Headteacher

Main Purpose of the Role

The Headteacher is responsible for improving learning and life chances for all students within the school by delivering our ethos, which is based on the school motto “Nil Sine Labore” – Nothing Without Work, and the values of Respect, Responsibility and Excellence.

Through inspiring leadership, they must ensure the delivery of sustained school improvement whilst overseeing the effective and efficient delivery of operational excellence across curriculum delivery, teaching and learning, behaviour, personal development and safeguarding.

Through an ambitious and inclusive approach, the Headteacher will ensure that our core values of respect, responsibility and excellence are evident in all aspects of school life and across all members of the school community.

Qualities and Knowledge

• Hold and effectively articulate clear values and moral purpose, focused on providing a world-class education for the pupils and communities we serve.
• Demonstrate optimistic personal behaviour, positive relationships and attitudes towards students and staff, and towards parents, governors, members of the local community and wider stakeholders
• Lead by example, demonstrating integrity, creativity, resilience and clarity, drawing on your own scholarship, expertise and skills, and those of others.
• Maintain a wide and current knowledge and understanding of education and school systems locally, nationally and globally, and pursue continuous professional development and learning.
• Work with political and financial astuteness within a clear set of principles centred on the school’s vision, translating relevant local and national policy into the school’s context.
• Communicate the school’s vision compellingly and provide highly effective strategic leadership, empowering all students and staff to excel.
• Commit to a collaborative approach, working for the benefit of all pupils, staff and families within our organisation.

Students and Staff

• Demand ambitious standards for all students in all that they do, overcoming disadvantage and advancing equality.
• Instil a strong sense of accountability in staff for the impact of their work on student outcomes and wider experiences across all key stages.
• Lead an evidence-informed commitment to continuing professional development and learning for all staff, ensuring everyone can contribute to provision and understands their value.
• Secure exceptional teaching through an analytical understanding of how pupils learn and of the core features of successful classroom practice and curriculum design, leading to rich curriculum opportunities.
• Prioritise the well-being, positive mental health and personal development of students.
• Establish an educational culture of aspiration for all and continuous improvement.
• Identify emerging talents, coaching current and aspiring leaders in a climate where excellence is the standard, leading to clear succession planning.
• Engage staff realistically and constructively, reviewing and managing pressures to support workload and well-being.
• Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all staff within the school and deliver a developmental appraisal process that celebrates success, values individuals and promotes ambition.
• Hold all staff to account for their professional conduct and practice at all times.

Systems and Process

• Work with those responsible for governance to further develop a shared strategic vision and plan that ignites a passion for learning, promotes ambition and motivates pupils, staff and the wider school community.
• Ensure that the school’s systems, organisation and processes are well considered, efficient and fit for purpose, upholding transparency, integrity and probity.
• Plan, develop, monitor, evaluate and review the School Improvement Plan, engaging with other post holders to deliver clear evaluation and appropriate development priorities.
• Promote creativity, innovation and other transformational activities to raise standards in all areas of the school’s work.
• Provide a safe, calm and well-ordered environment for all students and staff, focused on safeguarding and exemplary behaviour.
• Establish rigorous, fair and transparent systems for managing staff performance, addressing underperformance swiftly and valuing excellent practice.
• Welcome strong governance and actively support those responsible for governance in understanding and fulfilling their roles through transparent data and analysis.
• Enable those responsible for governance to set strategy and hold the Headteacher to account for student, staff and financial performance.
• Exercise integrated curriculum-led financial planning to ensure equitable deployment of budgets and resources, supporting pupil achievement and sustainability.
• Distribute leadership appropriately across the organisation, fostering accountability among teams.
• Ensure that all statutory requirements are met effectively.
• Ensure that the school is prepared to provide evidence for internal and external accountability frameworks.
• Develop, plan and deliver a digital strategy for the school with the support of experts.

Self-improving School

• Create a culture of positive challenge to embed change management and deliver sustained school improvement.
• Develop an outward-facing school that works collaboratively with other schools and organisations, including other grammar schools, to share best practice and secure excellent outcomes for all students.
• Build effective relationships with professionals across education and public services to improve academic, career and social outcomes for all students.
• Contribute to the development of the teaching profession through high-quality training and sustained professional development and learning for all staff.
• Inspire and influence others, within and beyond schools, to recognise the fundamental importance of education in young people’s lives and to promote the value of education.

Other Responsibilities

• Be a role model for the whole school and the wider community.
• Hold colleagues accountable at all levels.
• Ensure that the management of the school through designated roles is efficient and effective.
• Develop and promote policies and procedures that ensure the school’s distinctive ethos is reflected in all activities and that the Academy’s policies are enacted.
• Promote the school’s ethos and culture within the wider community and beyond.
• Represent the school in appropriate forums locally, regionally and nationally as required.