Job Overview

Haute Vallee School is seeking to appoint a dynamic and enthusiastic Assistant Headteacher. This is an exciting opportunity to join a progressive and forward thinking school.  We are looking for somebody to bring ideas to the table as well as being dynamic and enthusiastic.  Ideally applicants will have a proven record in a senior position within a functioning learning environment.  They should also have the drive and enthusiasm to empower staff and students around them to develop their own coping strategies to make them more successful, ultimately fulfilling their full potential. Candidates will be expected to fulfil a teaching role at a maximum 0.6FTE and therefore should be able to demonstrate excellent subject knowledge in their chosen field, ie English, Maths, Science etc and have an aptitude to motivate, interest and inspire students. The successful applicant will be well organised, conscientious and be prepared to work as part of a team, in a busy, vibrant and exciting secondary school.

For further information or an informal discussion regarding this role - please contact Rob Allsopp - r.allsopp@hv.sch.je.

Attributes of the Assistant Head Teacher

• Demonstrate high expectations which inspire, enthuse, motivate and challenge colleagues.
• Drive and facilitate progress and outcomes by colleagues.
• Engage and inspire colleagues with creative and innovative knowledge and planning.
• Orchestrate and develop training opportunities for colleagues so that their capacity to do their job well is improved.
• Analyse and make judgements about the extent to which colleagues respond to the strengths and needs of all students and staff.
• Use assessment and assessment data to focus support and intervention work with colleagues.
• Actively pursue strategies to ensure that the quality of student behaviour is outstanding by inspiring colleagues’ expectations and confidence.
• Act as a role model for colleagues in how to fulfil wider professional responsibilities and expectations.
• Promote and uphold public trust in the profession and maintain impeccable standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school.
• Have proper and professional regard for the policies and practices of the Jersey Education Department and developments in the UK and further afield.
• Have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out teachers’ professional duties and responsibilities.
• Understand in detail and contribute significantly to judgements made about the school by bodies to whom the school is accountable

An Assistant Headteacher will contribute to the Senior Leadership Group through:Long Description

• Working with other members of the SLG in strategic planning to translate the vision of the school into agreed policies and operational plans.
• Advising the SLG on areas related to the job description.
• Working collaboratively within the team in organisational and day to day aspects of the school. For example:  presentations to parents and other stakeholders, day to day issues which arise with staff, students, the public and press.
• Attending and sharing in the leadership of GCSE result days.
• Responding appropriately and as described in policies in relation to safeguarding, data protection and health and safety.
• Understanding and practicing collective responsibility and recognising that the role involves high levels of confidentiality, professionalism, leadership and vision.
• Regularly reviewing own practice and contributing to the school’s performance review and evaluation systems.
• Carry out any other tasks as may be reasonably required by the Head Teacher.
• Acting as line manager for staff as delegated by the Head Teacher.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will have already demonstrated:

• Proven ability of high level teaching skills up to KS4.
• Leadership and management experience in a secondary school.
• Proven ability to turn vision into outcome through excellent leadership.
• Strong leadership skills, an ability to take responsibility and a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Energy, vision and enthusiasm to lead the school in the designated areas of responsibility.
• Experience of successfully leading and managing change at middle manager level.
• Experience of actively supporting teaching staff and students in the completion of their work.
• High levels of skill in working with both individual students and large groups to support student involvement in the life of the school.
• High level presentational skills in addressing students, parents, Governors and teachers.
• Ability to manage and motivate staff teams to focus on what can be achieved.

Person Specification - continued

• Proven high order organisational and administrative skills and attention to detail.
• The ability to work hard under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively, to model good practice and maintain high levels of confidentiality.
• Strong interpersonal skills which display high levels of diplomacy in dealing with difficult situations effectively.
• An ability to be able to demonstrate a strong understanding and commitment to the aims and ethos of Haute Vallee School.
• Ability to appropriately resolve complex or difficult situations.
• Demonstrated potential to play a full and active part in the SLG team and are prepared to go the extra mile.

The Teacher's Task

The DfESC and the representatives of the Teacher’s Unions have agreed the following statement of the Teacher’s Task in order to define more clearly the nature of teachers’ employment. It is their view that in this important work of educating Jersey’s children it is imperative that both teachers and Headteachers recognise the duty they owe to those children and the community. To this end the teacher is expected to maintain a professional commitment to their task and the Headteacher is pledged to a responsible and humane interpretation of this agreement.

Definition of the Teacher's Task

The following provides a definition of the Teachers’ Task:

1. Teach effectively to meet the needs of all pupils and to ensure discipline and safety within the school community.

2. The DfESC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and requires all teachers to share this commitment.

3. Plan, prepare, evaluate and modify as necessary personal teaching methods, work programmes and teaching materials in accordance with the DfESC curricular policies and school schemes and standards.

4. Mark and maintain records of pupils’ work in accordance with DfESC and school policies.

5. Promote the general progress and welfare of pupils in classes or groups or individually as part of the school’s pastoral and counselling arrangements.

6. Assess and record pupils’ personal and social needs, development, progress and attainment.

7. Provide or contribute to oral or written assessments and report on individual pupils and groups; consult and inform parents, co-operate with appropriate outside agencies in accordance with DfESC and school policies.

8. Contribute to and participate in corporate planning, self evaluation, in-service training and professional development in assigned areas of the curriculum and pastoral arrangements; participate in related staff meetings and school events.

9. Advise colleagues, co-operate with them on teaching programmes, methods, equipment and materials within assigned areas of the curriculum ensuring that appropriate administrative tasks are undertaken.

10. Contribute and participate in the school’s pastoral, tutorial and guidance arrangements and undertake an appropriate share of the organisation and conduct of parental consultation and staff meetings.

11. Contribute as required to the appointment, induction, professional development and assessment of junior colleagues, including new entrants to teaching.

12. Accept an appropriate share of the administrative and organisational tasks within the school, including providing support for teachers, undertaking additional curriculum or pastoral responsibilities or holding senior posts.

13. Ensure the safety and good order of pupils by carrying out an appropriate share of supervisions whenever pupils are authorised to be on school premises or elsewhere when the school is in session.

14. Undertaking an appropriate share of all collective responsibilities including substitution for an absent colleague subject to guaranteed non-teaching time.

15. Supervise support staff as required.

16. Order and allocate appropriate equipment and materials in accordance with DfESC and school policies and schemes.

17. Co-operate as required with teachers in other schools and colleges on curricular, pastoral and administrative matters.