena); it provides residents with easy access to a variety of public services in one place.

The majority of staff are based in the award winning Civic Centre, having recently won the best corporate workplace joint category in London and the South East at the annual British Council for Offices (BCO) Regional Property Sector Awards. The Civic Centre has also been awarded the coveted BREEAM (Building Research Establishment), ‘Outstanding’ rating in its post construction assessment, which is the highest possible ranking. It is the greenest public building in the UK.  

Brent is served by some of the best road and rail transport links in London. Given the excellent public transport links to the Civic Centre there is no on-site parking provision for staff (excluding blue badge holders).

Email: admin@donnington.brent.sch.uk Website: www.donnington.brent.sch.uk

We have award winning parks, outstanding schools, a great night life and a reputation for fostering and celebrating community cohesion. Our population is young, dynamic and growing. Our long history of ethnic and cultural diversity has created a place that is truly unique and valued by those who live and work here.

The council has achieved Investors in People (IiP) Silver level accreditation, this is reserved for organisations that have achieved above and beyond the basic IiP standard's requirements, which stands as testament to Brent's commitments to best practice in respect of the development of staff and how investment in learning and development has a positive impact on the services that the council provide. Over the coming months we are going to build on what we are doing well and with your help we will make Brent an even greater place to work as we work towards achieving Gold accreditation in 2015.

Over recent years, the London Borough of Brent has undergone major transformation, and this continues with a programme of unprecedented structural and organisational change designed to meet the financial challenges facing the public sector. We remain committed however to deliver high quality services while driving efficiency and cutting waste and bureaucracy and to driving forward service excellence, urban regeneration and community cohesion whilst recognising that we cannot ignore the financial reality of providing public services in this challenging financial climate.

Anyone joining the London Borough of Brent is coming into a confident, ambitious organisation with big plans. There is a huge opportunity to contribute to change in a way that genuinely helps us to become more efficient, streamlined and customer-focused.

Email: admin@donnington.brent.sch.uk Website: www.donnington.brent.sch.uk

Job DescriptionJob Title Headteacher (April 2017)

Unit Donnington Primary School

Salary L15 – L21

MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE POST The duties and responsibilities of this post are to be carried out in accordance with the attached provisions of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document.

MAIN PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE POST

1) Within the framework of statutory and local requirements, to provide ambitious, dynamic and inspirational leadership, promoting a secure foundation to build upon the school’s strengths and high expectations and move the school forward on to new successes.

2) To promote the school’s current ethos, provide vision, leadership and strategic direction.3) To put the pupils’ learning and well-being at the heart of every decision made. 4) To be committed to safeguarding and the welfare of all pupils in a nurturing and inclusive

environment.5) To promote discipline and good behaviour so that children can learn in a safe and

supportive environment. 6) To ensure that the school provides an environment in which there is equality of opportunity

for pupils and staff.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITES

1. Strategic Direction

The Headteacher will work with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the Governing Body and stakeholders to continue to develop a shared vision and strategic plan, which inspires and motivates pupils, staff and all other members of the school community.

The Headteacher will: 1) In agreement with relevant stakeholders, including the governing body, create and

promote a shared strategic vision, identify and further the aims and objectives of the school, formulate policies and plans for their implementation and development.

2) Work with the Governing Body and staff to develop and forward the school improvement plan.

3) Apply knowledge and critical understanding of contemporary developments in education policy at local and national level.

2. Leadership & Management

The Headteacher will lead by example, providing inspiring, clear purposeful and distributive leadership for staff, pupils and wider school community.

The Headteacher will: 1) Promote and develop the ethos and values of the school. 2) Demonstrate commitment to the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral, social and cultural

wellbeing of pupils. 3) Oversee progress in all areas of school policy by agreeing performance criteria and

monitoring progress towards their achievements. 4) Encourage all staff to develop their own skills and support each other and motivate staff

and pupils in all areas of school life.5) Review learning needs, career development and performance of all staff processes and

support and enable staff learning.6) Recruit, retain and deploy high calibre staff and manage their workload effectively.7) Promote and ensure equality of opportunity and fairness in school life, complying with all

relevant legislation.8) Maintain and develop management systems that reflect the school’s values. 9) Manage the school environment efficiently and effectively, ensuring it meets the needs of

the curriculum and health and safety requirements and regulations. 10) Monitor and evaluate the performance of the school and review it with the Governing Body

regularly. 11) Allocate and control school budgets and curriculum lead financial planning subject to the

direction of the governing body.

3. Leading teaching and learning

The Headteacher will facilitate high quality teaching and learning and set high aspirations for pupils and staff.

The Headteacher will: 1) Oversee the implementation and maintenance of a broad and balanced curriculum

incorporating the national curriculum, ensuring that learning is at the heart of all school activities.

2) Develop and maintain programmes of extracurricular activities and provide opportunities for a broad range of skills and learning experiences, including artistic and musical opportunities.

3) Enable a consistent and continuous focus on pupils’ progress and attainment using data and benchmarks to monitor progress in every child’s learning.

4) Monitor and evaluate the quality of learning and teaching and promote improvement strategies.

5) Review and develop a policy for the professional development of all staff ensuring that they have access to advice and training appropriate to their needs.

6) Maintain high standards of behaviour and attendance and children’s welfare and happiness.

7) Promote and encourage creativity, innovation and the use of appropriate technologies to support and enhance children’s learning experience.

8) Encourage creative, responsive and effective approaches to learning and teaching. 9) Demonstrate high expectations and set stretching targets for the whole school,

challenging under-performance where necessary.10) Recognise the importance of pupil voice in school ensuring children know to whom they

can turn if problems arise with peers and adults. 11) Ensure that newly appointed members of staff have appropriate induction and support. 12) Delegate appropriate duties of the Headteacher to the deputy Headteacher and SLT,

encouraging their assistance in formulating the school’s aims and objectives.13) Strive to create an environment where children feel safe, happy, supported and enabled to

play, learn and develop to the very best of their ability.14) Embrace the challenges, seek to understand and celebrate the strengths and individuality

of every child.15) Ensure every child is valued and aspire to exceed expectations in their schooling and

achievements.

4. Safeguarding

To safeguard and promote the children’s welfare the Headteacher must: 1) Understand and support the local and national safeguarding agendas and ensure the

school’s safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented.2) Ensure appropriate checking and vetting procedures are carried out on staff, volunteers

and visitors and ensure compliance by partner organisations. 3) Ensure risk assessments are carried out, including those prior to any school outings and

residential visits.

5. Securing Accountability

Headteachers are accountable to the pupils, parents/carers, governors and the Local

Authority for the efficiency and effectiveness of the school.

The Headteacher will: 1) Fulfil commitments arising from contractual accountability to the Local Authority. 2) Further develop and sustain effective relationships with the Governing Body, and the Chair

of Governors in particular, to ensure effective governance of the school and the discharge of Governing Body responsibilities.

3) Ensure individual staff duties are clearly defined, understood and agreed and are subject to review and evaluation.

4) Integrate the budget plan with school improvement and staff development plans. 5) Manage financial and other resources effectively, ensuring that all relevant regulations are

adhered to.

6. Strengthening the Community

Headteachers should collaborate with other schools and organisations in order to share expertise and bring positive benefits to all.

The Headteacher will: 1) Create and improve effective working relationships with all those involved with the school

and community, working proactively to resolve any issues arising. 2) Ensure that high quality liaison and consultation take place within effective structures, to

the benefit of all relevant stakeholders. 3) Be a champion for the school within the local community and beyond. 4) Promote and strengthen the school culture, which takes account of the richness and

diversity of the school community. 5) Collaborate with other schools and agencies in providing for the academic, moral, social,

emotional, spiritual and cultural well-being of pupils and their families. 6) Maintain and develop an effective partnership with parents and carers to support and

improve pupils’ achievement and personal development. 7) Value and encourage parents involvement in their children’s learning and welfare.8) Welcome the school’s parent staff association’s events to raise funds for valuable

additional activities and resources for the children.

7. Other Duties

This job description is indicative of the nature and level of responsibility associated with the post. It is not exhaustive and the Headteacher may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the post.

The Headteacher will: 1) Create a culture of respect and inclusion and a commitment to the broader community. 2) Report to the governing body as appropriate and incorporate its decisions within the

development of school policy, meeting legal requirements. 3) Share the Governors commitment to improving the school and providing every child with

the best possible primary school experience.4) Maintain personal professional development and keep up to date with current educational

thought and developments.5) Ensure that at all times there is a named individual in charge of the school.6) Ensure adequate supervision, security and maintenance of the school buildings and

grounds.

The person specification below shows the key abilities and skills we are looking for in our new Headteacher. The selection panel will shortlist candidates on the basis of how well they meet the requirements of this person specification. We are looking for candidates who demonstrate knowledge and understanding of each area, and show evidence of having applied (or awareness of how to apply) this knowledge and understanding in a school context.

Ess

entia

l (E

) or

Des

irabl

e (D

)

Sho

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ting

Selection Criteria

Qualifications Qualified teacher status. E

NPQH or further professional qualification. D

Experience Successful experience as a deputy head or Headteacher.

E

Successful teaching experience of primary age range.

E

Experience of working in a multi-cultural setting. E

Strategic Direction and Development of the School

Ability to provide clear educational vision and direction and lead by example.

E

Ability to formulate aims, policies and plans and monitor, evaluate and review the impact of these.

E

Ability to work in partnership with the Governing Body.

E

Evidence of introducing effective strategies for improvement.

E

Knowledge of current educational developments. E

Knowledge of statutory requirements. E

Ability to work in partnership with other schools to share strengths and support development.

D

Leading and Managing Staff

Ability to lead, manage and motivate the whole school community.

E

Ability to plan, allocate, delegate, support and evaluate work undertaken by groups, teams and individuals.

E

Successful experience of leading in-service training for staff.

E

Ability to consult and negotiate effectively with different stakeholders involved with the school, including pupils.

E

Ability to coach and mentor staff to improve E

Headteacher Person Specification

performance.

Standards Evidence of having raised standards. E

Ability to collect, analyse and use data on pupils’ progress and performance to raise standards, using appropriate systems including ICT.

E

Ability to set and achieve challenging targets for the school, faculties, teachers and pupils.

E

Teaching and Learning

Understanding of the principles of effective teaching and learning and the ability to promote a culture of learning throughout the school.

E

Evidence of successfully engaging children through an exciting child-centred curriculum.

E

Successful experience of reviewing and developing the curriculum.

E

Evidence of successful use of assessment to improve outcomes for children.

E

Successful experience of monitoring, evaluating and improving the quality of teaching and learning.

E

Successful experience of promoting the personal, social, moral, cultural and spiritual development of pupils.

E

Ethos and Inclusion

Ability to create and maintain an environment which promotes good behaviour, discipline and celebrates success.

E

Understanding of the factors which create barriers to learning and ability to implement appropriate strategies for reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion.

E

Relationship with Parents and the Wider Community

Experience of creating and maintaining effective partnerships with parents and the community.

E

Deployment of Staff and Resources

Ability to set, interpret, monitor and manage a budget in conjunction with the Bursar and Finance Committee.

E

Ability to manage, monitor and review the use of all available resources, ensuring best value.

E

Experience of recruiting, selecting and deploying staff.

E

Suitability to work with children

Ability to form and maintain appropriate professional relationships with children and young people.

E

Thorough knowledge of safeguarding legislation and safer working practices

E

Other Skills and Abilities

Effective interpersonal, communication and presentation skills; both written and oral.

E

Resilience, flexibility and ability to retain a sense of perspective

E

Ability to manage time well and work under pressure to deadlines.

E

Understanding of the requirements of information governance and data protection legislation.

E

We have a highly competitive remuneration and benefits package:

RemunerationGrade: Leadership L15 – L21 Salary range: £61,798 - £69,750 p.a. inc.

Hours of WorkFull Time, School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document

Annual leaveSchool Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document

PensionsTeachers’ Pensions Scheme www.teacherspension.co.uk

TrainingWe offer an extensive CPD programme, built around analysis of the development priorities of Brent schools and liaison with Headteachers. Our CPD programme is crosschecked with the key issues arising from Ofsted inspections of Brent schools.

Valuing Diversity

We are proud that Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in the UK and aim to develop a workforce that reflects the community in which we operate.

We are committed to recruiting, developing and retaining the most talented people from all backgrounds and valuing the varied skills, experiences and perspectives they bring to us in Brent. We strive to ensure that applicants are considered solely on the basis of their skills and abilities. We monitor the diversity of applicants and appointments to check that all our employment procedures are fair.

We particularly encourage applications from disabled people, as they are currently under-represented in our workforce. We are a Two Ticks employer and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a role.

Important Information about this role:

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check

Successful applicants will be required to obtain an Enhanced DBS check considered satisfactory by the Council. The London Borough of Brent is an Equal Opportunities employer and having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us.

This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offences. We will not unfairly discriminate against you on the basis of conviction or other details revealed.

However, we are also fully committed to protecting our vulnerable clients and will fully comply with the DBS code of practice. For a copy of the code, please visit http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dbs or request a copy from Human Resources.

Failure to disclose information or providing deliberate false information in order to gain employment may lead to your dismissal or a withdrawal of an offer of employment.

Rehabilitation of offenders Act

This post is exempt from section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974, as the duties give you access to persons who are under the age of 18. Applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions, which would be regarded as spent for other purposes.

Application information

For your information, please note the following when completing your application: Read the job description and person specification carefully Complete a supporting statement online as part of the application form, making

sure you address each of the criteria indicated in the person specification As space for your supporting statement is only 12000 characters on the system,

you may prefer to choose the document upload option to attach a word version of your statement.

Applicants may only be shortlisted if they indicate in their application that they meet the shortlisting criteria on the Person Specification. Your completed application form and attachments are the only basis for considering your initial suitability for the post.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide feedback to applicants who are not shortlisted for interview. However, you will receive an automated email informing you of the outcome of your application within four weeks of the closing date.

Disabled Applicants

Applicants who are disabled and are covered under the Disability Provision of Equality Act 2010 and meet the essential criteria for the role will be invited to the selection process.

Recruitment stages

The flowchart below has been created to inform you of the proposed recruitment timeline and different stages candidates will follow during this recruitment process.

We appreciate it is helpful to give candidates adequate notice of assessment and interview dates and it is intended that these will be held on the above dates. *Candidates will normally receive confirmation of the start date within 4 weeks of their conditional offer but this will depend on:

How quickly candidates complete and return all necessary information Whether a Health Referral is required and how detailed, the request for medical

information is.

Closing date 13/11/16 (23.59)

Assessment and Interview: week commencing 21/11/16

Headteacher for April 2017

Salary: Leadership Range L15 £61,798 – L21 £69,750 p.a. Inc.

‘Forward Together for Future Success’The Post

Donnington is a popular one form entry school in a multicultural and vibrant area of North London. We have a diverse intake of fantastic children who love learning. At the retirement of a much valued Headteacher we are looking for a new school leader who will nourish the children’s love of learning, independence, initiative and understanding of others.

Us:

A Good School (Ofsted 2013) A cohort of engaged inquisitive and happy children Talented, creative and enthusiastic staff Active and supportive parents Committed and informed governors

You:

Dedicated to children achieving the very best outcomes in their learning Experienced, innovative and strategic decision-maker Passionate about raising standards of teaching and learning with a proven track

record of achievement A creative thinker determined to continue the school’s journey towards outstanding

status.

If you have the leadership skills and the vision we are looking for then Donnington School Governing Body would be delighted to meet you.

Informal visits to the school are warmly welcomed on week commencing 7th November 2016. Please email hr@donnington.brent.sch.uk to confirm your attendance. .

To apply: Please visit www. brent .g ov. uk/j obs .

Closing Date: Sunday 13th November 2016Interview(s): week commencing 21st November 2016

Email: admin@donnington.brent.sch.uk Website: www.donnington.brent.sch.uk