Head of School
Downe Primary School, Orpington, Kent, BR6 7JNThis job expired on 18 February 2024
Job start date
27 August 2024
Closing date
18 February 2024 at 5pm
Date listed
19 January 2024
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £61,225.00 - £62,703.00 Annually (Actual) Leadership pay scales L9 - L10 (Outer London)
Head of School job summary
The governors of Downe Primary School are seeking to appoint an inspirational and driven leader to take on the role of Head of School at the school from September. This is an exciting opportunity for a committed and experienced leader to shape the future of our wonderful village school. The successful individual will have a key remit to further develop the improvement plan, while continuing to raise standards and promote strong values.
We are looking for a dynamic and effective leader, communicator and team builder with the vision, ability and drive to inspire, motivate and influence pupils, staff and stakeholders, ensuring successful and sustainable school improvement. In return, we can offer you strong support from the Trust’s executive team, the freedom to shape the future of the school, and the opportunity for your continued professional development, including access to NPQs. If you are ready to meet these exciting challenges, we look forward to receiving your application. We welcome applications from candidates with experience of headship or from aspiring headteachers.
We warmly encourage you to visit our school before applying. Tours will be held on:
Thursday 25th January at 9.30am
Thursday 1st February at 9.30am
Wednesday 7th February at 1.30pm
Please contact the school office on 01689 853916 to book onto one of these.
The successful candidate will be an exceptional leader and strategic thinker, with a proven track record of successful leadership and management in a primary school. You will:
- have high expectations of staff and pupils and the vision to build a strong staff team and cohesive school community;
- inspire and motivate all pupils and staff to develop in a well-disciplined and harmonious environment;
- enable all pupils to achieve their potential during their time at the school, ensuring that they leave school as mature, rounded, resilient individuals, ready to take their places as active citizens ready for secondary school;
- be committed to the delivery of the highest standard of teaching and learning across The Pioneer Academy, including the professional development of our staff.
We can offer you strong support with a Trust level induction and training programme for new deputy headteachers, designed by our regional director, in collaboration with current headteachers and deputy headteachers, as well as the opportunity to work collaboratively with other headteachers across our multi academy trust. We offer access to National Professional Qualifications, as well as access to professional coaching.
Downe Primary School is a small village school with a warm, family feel. We place great emphasis on positive and secure relationships built upon trust, respect and clear communication. This extends to every member of the school community, providing a supportive learning environment where everyone is valued and included, championed and challenged. Children develop the personal skills required for a happy and fulfilled life alongside the knowledge and skills required for the next stage of their education.
Downe Primary School is part of The Pioneer Academy Trust which is an academy trust with schools across London and the South East. At The Pioneer Academy, we put children first, pioneering excellence and championing each and every child. All our schools, ranging from small infant schools to large primary schools, work collaboratively, sharing resources and expertise. Find out more at: Downe Primary School and www.thepioneeracademy.co.uk
At The Pioneer Academy, we take the wellbeing and mental health of our staff seriously which is why we are committed to regular reviews of staff well-being and reducing staff workload. We have increased our PPA offer this year to up to 5 hours for full time teachers, and regular additional release time scheduled for all subject leaders across the school. We create bespoke career pathways for every member of staff, identifying and growing talent, with outstanding professional development opportunities at every stage of your career. We also have an Employee Assistance Programme with a range of resources to support wellbeing which is available to all employees and their immediate family members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
If you are interested in applying for the post, please see the Job Description/Person Specification. To apply for this vacancy, please complete the application form, completing a full education and employment history since leaving school and indicating how you satisfy the criteria set out in the Job Description/Person Specification. You will also be required to complete and return a self-disclosure declaration with your application. Applications should be submitted via email to the Recruitment Team at recruitment@thepioneeracademy.co.uk
Only those shortlisted for interview will be contacted. References will be requested for those shortlisted only and prior to interview. In line with Keeping children safe in education 2023 online searches will be completed as part of the due diligence on shortlisted candidates, searching online content that is publicly available for inappropriate online content that may suggest that a shortlisted candidate may not be suitable to work with children, or that may harm the reputation of the school. If any issues of concern come up in online searches, shortlisted candidates will have an opportunity to address these at interview. An Enhanced DBS certificate will be required on provisional offer, including a check of the Children’s Barred List. Further vetting checks, in line with the requirements of Keeping children safe in education 2023 will be completed following a provisional offer of appointment. Where applicable, if an applicant with a provisional offer of employment has lived and/or worked outside the UK, they will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct.
The Pioneer Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of employment are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure and other employment checks. Our school Safeguarding Policy can be downloaded and read from our school page on My New Term.
Commitment to safeguarding
Vetting checks, in line with the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023, will be completed following a provisional offer of appointment. Where applicable, if an applicant with a provisional offer of employment has lived and/or worked outside the UK, they will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct.
The Pioneer Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of employment are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure and other employment checks. Our school Safeguarding Policy can be downloaded and read on our website.
About Downe Primary School
- School type
- Academy, ages 4 to 11
- Education phase
- View all Primaryjobs
- School size
- 62 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
- School website
- Downe Primary School website (opens in new tab)
Downe Primary School is a small village school with a warm, family feel. We place great emphasis on positive and secure relationships built upon trust, respect and clear communication. This extends to every member of the school community, providing a supportive learning environment where everyone is valued and included, championed and challenged. Children develop the personal skills required for a happy and fulfilled life alongside the knowledge and skills required for the next stage of their education.
Downe Primary School is part of The Pioneer Academy Trust which is an academy trust with schools across London and the South East. At The Pioneer Academy, we put children first, pioneering excellence and championing each and every child. All our schools, ranging from small infant schools to large primary schools, work collaboratively, sharing resources and expertise. Find out more at: Downe Primary School and www.thepioneeracademy.co.uk
School location
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