Expected start date
4 January 2021
Application deadline
21 September 2020 at 9:00am
Date listed
3 July 2020
Job details
- Job role
- Leadership
- Working pattern
- Full-time only
- Salary
- £51311 - £57986
Job summary
We are looking to appoint an inspirational Deputy Headteacher who will play a vital role within Fitzwaryn School. An opportunity has arisen for an aspiring leader to work within The Propeller Academy Trust which includes, Fitzwaryn School in Wantage and Kingfisher School in Abingdon. Based at Fitzwaryn School, working closely with the Headteacher and members of the Senior Leadership Team, you will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the development of outstanding SEN provision across the Trust for children and young adults aged 3 – 19 years old with complex learning needs.
We have high expectations for our pupils with a ‘can do’ attitude using a range of specialist approaches suited to individual needs. We work in close partnership with parents, multi-agency teams and have a team of committed and enthusiastic staff who all bring a range of expertise to ensure that our pupils get the very best education they deserve.
The successful candidate will:
• Have exceptional interpersonal skills
• Have the ability to lead, manage and inspire others
• Be an energetic, hardworking and motivated professional who is ambitious and shares our drive to achieve outstanding provision for children and young people
• Be committed to meeting the individual learning needs of our diverse group of pupils
• Be passionate about working in partnership with parents and other stakeholders
• Be highly skilled at identifying school improvement priorities and strategically planning for its development
• Be an outstanding classroom practitioner who can lead by example and support the further development of our already highly skilled teaching team
• Be self-motivated, dynamic and have the ability to both challenge and support colleagues
• Drive curriculum mapping and exciting educational experience and learning for all learners
We offer:
• A welcoming, inspiring and highly skilled Senior Leadership Team
• A dedicated, talented and hardworking staff
• A supportive, knowledgeable and committed local group of governors
• An outstanding body of parents and carers
• Access to a wide network of outstanding professionals across the Trust
• And most importantly; an incredibly warm, hospitable and fun loving group of children and young people who are inspirational and a delight to work with
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
School overview
- School type
- Academy, ages 3 to 19
- Education phase
- School size
- 111 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
- School website
- Fitzwaryn School website (opens in new tab)
- Contact email
- office.7027@fitzwaryn.oxon.sch.uk
About Fitzwaryn School
Fitzwaryn School is highly regarded as an outstanding provision for pupils with SEN within Oxfordshire. The school has received four ‘outstanding’ OFSTED reports following the last four inspections, the most recent being in March 2019:
‘The wider curriculum and extra-curricular activities meet the pupils needs exceptionally well. The many awards and accolades, such as the most inclusive school award from the Oxford County Music Service and the Gold Sports Mark reflect leaders’ ambitions and commitment to pupils’ high achievements’ Ofsted March 2019
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/139322
The school currently caters for 110 children and young adults aged 3 – 19 years whose special needs range from Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) to Severe (SLD) and Profound Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) All pupils admitted to the school have an Education, Health and Care Plan.
The school is situated in Wantage, a growing market town in the south of Oxfordshire. The pupils come from a large catchment area and many are brought by taxi. The majority of pupils come from Wantage and Grove, Didcot and Abingdon, but there are also pupils on roll from West Berkshire and Swindon.
A major building programme was undertaken in 2008 that saw outdated 1970s accommodation being refurbished and new build added to enhance provision. These works resulted in a total transformation of the school. Further building work was completed in September 2018 to provide increased accommodation.
February 2013 saw the conversion of Fitzwaryn School (sponsor status) to a Multi Academy Trust within the Propeller Academy Trust (PAT) www.thepropelleracademytrust.org.uk
The school follows the EYFS curriculum for Foundation Stage pupils and National Curriculum subjects for Key Stages 1 – 4. Year 10 and 11 pupils work towards accreditation in Functional Skills in English, Maths in addition to their ASDAN qualifications (Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, Personal and Social Development). At Key Stage 5, the school follows the National Open College Network ‘Pathways to Adulthood Programme’.
Some pupils choose to go on to Further Education post year 11; others will join Fitzwaryn’s Student Centre (sixth form) and have the opportunity to stay until they are 19.
The school prides itself on the diverse and individual curriculum offer. Off-site activities are an integral part of the curriculum e.g. swimming, hydrotherapy, RDA. The innovation of a polytunnel on site has enabled a horticulture strand to be added to the curriculum. The pupils in main school have access to specialist teaching areas such as a music room, an art room, a D and T room, a cookery room, a gym, a jacuzzi and a sensory theatre. All pupils take part in yoga each week. The pupils are encouraged to take part in many sporting events at different locations competing against their mainstream and special school peers. Fitzwaryn works hard in the community to enable pupils to access society and there are regular community projects that facilitate this.
The school has offered an Outreach and Inreach facility since 2009 providing advice, guidance and training to our mainstream partners. The school works effectively within a local partnership of schools; Springline Partnership of Schools comprising of 7 primaries and Fitzwaryn.
Fitzwaryn is a member of OASSH (Oxfordshire Association of Special Schools) Membership allows access to a Heads group, a Deputies/Senior Leadership group and a Data Users Group. The Senior Leadership Team provides SEN training for NQTs via the Oxfordshire Teaching School Alliance (OTSA) as we are a Strategic Partner within the organisation.
After school clubs are provided by school staff (e.g. multi sports) The school provides 20 days of holiday activities a year following a contract agreement with the LA which is extremely popular with children and families. Lunchtime clubs are provided by staff including a choir, football and dance club. Our Out of School Liaison Officer works with children and families to find appropriate out of school clubs; Yellow Submarine, the 14 Club, FAAAZE and Beatbox. There is a ‘Friends Association’ (Friends of Fitzwaryn) that has a focus on fundraising
Therapists are allocated to the school via a Service Level Agreement agreed with the LA. There is special school nursing provision on site for 4 days a week. All agencies work together to provide the highest quality provision.
In July 2018, the school received the ‘Gold’ Sports Mark. The school has also achieved the International Award and has been awarded ‘Story telling school, status. In September 2017, Fitzwaryn were awarded School of the Year by the charity ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’ and in the same month the choir received the ‘Most Inclusive Award’ from the Oxfordshire County Music Service. In June 2018, the school secured the Basic Skills Quality Mark 10 year award; once again verifying the high quality teaching, learning and assessment in English and Maths.
‘There is very robust self-evaluation of the School Development Plan (SDP) and the quality of teaching and learning across the school. This enables senior leaders to have an excellent whole school strategic approach to ensuring that there is outstanding provision in all areas of the school. The acquisition of basic skills in communication and literacy and mathematics is at the heart of all that the school seeks to achieve for its’ students’ BSQM 2018
Arranging a visit to Fitzwaryn School
Tours of the school with the Headteacher are available at 11am on: 11th July, 10th and 11th September. Should you wish to book an alternative time, please contact the school office to make an appointment on 01235 764504
School location
Denchworth Road, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9ETGet a job alert for when similar jobs are listed
