This position has been filled

Deputy Head

Background

The position of Deputy Head comes about as a consequence of the retirement of the current Deputy, Simon Ransome after nearly twenty years of service at Amesbury (fifteen as Deputy).
 

• Headmaster
• 1st Deputy Head (Operations and Pastoral)
• Deputy Head (Teaching and Learning)
• Head of Pre-Preparatory Department
• Financial Director.

It is assumed that the successful candidate will in the fullness of time (three-five years) seek a headship. To that extent the school will underpin his/her period of tenure with appropriate training and development opportunities.

Though the job description makes reference to the Deputy Head overseeing the work of the matron and the boarding (sleepover facility) there are no expectations that the successful applicant will be required to have any operational commitment in this area i.e., nightly duties, sleeping over etc.

Personal Specification

• The successful candidate is likely to have the following qualifications and experience:
• A minimum of good graduate level qualifications and QTS.
• 10+ years full time experience in schools, some of that working with children spanning part of the of 7-13 age range.
  (NB: It is possible that a candidate might have considerably less experience having had a successful career outside of teaching prior to entering the profession).
• Be an outstanding classroom practitioner.
• Successful leadership of an academic department or similar (Head of Year, boarding house etc) for a minimum of three years.
• Evidence of ICT confidence.
• Evidence of a commitment to their professional development.
• Evidence of specific expertise (well beyond the norm) in one/two areas relating to the role advertised i.e., PHSE, Child Protection, Health and Safety Committee, Performance Management.
• Experience in policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Personal Qualities

• Excellent planning, administration, time management skills.
• The ability to work to deadlines.
• First class written, oral and presentational skills.
• A confident and outgoing personality that will be able to maintain the support of Common Room, parents and pupils.
• The self-confidence to lead public gathering of pupils, parents, staff and other visitors to the school.
• Enjoy the networking process and the need to promote the school.
• Have a range of leadership styles, and be able to recognise when to adopt different styles successfully.
• Enjoy the parent-school interface.
• Good conflict resolution skills.
• Be able to take the initiative.
• Be able to take an idea and develop it through to completion.
• Be observant, have an eye for detail, spot problems and develop generic solutions.

School Aims

Our broadest goal is to develop pupils that are well educated, well informed and cultured, who have minds of their own, a broad range of interests and a strong sense of moral purpose. More specifically we aim to:

1. Develop in our pupils the necessary skills, aptitudes and abilities to enable them to move on to their senior schools as independent autonomous learners equipped with the competencies necessary to learn independently throughout their lives.
2. Develop a caring community within the school by encouraging commitment, courtesy, co-operation, tolerance and compassion towards one another whilst understanding that each individual is a member of a wider community.
3. Promote and nurture a close relationship between home and school in the partnership of education.
4. Develop the talents of all members of staff in order to improve the performance of pupils.
5. Provide pupils with a model of how an excellent organization is run, one in which there is a culture of high achievement, a willingness to adapt and a propensity for innovation.

Job Description

Deputy Head (Operations & Pastoral)

Job Purpose

1. To lead the Common Room on a daily basis to ensure that the school runs smoothly (including deputising for the headmaster in his absence) and for improving the quality of operational efficiency and effectiveness.
2. To be responsible for all arrangements relating to the pastoral care of pupils, and improving the quality of care throughout the school.
3. To act as a role model to other members of the common room in terms of his/her professional standards, commitment to the extra curricular life of the school delivering the school’s strategic objectives and improvement plan.
4. To teach one third/half timetable.

Accountability

1. The Deputy Head (O & P) is a member of:
   1. The Senior Leadership Team: Headmaster, Finance Director, Head of Pre-Prep, Deputy Head (Teaching and Learning).
   2. The Health and Safety Committee: Chaired by the Health and Safety Officer (Facilities Manager), Head of Pre-Prep, Director of ICT
2. In the absence of the headmaster all staff report to the Deputy Head.
3. All preparatory school staff (including the matron) reports to the DH on pastoral matters.
4. The Third Master and Head of pastoral care (girls) report to the Deputy Head (O & P) on relevant matters.

Key Responsibilities

1. To deputise for the headmaster in his absence.
2. Ensure that he/she is aware of the particular circumstances of each day (absence of staff, pupils, year groups, special events, fire drills, disciplinary issues, significant parental complaints) in order to ensure that the school continues to run in an orderly manner.
3. Organisation of staff duties, ensuring that they are performed efficiently and in accordance with established policy.
4. Participating in teams and working parties as required ensuring that the school operates smoothly. To evaluate current arrangements and implement new arrangements.
5. Ensuring that various internal and external communication mechanisms function effectively i.e., School Calendar etc.
6. Organise special school events including Prize Giving, Harvest Festival, Carol Service and School photograph etc.
7. The organisation and development of the House system including liaison with the House Representatives.
8. Advise the headmaster on the appointment of new staff to the school and to take responsibility for their induction (prep school). The day-to-day monitoring of staff performance, and the performance management of non-academic heads of department and disciplinary issues.
9. To chair Tutor’s meetings, to be responsible for the organisation of the tutorial system, including disciplinary, bullying issues and liaison with parents etc.
10. To be a member of the Health and Safety Committee and to be responsible for overseeing such matters as they relate to the preparatory school.
11. To be a nominated ‘Child Protection Officer’ along with the Headmaster and Head of Pre-Prep and assist with policy implementation, evaluation and development, liaison with appropriate bodies (Surrey Social Services etc), including the preparation of necessary inspection documentation, and appropriate training and development for staff.
12. The implementation, evaluation and development of policy relating to pastoral issues including ‘Values and Discipline’ policy’, bullying, drugs policy, child protection etc and liaison with parents, and to be responsible for ensuring that such policy documentation is updated annually.
13. In conjunction with the Deputy Head (T&L) for overseeing arrangements for the induction of new pupils (including relevant documentation to pupils, parents and staff).
14. To oversee the work of the matron and the development of policy and practise, including the functioning of the sleepover facility, staffing arrangements, it’s promotion, and development of policy and practise.
15. The organisation and publication of an annual ‘Educational Performance Report’ used to monitor the effectiveness of pastoral care in the school: from which appropriate targets may be set and training and development needs identified.
16. To be responsible for extending the schools charitable activities taking into account our legal obligations in conjunction with the Head of Pastoral Care (Curriculum).
17. To guide the Head of Pastoral Care (Curriculum) in the development of the pastoral (PHSE) curriculum and charitable activities.
18. To guide the Third Master & School Office Manager in relation to initiatives with the Old Amesburian Association.

General

1. To set an example in terms of continuous personal development, participating in appropriate training to maintain an up to date professional expertise.
2. To act as guide and confidante to the Head, and in doing so to make open, honest and candid recommendations even if such views run contrary to established school policies.
3. To undertake other duties appropriate to the general purpose of the post that may from time to time be reasonably assigned.
4. To make a full and active contribution to the extra-curricular life of the school.
5. The Deputy Head (O&P) is expected to represent the school on IAPS, ISI and will represent the school on other bodies that the headmaster deems suitable.

Application Process

1. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 1st February 2006.
2. Interviews will take place week commencing 6th February.
3. Applicants are asked to provide the headmaster with a letter of application (no more than two sides of A4).
4. The letter of application should avoid lengthy descriptions on their preferred styles as classroom practitioners or clichéd philosophies on teaching. It would be preferable if they would give thought to their previous experience and expertise in two specific areas and explain how that would be of significant benefit in the post described. It would also be helpful if candidates would be brave enough to identify areas within the job description where they might feel less confident and might need to be underpinned with some training.
5. An up-to-date CV, and photograph, with three referees (including your current head).