Information for Applicants Appointment of Deputy Head (Pastoral) For September 2021 A message from the Headmaster

Many thanks for your interest in Leicester Grammar School. I hope that the fol- lowing introductory notes will give you an impression of this thriving and ambi- tious school, and will help you to decide whether or not to submit an applica- tion. You will gather from the school’s remarkable history that it is an inspiring and vibrant place both to learn and to work, with a commitment to preparing young people for a lifetime of challenge and fulfilment. Staff share high expec- tations not only of what children can achieve but, above all, of who they can become – when enthused through dynamic teaching, provided with outstand- ing opportunities and supported through attentive pastoral care.

As the school and the Trust embark on a new phase of planning and develop- ment, it is an exciting time to join us. I hope you may wish to be part of this warm and happy community as it goes from strength to strength. Put simply, we are determined to give the best possible preparation in life to our young people.

John Watson Headmaster and Principal of Leicester Grammar School Trust The Trust’s mission statement is: Leicester Grammar School Background, History and Context The Leicester Grammar School Trust seeks to be an inspiring centre for co-ed- ucational excellence in academic and personal development, within a Chris- tian ethos. Leicester Grammar School was founded in 1981 in response to the demise of the maintained grammar schools in the area. In 1992 the Junior School was The school’s aims are to: added, which broadened the educational offering of the Trust. The defining milestone in the Trust’s development was then the bold and inspired decision • Promote intellectual curiosity and academic excellence. in the mid-2000s to move the two schools from the heart of Leicester to the • Provide a broad, balanced and stimulating curriculum. edge of Great Glen, a rural village some seven miles to the south of Leicester. • Offer a rich range of co-curricular opportunities which enhance pupils’ The two schools moved onto a very attractive, state-of-the-art campus on 75 physical, cultural and personal development. acres in September 2008, which was latterly officially opened by Her Majesty, • Equip pupils with the self-belief, consideration and skills required for a prin- The Queen. cipled and fulfilling life. • Create a happy and mutually-supportive community of learners and staff, The purchase of nearby Stoneygate School in 2016 has brought a third edu- in which each individual is encouraged and enabled to do and be their cational institution under the umbrella of the Trust, offering greater choice to best. parents in Leicestershire and surrounding areas who seek an independent ed- • Care for the mental and emotional well-being of pupils, and be proactive ucation for their children. From September 2021, Stoneygate School will be re- in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. branded as ‘LGS Stoneygate’, with its own unique ethos and identity within the • Welcome pupils of diverse backgrounds and faiths, nurturing their social Trust’s family of schools. and spiritual development. • Foster a generous contribution to charity, community service and society. The schools in the Trust have a Christian foundation but welcome pupils of all faiths and none, with enormous importance being placed on the moral, spiritual and mental well-being of children under their care. Situated on the outskirts of one of the most multicultural cities in the UK, we are proud to draw children from city and country, and to welcome pupils from a rich range of cultural and religious backgrounds.

The pupil body is socially quite diverse too and there is a strong desire to provide more bursaries in the future. The Trust as a whole is financially strong and led by a very committed senior team and an open, collaborative and well-qualified Board of 14 local Trustees. We attract positive, polite and ‘grounded’ children, who display a strong sense of respect for one another and for staff. Concerns over behaviour are rare; our pupils thrive in a calm and purposeful community, well supported and guided by staff.

Campus and Facilities Opportunity, achievement and The new-build scheme completed in 2008, provided the Grammar School com- community munity and the Junior School, which is housed in the same building, with excel- lent facilities, outstanding equipment and a beautiful and practical space in Our pupils enjoy exceptional opportunities within and beyond the classroom; which to learn and work together. we have high expectations, but the success of our community stems above all from a culture of aspiration and care.

The Junior School occupies a large self-contained section of the main building Examination results in 2019 (the last year of external results) were typically excel- and the open-plan Refectory, used by pupils from both schools, acts as a link lent, with over 50% of A levels graded A*/A and 81% A*-B. At GCSE, a very im- between the two schools. Nearby, there is the 850-seat St Nicholas Hall which pressive 57% of grades were at 9/8/A* and the school was ranked 19th co-ed- hosts assemblies, chapel services, school concerts and outside performances ucational independent school nationally in the Times. Eight students have and is accessed from the main entrance foyer. An extension was added in recently received Oxbridge offers for 2021 entry. 2015, providing additional science and lecture facilities, meeting and office space and an enhanced Sixth Form common room. The school won the accolade of Sunday Times East Midlands Independent Secondary School of the Year 2020. In addition, there is an indoor sports complex which offers multi-use courts for Badminton, Basketball and Netball. Indoor Cricket nets and Table Tennis are available, along with a well-equipped and supervised fitness suite, a Gym/ Dance Studio and a 25-metre, 6-lane, heated swimming pool. With 75 acres of land, including several full-sized rugby pitches, cricket pitches and nets, two all-weather artificial hockey pitches, eight floodlit hard tennis and netball courts, it is no wonder that the site has been used as a team training base for numerous national teams, including the Canadian rugby team and the West Indies Ladies’ Cricket teams.

The school has excellent local transport links, with both London and Birming- ham under an hour away by train. Market Harborough, situated 10 miles south of Great Glen, was recently voted as one of the ‘Best Places to Live’ by The Sunday Times. The Post From September 2021, we require a Deputy Head (Pastoral) with the vision, ex- perience and talent to lead the pastoral care of pupils in this academically selective and vibrant school.

This Senior Leadership role will suit an innovative and inspiring teacher with a proven record of excellence both in the classroom and in pastoral middle or senior leadership; it represents an exceptional opportunity for an outstanding educationalist who may aspire to headship in due course. The successful can- didate will care passionately for the personal development of every individual within our warm, happy and ambitious community. She/he will love working with young people, have a clear understanding of both the joys and the pressures of adolescence, and will recognise and nurture the immense potential of every child. Person Specification The successful candidate will:

• have a good honours degree and recognised teaching qualification. • be an outstanding and experienced teacher of a subject throughout the 11-18 age-range. • have a proven record of excellence in pastoral middle or senior leadership. • preferably, have some experience of academic middle leadership. • have a track record of initiative and innovation. • have some understanding of whole-school strategy, having contributed to an aspect/ aspects of whole-school development. • have a very good understanding of the issues which both positively and negatively influence pupil behaviour and well-being. • have the ability and imagination to develop strategy which enhances the pastoral care of pupils and staff. • have the ability to lend clear direction to discussion and to ensure imple- mentation of agreed actions. • be committed to raising standards. • be an outstanding administrator and organiser, with an eye for detail. • have strong ICT skills, and the willingness and ability to learn new systems, as required by the post. • have outstanding written and oral communication skills, and relate very well and sensitively to pupils, staff and parents. • have strong collaborative skills and therefore work very well as part of a Senior Leadership Team, whose members are mutually supportive and complement each other through their diverse skills and abilities. • have the humility to listen and the ability to engender trust. • have a positive and enthusiastic outlook. • be entirely trustworthy and appropriately discreet. • be seeking a fresh challenge, which might in due course lead to headship. • be committed to her/his own professional development. • work well under pressure and be able to manage conflicting priorities. • be wholly supportive of school aims, ethos and policies/ procedures. • have an understanding of the benefits of co-education. • enjoy involvement in the co-curricular life of the school. • exercise her/his responsibility for the safeguarding of young people. • preferably have experience of teaching in more than one school. • may have a relevant post graduate qualification.

These qualities and competencies will be assessed via the candidate’s appli- cation, interview and professional references and, where relevant, will be veri- fied via copies of qualifications and successful safeguarding checks (including enhanced DBS clearance). Job Description Outreach/Partnerships Have oversight of outreach initiatives, links and partnerships (within and be- The Senior Leadership Team from September 2021 will consist of: Headmaster yond the Trust). (and Principal of Leicester Grammar School Trust), Director of Finance and Op- erations (Leicester Grammar School Trust), Senior Deputy Head, Deputy Head Administrative Responsibilities (Pastoral), Deputy Head (Curriculum), Director of Well-being and Co-curricu- lum, Head of Sixth Form. 1. Serve as a member of the Health and Safety Committee. 2. Complete all notes and records as necessary in relation to pastoral issues. The Deputy Head (Pastoral) has responsibility for all matters relating to the pas- 3. Manage school detention and disciplinary procedures. toral care of pupils. Precise details of the job description will depend on the 4. Compile and publish the school’s online community newsletter, ‘LGS To- skills, attributes and experience of the successful candidate. gether’. 5. Compile and organise the printing of the student planner. Pastoral Responsibilities 6. Organise Speech Day and Foundation Day.

1. Oversee effective pastoral care at all levels in the school. Accountability/Liaison 2. Chair the Pastoral Committee and provide line-management and support to Heads of Year. 1. Be directly accountable to the Headmaster in all pastoral matters and ad- 3. Bring a pastoral perspective to the consideration of those pupils experienc- vise him on arrangements relating to school events, from a pastoral per- ing academic difficulties. spective. 4. Oversee and monitor the induction and integration of all new pupils into 2. Work closely with other members of the Senior Leadership Team, especially the school. the Senior Deputy Head and the Director of Well-being and Co-curriculum. 5. Act as a strong advocate of student voice, overseeing the activity of the 3. Work closely with Heads of Year and all members of the Pastoral Commit- school councils. tee. 6. Monitor the content and implementation of the pastoral programme. 4. Liaise with Form Tutors, teachers and parents as appropriate. 7. Provide up-to-date information on any new thinking or research which pos- 5. Liaise with the Senior Deputy Head on academic matters affecting pupils’ itively influences school pastoral care. pastoral care. 8. Take responsibility for the development of pastoral strategic planning. 6. Liaise with senior staff in the Junior School to ensure the smooth transfer of 9. Play an active role in the training and development of staff in matters relat- pupils to the Senior School. ing to pastoral care. 7. Liaise with outside agencies as necessary with respect to the pastoral care 10. Develop and implement a programme of pastoral information/ guidance of pupils. events for parents. 8. Be a visible presence around school, for the maintenance of good order 11. Manage and enhance the school’s rewards and sanctions policy and pro- and in order to gain the respect and trust of pupils and staff. cedures. 12. Ensure that expected standards of behaviour and dress are maintained and offer support to staff as appropriate. 13. Act as one of the school’s Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. As a Deputy Head, the appointee will be expected to:

• deputise for the Senior Deputy Head in his absence. • teach approximately a 50% timetable. • undertake the duties and responsibilities expected of a teacher at the Grammar School. • ensure, with the Headmaster, that the school fully meets the regulations and expectations of the Independent Schools Inspectorate. • promote good relations with feeder schools. • assist the Headmaster with the drafting and implementation of the school’s development plan. • undertake such other duties to support the Headmaster as may, from time to time, be reasonably expected of a Deputy Head.

All members of SLT support the Headmaster with staff and pupil recruitment and take an active interest in all aspects of school life. They are expected: to remain abreast of developments in their sphere of responsibility; to manage their own personal and professional development; to lead meetings with parents and to take assemblies, thus contributing positively and actively to the culture of the school.

Working at Leicester Grammar Child Protection The post-holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of School children and young persons for whom he/she is responsible, or with whom he/ she comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the Staff are well qualified and enthusiastic, and have high expectations of them- school’s Safeguarding Policy at all times. If in the course of carrying out the selves and their pupils. The school has a strong reputation for pastoral care, and duties of the post the post-holder becomes aware of any actual or potential teaching staff are committed to co-curricular activities. Fee remission for the risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school, he/she must report any children of permanent staff is available at all schools across the Trust. There is an concerns to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or to the Headmaster. excellent and loyal support staff, who understand their vital role in contributing to pupils’ growth and achievements. Safeguarding

The salary for this full-time post will be commensurate with the applicant’s expe- Leicester Grammar School Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting rience, based on the LGS Trust’s own salary scale. The Trust participates in the the welfare of children and young people, and this is reflected in its recruitment Teachers’ Pension Scheme. procedures. Successful candidates for posts are required to undergo an en- hanced DBS disclosure. Other benefits enjoyed by our staff include: Appointment Process • Daily lunch allowance provided by Sodexo Catering during term-time • Access to Medicare health plan A completed application form and curriculum vitae, accompanied by a cov- • Free on-site parking ering letter addressed to Mr John Watson (Headmaster and Principal of Leices- • Green Commute initiative ter Grammar School Trust), should reach the school as soon as possible, and no • First class sports facilities, including gym and pool later than 9am on Wednesday 10 March 2021. Interviews will take place during • Thriving staff common room week commencing 15 March 2021, with short-listed candidates invited to return • Excellent pastoral care – permanent School Nurse, Counsellor and Chap- at the beginning of the following week. lain • Rural walking trails around the School site Interviews, either remotely or in person, may be held at any stage after appli- • Regular theatre trips & social events cations are received; therefore, interested candidates are advised to apply • Wide range of musical and singing groups as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the • On-site coffee house specified deadline, if a suitable candidate is found.

Please refer to our website www.lgs-senior.org.uk for a fuller description of the Applications should be emailed to Mrs Erica Parsons, HR Administrator, at school, and our latest news. [email protected]. There is no need to send a hard copy at this stage. Independent Co-educational Day School for children aged 3-18 Leicester Grammar School, London Road, Great Glen, Leicestershire LE8 9FL 0116 2591900 [email protected] www.lgs-senior.org.uk Registered charity number 510809