Margaret McMillan Primary School

Job Description and Person Specification

Headteacher

Core Purpose

The core purpose of the Headteacher is to provide professional, effective, leadership and management for our school, which will promote a secure foundation from which to achieve high standards and improvement in all areas of the school’s work. The Headteacher must:

  • Through inspirational leadership and management create a shared vision and strategic plan that inspires and motivates children, staff, parents and all other members of the school community to achieve greater success.
  • Establish high quality education by effectively managing teaching and learning and using personalised learning for the pupils in order that every child is able to fulfil their potential.
  • Establish a culture that promotes excellence, equality and high expectations of all pupils thereby creating a productive learning environment.
  • Lead by personal example in demonstrating a full and professional commitment to excellence in primary education.
  • Further strengthen levels of attendance.
  • Effectively manage the completion of the new building and the renovation of existing buildings so as to maximise the learning potential of the new premises.
  • Ensure the school is an active and successful member of the Bradford Co-operative Learning Trust and demonstrates the values of the Trust in everything it does
  • Create and maintains partnerships with parents and carers to support and improve pupils’ achievement and personal development

The jobholder will carry out the duties of a Headteacher as set out in the current edition of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document issued by the Department for Education and will fully meet the national standards for Headteachers.

A = assessed at application, I = assessed at interview, T = assessed through selection test

1. Shaping the future
Critical to the role of headship at our school is working with the
Governing Body and others to create a shared strategic plan which inspires and motivates pupils, staff and all other members of the school community. / Essential
• Able to develop and communicate a shared vision that benefits the children and families of Margaret McMillan Primary School and ensure it is understood and acted upon effectively by all (I)
• Able to work within the school community to translate the vision into agreed objectives and operational plans which will promote and sustain school improvement (I)
• Proven experience of strategic thinking and planning to implement a vision and sustain school improvement (I)
• Able to make difficult decisions and follow them through (I,T)
• A determination to raise standards across the school and ability to do so effectively (A,I,T)
• Ability to undertake school self-evaluation and use the outcomes to improve pupils’ achievements (A,I)
• Good oral and written communication skills and good listening skills (I,T)
2. Leading Learning and
Teaching
Headteachers have a central responsibility for raising the quality of teaching and learning and for pupil achievement. This includes setting high expectations, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of learning outcomes. / Essential
• Successful senior leadership experience within a primary school setting resulting in significant long term improvements (A, I)
• Thorough understanding of the National Curriculum relating to EYFS, KS1 and KS2 and statutory assessment arrangements (A,I,T)
• In depth knowledge of excellence in primary teaching practice, including appropriate teaching and learning styles that will improve standards (A,I,T)
• Demonstrable experience of successful implementation of monitoring and evaluation, target setting, school improvement planning and curriculum leadership (A,I,T)
• Understanding of school performance data, its analysis and use to raise standards and monitor progress in every child’s learning (I,T)
• Up-to-date knowledge of primary education (A,I,T)
• Understands school self-evaluation and its link with school improvement and Ofsted inspection process (I,T)
• Able to manage a culture of high expectations and to set stretching targets for the whole school (A,I,T)
Commitment to delivering a broad and balanced curriculum, which includes innovative approaches to enrich the Cultural, Moral, Social, Spiritual and Physical experiences of all pupils, but which fosters personalised learning approaches to ensure success for every child (I)
• Able to monitor and accurately evaluate quality of teaching, give accurate feedback, challenge underperformance at all levels and ensure effective corrective action and follow up (A,I,T)
Desirable
• Gained experience of working in more than one school (A,I)
3. Developing Self and Working with Others
To work with and empower others, including our pupils, staff, governors, parents and other members of the community to build a professional learning community, which enables others to achieve / Essential
• Has a DFE recognised teaching qualification (A)
• Evidence of own continuing professional development (A,I)
• Treats people fairly, equitably and with dignity to create and maintain a positive school culture (I)
• Able to promote team and individual working as appropriate to fulfil school objectives (A,I)
• Able to establish excellent working relationships with others (I,T)
• Experience of developing individuals and teams in order to achieve personal and shared goals in the drive for school improvement (A,I)
• Able to balance work and personal life and is considerate of the well-being of others (I)
• Experience of supporting the CPD of staff and/or governors (A,I)
• Experience of promoting pupil voice (A,I)
Desirable
• Awarded NPQH (unless exempt or serving HT) (A)
• Further relevant qualifications (A)
4. Managing and Leading the
Organisation
To provide effective organisation
and management for our school, and to seek ways of improving organisational structures and functions. Ensure that the school and the people and resources within it are organised and managed to provide an efficient, effective and safe learning environment. / Essential
• Able to plan strategically and operationally and allocate resources effectively
(A,I)
• Able to promote good behaviour and a positive school ethos and high attendance (A,I)
• Able to identify strengths and areas for development and positively embrace change to secure continuous school improvement, taking risks where necessary in order to enable the school community to take on board new initiatives and to make further progress (I,T)
• Able to produce and implement clear, evidence based improvement plans and policies for the development of the school (A, I)
• Prepared to challenge staff and established ways of working in order to move the school forward (A,I,T)
• Proven experience of leading or participating in the implementation of school or DFE education initiatives (A,I)
• Will work outside of School Hours as required (I)
• Experience of managing a budget (A,I)
Desirable
• Experience of managing a whole school budget (I)
• Experience of securing external funding for projects (I)
5. Securing Accountability
With values at the heart of their leadership, the Headteacher of our school will promote collective responsibility within the whole school community and contribute to the education service more widely. The Headteacher will be accountable for the efficiency of the school to the pupils, parents, carers, governors and LA. / Essential
• Able to work with the Governing Body to determine the schools vision and set its strategic direction (A,I)
• Understands and is able to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all users of the school (I)
• Understands the Headteacher’s responsibilities for child protection (A,I)
• Able to ensure individual staff accountabilities are clearly defined, understood and agreed and are subject to review and evaluation (I)
• Has experience of supporting or coaching underperforming staff and is prepared to deal with underperformance in a firm and fair way (A,I)
6. Strengthening Community through Collaboration
To collaborate with other schools, the wider community and other agencies in order to share expertise and bring positive benefits to our and other schools. / Essential
• Commitment to the principles of inclusion and ensuring equality for all (A,I)
• Recognises the vital partnership with parents/carers and in particular, their role in contributing to the child’s education and positive school life (I)
• Committed to networking and collaboration with partners, including other schools, the LA, businesses and community organisations for the benefit of pupils at Margaret McMillan Primary School (I)

The tasks and responsibilities within this job role may vary and evolve to meet the needs of the school and may be subject to formal review.

Equality

We require our governors and employees to follow our equality policies and to follow all statutory requirements concerning age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and disability. We respect and protect the rights of people with disabilities both in terms of equal opportunity for employment and access to the school's services.

Job Sharing

Job Share applicants are welcome to apply for all full-time posts unless otherwise stated in the advertisement.

Disabled Applicants

Disabled applicants are guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential requirements of the Personnel Specification. Our school is committed to making any necessary reasonable adjustments to the selection process, the job role and the working environment that

would enable access to employment opportunities for disabled people. Where a disabled applicant is being assessed the selection panel's decisions will be based on an assessment of that person's expected capabilities once reasonable adjustments have been made.