Head Teacher

Our Values;

Our principal, overarching company value is Progression, alongside Humanity, Togetherness and Compassion.

EdStart Specialist Education is committed to creating a diverse workforce. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, religion, belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership.

EdStart Specialist Education is a leading provider of SEN and Alternative Education, with nine schools located across Greater Manchester and the Wirral - in Bolton, Bury (two sites), Horwich, Oldham, Northern Moor, Salford, Wallasey and Wigan - all catering to young people with different social, emotional and physical barriers to learning. These include Special Educational Needs, SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and other neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), dyslexia and dyspraxia, as well as childhood trauma.

Our Mission:

Our mission is to elevate and inspire every single child and young person with whom we engage. Embodying our core values of humanity, togetherness and compassion, we work together to enhance the progression, welfare and wellbeing of everyone at EdStart Schools including our team, our stakeholders and, most importantly, our pupils. We offer a challenging curriculum that's delivered in a nurturing, diverse, inclusive and supportive environment tailored to individual learning differences, not difficulties.

Our Team:

We benefit from one of the UK's fastest-growing, most experienced SEN and Alternative Provision teams - comprising teachers, subject specialists, TAs/learning mentors, admin and non-teaching staff - all dedicated to one common goal; creating brilliant 16 year-olds with the same learning and life potential as their peers in mainstream education.

The Role:

Due to our continued expansion, we now require a Headteacher to oversee our school in the Wirral.

In all, our school accommodates 40/50 pupils with a range of SEN and SEMH needs. The successful candidate would be responsible for the school, supported by our Senior Management Team and Executive Headteacher.

Role title: Headteacher, The Wirral

Reports to: Executive Headteacher

Salary: from £60,000

Purpose of the role:

To provide effective leadership and management, complimenting the professional work of teachers, by taking responsibility for learning activities under an agreed system of supervision, at the direction of teaching staff and in line with school policies and guidance. Ensuring that EdStart Schools Wirral is delivering a high-quality provision and securing the best outcomes for pupils and to promote a culture of unity and collaboration among the schools.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic leadership

• Embedding our shared vision across all schools, ensuring that it is understood by staff and parents.
• Develop and review the company’s strategic plan, ensuring that key objectives are used to develop school improvement plans.
• Review and monitor progress of our improvement plans and self-evaluation forms, providing necessary challenge in order to achieve a sustained focus on the strategic objectives.
• Build positive and respectful relationships with stakeholders and the wider community.

Managing the organisation

• Line-manage senior leaders, providing effective support and challenge to help them secure best outcomes for pupils.
• Carry out performance management in line with the company’s procedures.
• Support with managing the company’s budget and resources.
• Support with developing and implementing school-wide policies.
• Allocate financial resources appropriately, efficiently and effectively.
• Develop and retain high-quality staff through effective professional development and performance management.
• Establish clear and open lines of communication with all stakeholders.
• Monitor staff wellbeing and workload and implement strategies to promote a healthy working environment.
• Ensure the schools effectively and efficiently operate within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties.
• Ensure staff and pupils’ safety and welfare through effective approaches to safeguarding, as part of duty of care.
• Work successfully with other schools and external agencies.
• Maintain effective relationships with fellow professionals and colleagues to improve educational outcomes for all pupils.

Teaching and learning

• Develop and implement a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the relevant statutory requirements.
• Establish and sustain high-quality teaching across all subjects and phases, based on evidence.
• Have ambitious expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities, and promote an inclusive culture that enables all pupils to access the curriculum.
• Establish curriculum leadership, including developing subject leaders with relevant expertise and access to professional networks and communities.
• Promote a culture that encourages collaboration, where best practice is shared in order to secure the best outcomes for pupils.
• Ensure valid, reliable and proportionate approaches are used to assess pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum.

Note: This job description sets out the main duties of the post at the time when it was prepared. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility entailed. Job descriptions will be reviewed annually by the Proprietor and governing body and may be changed after appropriate consultation.

Person Specification:

Qualifications and training;

• Qualified teacher status
• Degree
• National professional qualification for headship (NPQH) would be an advantage
• National SENCo would be desirable

Experience;

• Successful leadership and management experience in a secondary school
• In depth knowledge of independent school standards
• Secondary teaching experience
• Involvement in school self-evaluation and development planning
• Demonstrable experience of successful line management and staff development

Skills and knowledge;

• Data analysis skills, and the ability to use data to set targets and identify weaknesses
• Understanding of high-quality teaching based on evidence, and the ability to model this for others and support others to improve
• Understanding of curriculum development
• Understanding of school finances and financial management
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate a vision and inspire others
• Ability to build effective working relationships

Personal qualities;

• A commitment to getting the best outcomes for all pupils and promoting the ethos and values of the company
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality at all times
• Commitment to safeguarding and equality, ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways that exploit the position

EdStart Specialist Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to a fully enhanced DBS check.

• We will carry out an online search as part of our due-diligence for all shortlisted candidates in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024.