Deputy Headteacher

St Birinus School, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8AZ

5 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  January 2024

• Closing date

  2 October 2023 at 9am

• Date listed

  19 September 2023

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: No, visa sponsorship not available
• Working pattern:
  • Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £68,400.00 - £75,331.00 Annually (FTE) LT 16-20

Deputy Headteacher job summary

St Birinus School

We are hugely proud of our school community.  Outcomes for our students (estimated P8 +0.47 in October 2023) are in the top 5% of schools nationally for boys’ only progress and the compelling ethos of this school is literally written all over the walls.  We pride ourselves in creating a vibrant and visceral environment in which boys thrive and accrue the knowledge, skills, experience and character that will realise their potential and allow them to seize any opportunity, now or in the future.

The infinite goal - We aspire to be a national centre of excellence for all boys’ state education.

As a member of Ridgeway Education Trust, St Birinus School (Ofsted Good, February 2020) works in very close partnership with Didcot Girls’ School (Ofsted Outstanding, November 2022), Sutton Courtenay Church of England Primary School (SIAMS Good in all areas November 2022) and a 400 strong mixed Didcot Sixth Form (Ofsted Outstanding, November 2022) which is based predominantly at St Birinus.

With an exceptional Deputy Headteacher appointed to her own headship from January 2024, we seek to appoint a Deputy Headteacher to provide strategic leadership for St Birinus School, ensuring outstanding standards and promoting an aspirational, energised and inclusive ethos.

You will be directly responsible for providing …

• Strategic leadership for the ongoing development of the 11 – 16 Curriculum and Assessment
• Professional development of Curriculum Leadership Group (CLG)
• Excellent teaching and learning and CPD, with an acute focus on inclusive provision and the classroom experience of Spotlight Students (SEND & PP)
• Rigorous whole school systems for self-evaluation and quality assurance
• Ongoing development of the SBS Way in terms of “Excellent Learning”

There are exciting opportunities for the successful candidate’s professional development, working within the Trust partnership and an exceptional senior team which is collaborative, connected and highly ambitious.

We are looking to appoint a leader who has:

• the drive and ambition to continue to move the school forward, developing a compelling vision for the future
• a passion for learning that creates the best environment for fulfilling outcomes and ensuring that all young people achieve their full potential
• the ability to realise and release the potential of all staff and students at the school and raise its performance from good to great
• the character, emotional intelligence and skills to work collaboratively and effectively with all stakeholders, both within and outside the school, engaging successfully with the wider school community in Didcot and surrounding area

We can offer the opportunity:

•  to continued professional development to shape the future of a school with a distinctive all boys’ context and a large mixed sixth form in a successful Trust and a diverse community
• to work with a motivated team of supportive and committed staff who are very proud of their school and passionately believe that every child matters
• work within a restless and dynamic school on its exciting journey from good to great

Please refer to the job description and person specification provided for this post and then complete the application form, paying particular attention to Part 7: supporting statement, to include your relevant skills and experiences.

Additionally, please also answer the following question, in no more than 400 words:

What is my vision for this post to ensure sustainably excellent standards and outcomes for young people at St Birinus School and how would I implement this?

St Birinus School is judged to be a securely Good school with students meeting the school’s high expectations (OFSTED Report February 2020). The OFSTED reports states:

“St Birinus School is a vibrant and inspiring place for pupils to learn. Pupils are very proud of their school. They feel it is a friendly and welcoming place where they really feel valued.”

St Birinus is in the top 5% of all schools nationally for boys’ progress which accurately reflects our aspirational expectations and ethos.

We are committed to continuous professional development and have wide-ranging training and development opportunities. For Early Careers Teachers this takes the form of a carefully designed mentoring programme. For experienced teachers, and those returning to teaching, there is a comprehensive CPD provision in place with a focus on department based development and collaboration.

We are also mindful of the competing demands people face in their lives so are happy to consider part-time applications. 

Benefits of working with us:

• Loan of laptop and mouse for all teaching staff
• Promethean boards in all classrooms
• Employee centred and family friendly policies and practises
• Opportunity for flexible working arrangements to support with work life balance (wherever possible)
• Comfortable staffrooms with tea, coffee and workspaces 
• Cycle to work scheme and sheltered secure bicycle sheds

Application process

To ensure we conduct a fair shortlisting process we use blind shortlisting whereby personal information (such as name, email address, gender & ethnicity) are not made available to the short-listing panel.

Please note that the school reserves the right to interview on receipt of applications, and to appoint prior to the deadline, so early application is recommended.

Ridgeway Education Trust is committed to safeguarding, equality and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff working in all its schools to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS, references and pre-employment safeguarding checks.  All Leadership roles will require a Section 128 check.  The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining a post. All cases are considered confidentially and according to the nature of the role and information disclosed.  

To view our Safeguarding policy, please visit our website: http://www.st-birinus-school.org.uk/1852/sbs-policies.  Please be aware that you will be required to bring your original degree certificate, proof of residence and photographic ID, as applicable, to interview and online searches may be made for shortlisted candidates, as part of due diligence checks.

St Birinus School is a Family Friendly School, committed to supporting our staff so that they can carve out a professional and personal life that is fulfilling and balanced. 

Our RET Staff Charter summarises the commitment we make to all staff who join and work at Ridgeway Education Trust.

We are committed to expressing our values of high quality learning, respectful relationships and an inclusive environment in the day to day experience of staff and students throughout the school.

St Birinus School is an equal opportunities employer.

Commitment to safeguarding

Ridgeway Education Trust is committed to safeguarding, equality and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff working in its schools to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS, references and pre-employment safeguarding checks. All Leadership roles require a Section 128 check. Possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining a post. All cases are considered confidentially according to the nature of role and information disclosed. Our Safeguarding policy: http://www.st-birinus-school.org.uk/1852/sbs-policies. You will be required to bring your original degree certificate, proof of residence and photographic ID, to interview.

Applying for the job

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Using the application form

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

Skilled worker visa sponsorship is not available for this job.

About St Birinus School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 1040 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
• School website: St Birinus School website (opens in new tab)
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-birinus-school-didcot (opens in new tab)

All Boys' Comprehensive Secondary School, part of the Ridgeway Education Trust

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