Candidate Information Pack

Headteacher

‘Think big Do the right thing Team spirit’

E-ACT Pathways { }

www.pathwaysacademy.e- act.org.uk/ Contents

Letter of Introduction 3

Why Work for E-ACT? 4

E-ACT’s School Improvement Strategy 5

E-ACT’s Approach 6

Introduction to E-ACT Pathways Academy 9

Job Description 11

Person Specification 13

For Further Information 15

How to Apply 15 Dear Applicant Why work for E-ACT?

Thank you for your interest in the role of E-ACT is about improving schools. We do this A learning organisation Headteacher at E-ACT Pathways Academy. through a relentless focus on building strong teaching and learning, inspiring curriculums, Whatever your role within E-ACT, we want everyone Is this role right for you? effective standard operating procedures and to keep on learning. We give every single one of our embedding a culture based on our values of teachers three additional dedicated days to follow If you are passionate about achieving outstanding We are looking for a passionate individual who thinking big, doing the right thing and showing an individualised plan to build on your practice teaching and learning in every classroom, inspiring relishes the opportunity to lead in all areas of team spirit. – through activities such as peer observations, children through engaging curriculums, developing education and is driven by establishing a culture visiting neighbouring schools or developing your your teaching staff to be the best they can possibly of pupil and staff happiness, safety and personal The E-ACT team includes over 2,000 employees lesson planning skills. be, ensuring outstanding safety of children and growth. If you are an established Headteacher who based across 25 academy teams, five regional making the school the heart of the community is excited by our model of leadership, if you sign up teams and one national team. On top of this every teacher participates in E-ACT’s by engaging with all local stakeholders, then this to our vision, then we want to hear from you! professional learning programme in partnership could be the role for you! By giving our pupils the space and time to with Ambitions Schools Leadership. If you’re interested in finding out more about explore, to learn, to reach out to new people and The operational management of the school is run joining our team in E-ACT Pathways Academy, to challenge themselves every day, we provide an Generous benefits by a Regional Operations Director, meaning that please read through the rest of this information education which gives every one of our pupils the they will be responsible for budget management, pack. I hope you are inspired by this post and if opportunity to be the best they can possibly be. To E-ACT is also a leader in the education sector for estates management, line management of you would like to talk more about it confidentially, do this we employ excellent teachers, who in turn, our range of outstanding employee benefits. We operational support staff or ICT in the academy. please contact [email protected] who will be are supported by inspirational leaders in education. adhere to the Burgundy Book as a minimum for Our model therefore takes away all other able to arrange a telephone conversation. teaching staff, but go above and beyond this for distractions from you, so as Headteacher you By being part of a Trust, our Academies can all staff including a generous maternity policy and can focus solely on improving the performance of collaborate with one another, share ideas and opportunities for flexible working to enable you to staff, pupils and the academy’s reach in the local practices. They can also rely on support, when it is balance family life. community. needed, from teams of regional experts who enable Academy staff to focus on what matters most: our As part of the Trust’s Northern regional hub, you David Moran pupils. will be supported and challenged from a dedicated Chief Executive Officer Regional Education Director, as well as committed E-ACT staff from the National Team. You will have a Regional Team of educational System Leaders to provide expert support in school improvement and will have opportunities to share, collaborate and innovate within the Northern hub and beyond. {Our address}

E-ACT Head Office Unit 9.2.1 The Leathermarket 11-13 Weston Street London SE1 3ER

We are responsible for over 14,000 pupils across our 25 primary and secondary academies.

020 3176 3882 [email protected] www.e-act.org.uk @EducationEACT Page 4 E-ACT’s school improvement strategy E-ACT’s Approach

E-ACT’s school improvement strategy is simple and focused on what matters most: developing people and Our regionalised model getting the very best outcomes for our students. Each academy falls into a region, and each region has an Education Team and an Operations Team, led by a Regional Director of Education and a Regional Director of Operations. The Regional A relentless focus on the quality of teaching and learning Directors are supported by a series of expert Teaching and System Leaders. Every lesson must enable every child to make outstanding progress Learning • • For every teacher to be a subject expert, for them to know every child in For the Regional Education team, this will include: their class – their potential and how to exceed this potential • a Safeguarding and Attendance System Leader; • a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Behaviour System Leader • a Data and Information System leader • subject specialist System Leaders (depending on the needs of the region) Develop and deliver an engaging and inspiring curriculum

Curriculum • The curriculum needs to engage, inspire and enable outstanding progress • The curriculum needs to reflect and maximise the strengths of every Region Primary Secondary teacher North E-ACT Blackley Academy Pathways E-ACT Academy The Academy North Walsall Reedswood E-ACT Primary West Walsall E-ACT Academy Academy Willenhall E-ACT Academy Midlands Mansfield Green E-ACT Primary Think big, do the right thing and show team spirit Academy Merritts Brook E-ACT Primary To create the right climate – where every child is happy, wants to learn and Academy Culture • makes outstanding progress Nechells E-ACT Primary Academy To create an environment which promotes honest and supportive • Daventry DSLV DSLV relationships that enable everyone to be the best they possibly can be The Parker E-ACT Academy London City Heights E-ACT Academy Bucks Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary The Burnham Park E-ACT Effective and efficient standard operating procedures Academy Academy Denham Green E-ACT Primary Standard • To ensure that every system and process applied within the academy is Academy Operational focused on providing knowledge that enables every child to be safe and South West Greenfield E-ACT Primary Processes make outstanding progress Academy To ensure that consistent and effective processes are applied which enable • Hareclive Academy teachers to remain focused on their core purpose Ilminster Avenue E-ACT Primary Academy Perry Court St Ursula’s E-ACT Primary Academy

020 3176 3882 [email protected] www.e-act.org.uk @EducationEACT Page 6 E-ACT’s Governance Structure Concerns or complaints: To act as an independent local point of contact for staff, pupils and parents The Regional Education Director holds the to express their concerns. Academy Ambassadors Headteacher to account on the performance of will signpost people to the right channels for each academy within their region, acting under dealing with their issues and will ensure that the delegated authority of the E-ACT Board of any concerns or complaints are fed back to the Trustees. In turn, the Regional Education Directors AAG. Where any trends emerge, the Academy are held to account by the CEO for the academies Ambassadors work with the Headteacher and within their region, who is directly accountable to other ambassadors to help find solutions. Academy the Board of Trustees. Ambassadors will also always form the majority of members on any appeals panels. Raising Achievement Boards Community: Making sure that the pupils maximise Each Academy has 6 weekly Raising Achievement on local opportunities by finding ways to keep the Board (RAB) meetings to ensure that the academy at the heart of the community and acting academy is being supported and scrutinised in as a key link between the two. To really help the its educational performance. The educational academy to explore what it can do to make the Raising Achievement Boards are led by the school a hub of community services. Regional Education Director, with attendance from the relevant regional System Leaders and Values-based culture Academy Senior Leadership Team. The RABs are supportive forums whereby there is a professional We want every single person within E-ACT to be two-way dialogue about the performance of the driven by three core values: academy, and a collective drive to secure continued improvements. • We want everyone to think big for themselves and for the world around you Academy Ambassadorial Advisory Group (AAG) • We want everyone to do the right thing in everything they do, even when this means Alongside the Raising Achievement Boards, E-ACT doing something that’s hard, not popular or has established advisory bodies in each academy takes a lot of time called the Academy Ambassadorial Advisory • We want everyone to show strong team spirit Group (AAG). The AAGs are a central forum for always supporting and driving your team all of our Headteachers to engage with their local forward community, enabling them to play an active part in the life and progress of the academy. We really believe that if we all do the right thing, work with and support our teams and we all think The Academy Ambassador remit will has four key big, believe big, act big, then the results will be big. elements:

Celebration: To help to make sure that celebration of staff, pupils and parents remains a priority for each academy, and to find the best way to do this.

Communication: To work with staff, pupils and parents to make sure that the academy effectively communicates to all stakeholders, so that everyone feels part of academy life and has the opportunity to access information and events.

020 3176 3882 [email protected] www.e-act.org.uk @EducationEACT Page 8 Introduction to E-ACT Pathways Academy

Our Academy is a place where all are valued as Our Children Our Curriculum individuals. We want every child to develop a good spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding, Our vision for our children and the Academy is We are proud of our themed curriculum and the and achieve high standards of behaviour. We always to create a pathway to excellence. We positive changes we have made in line with the new want every child to achieve the highest possible ensure this by:- National Curriculum. Real life experiences, visits educational standards and to make good progress and visitors into the academy are key. Learning in relation to their prior attainment. • Recognising that everyone is unique and that is engaging at Pathways and we have a range of there are many different pathways to success creative themes which are mapped out for each With an age range of 3-11 years olds, we are a two for our talented children and staff. Excellence year group, but are responsive to pupil’s needs form entry school and have a strong Foundation in educational outcomes enhances life chances and interests. With this in mind we have high unit. Pathways place children and their wellbeing for all, increasing aspirations. expectations of teachers planning and classroom at the heart of its work. We are on a journey of • Believing that positive partnership between delivery. We aim to provide a highly inclusive improvement - attendance is improving as well the Academy and parents and families is vital education and equality of opportunity underpins as the proportion of pupils making expected and to a child’s success and the success of our all curriculum provision which is also supported greater than expected progress in reading, writing Academy. by strong pastoral team working across a range of and maths. • Aiming to be the ‘beating heart’ of our pupil and family needs. community for the benefit of all, ensuring we Our Academy has an enthusiastic and dedicated are a driving force in the community’s success, Extra-Curricular Activities staff team with a leadership team who have a encouraging cohesion, promoting opportunity strong vision for the future of the Academy. and instilling PRIDE. As well as a thriving breakfast club, we offer a • Celebrating, recognising and valuing the wide range of extra-curricular activities which are Ofsted successes and achievements of our children, available during the year which may include art, staff and families who are all learners, ensuring sport, drama and more. All children are consulted Our Academy was inspected in June 2017, when it everyone feels a sense of belonging. on an annual basis as to which activities they was judged to be providing a good education for its • Believing that excellent behaviour is the bridge would be most interested in participating in. early years provision and personal development, between our children’s hopes and dreams and behaviour and welfare. The rest of the school was their achievements. judged as requiring improvement. • Believing that excellence within teaching, together with excellent attendance and a We are a great Academy The academy has ambitious plans to ensure good rich, inspiring and engaging curriculum, which quality of teaching for pupils who also have a good is tailored to the needs and interests of our with great children, getting understanding of bullying and how to make the children, support everyone to be the best that even better! right choices. they can be. • Place wellbeing central to our work, striving to ensure that children and adults learn in a safe, supported, nurturing environment, where they feel confident, worthy, enthusiastic and valued.

‘The school places a great emphasis on tolerance and respect for each other and those from different backgrounds. ’ (OFSTED)

020 3176 3882 [email protected] www.e-act.org.uk @EducationEACT Page 10 Job description

Purpose of the role Teaching & Learning Curriculum development Culture • The Headteacher will provide outstanding The Headteacher will: The Headteacher will: The Headteacher will: educational vision, leadership and direction for the Academy, ensuring great pupil • Ensure that there is fantastic teaching, in • Ensure that your academy has in place an • Ensure that you and all teaching staff within outcomes are achieved sustainably, and annual every classroom, for every child. engaging and inspiring curriculum that is the academy think big, do the right thing and performance targets are met. • Ensure that every teacher in the academy appropriate for the cohort of children develop and nurture a positive team spirit is developing their practice to becoming • Review and assess each subject area within • Ensure that there is a safe and happy culture • The Headteacher will have core responsibility outstanding teachers. your academy to ensure that the current offer within your academy, adhering to outstanding for: teaching and learning, curriculum • Ensure that every teacher within the academy is appropriate to the current student cohort, safeguarding practice, pupil behavior and development, developing teaching staff and prepares their lessons well, delivers in an and that it will have maximum impact on attendance. creating a culture of safety and happiness inspiring way and feeds back to children outcomes • Regularly hold your teachers to account to within the academy. They will not have appropriately to ensure that great progress is • Ensure that appropriate transition phases ensure that they and their teams are being responsibility for operational management of made by every student are included within all curriculum plans and the best they possibly can be. This will include the academy, including: budget management, • Ensure that every teacher gains maximum models honest and sometimes hard conversations, estates management, support staff line benefit of their additional 3 CPD days per • Ensure that 100% of assessments are and will need to be guided by doing the right management or ICT. year (E-ACT policy), creating tailored, specific completed with integrity and fully compliant thing. development programmes for individual to examination body requirements – at all key • Develop effective relationships with all • The Headteacher will report to the Regional development. stages stakeholders Education Director. • Ensure that every teacher is properly • Ensure effective internal and external i. Ensure that regular all staff meetings are appraised, with quality discussion around moderation arrangements are in place in your held and positively contributed to • Headteachers will work with other E-ACT strengths, weaknesses and with full academy ii. Ensure that your academy establishes academies within the region and Trust, to objectives and planned support/development • Demand ambitious standards for all students, positive relationships with its local community enable and support the sharing of good for the year ahead overcoming disadvantage and advancing iii. Ensure that you work effectively and practice within the Trust, with a strong focus on • Ensure that any teaching under-performance equality, instilling a strong sense of closely with your Academy Ambassadorial the quality of teaching and learning. is tackled in a timely and appropriate way accountability in staff for the impact of their Advisory Group • Inspire and influence others - within and work on students’ outcomes. • Ensure effective communication to all staff • The Headteacher is accountable to E-ACT’s beyond the Academy and Trust – through • Create an ethos within which all staff are and parents within your academy, and ensure Trustees and is responsible for creating a your innovative, high quality educational motivated and supported to develop their own that there is an effective communication productive learning environment which reflects leadership that leads to positive outcomes for skills and subject knowledge, and to support channel between you and the national team E-ACT’s ethos. children. each other. • Establish a culture of leadership development • Lead by example - with integrity, creativity, • Identify emerging talents, coaching current amongst all of your teaching staff. Key accountabilities resilience, and clarity - drawing on your own and aspiring leaders in a climate where • Ensure that the achievements of pupils scholarship, expertise and skills, and that of excellence is the standard, leading to clear and teaching staff are properly recognised The Headteacher will be expected to lead in the those around them. succession planning. and celebrated on a half-termly basis as a following four areas. The activities listed indicate • Sustain wide, current knowledge and minimum, and ensure that your academy what success in the area will look like: understanding of education and school positively contributes and takes part in the systems locally, nationally and globally, and Standard Operating Procedures regional celebration events which will lead to pursue continuous professional development. • Fully engage in the defined academy RAB a national celebration event in 2017. process, providing honest feedback on how • Develop effective relationships with fellow your academy is performing, its strengths and professionals and colleagues within the its weaknesses. Ensure that all paperwork Trust and in other public services to improve submitted is of a high quality and on time. academic and social outcomes for all children. • Ensure that you adhere to the E-ACT Scheme of Delegated Authority The Academy is committed to safeguarding and • Manage all educational risks within your promoting the welfare of children and young people academy effectively, ensuring that all and expects all staff and volunteers to share this required mitigations are in place commitment. • Be responsible for safeguarding within the Academy, and working with RODs to ensure that Safer Recruitment procedures are adhered to for every appointment. Headteachers will be expected to complete Safer Recruitment training at least every two years. • Work effectively with your Regional Operations Director to ensure that the educational requirements of the academy can be financially met 020 3176 3882 [email protected] www.e-act.org.uk @EducationEACT Page 12 Person Specification

Whether you’re a 3 year old in nursery learning Doing the Right Thing Knowledge, experience & skills to explore the world around you, an 18 year old preparing to go to university, a new teacher • Have integrity and honesty in all that you do Requirement understanding the demands of the job, a Head • Make decisions that are based on doing the Teacher leading the learning in your academy, a right thing, even when this means that they’re E – Essential member of the regional team ensuring efficient and unpopular or will lead to more work D – Desirable effective operations or a trustee scrutinising and • Take responsibility and ownership for your challenging the CEO, we want every single person area of work Assessed at within E-ACT to be driven by three core values: • Have difficult conversations or deliver difficult messages if that’s what’s required to A – Application Stage • We want everyone to think big for yourselves do the right thing by our pupils I – Interview Stage and for the world around you; • Be transparent and open P – During the probationary period • Be resilient and trustworthy Stand firm and stay true to our mission • We want everyone to do the right thing in • E D A I P everything you do, even when this means doing something that’s hard, not popular or takes a Knowledge Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) X X Showing Team Spirit lot of time; Graduate X X • Understand how you can have a greater Substantial continued professional development in leadership and X X X • We want everyone to show strong team spirit, impact as a team than you can as an always supporting and driving your team individual relevant professional area forward • Understand how you are part of your Evidence of continuous professional development X X X immediate team but also a much wider NPQH/NPQSL X X We really believe that if we all do the right thing, organisational team, in working towards our support our teams and we all think big, believe big, mission Experience A track record of success in leading a comparable organisation and X X X act big, then the results will be big too! • Recognise that everyone is important within achieving high levels of outcomes E-ACT, and show an ability to build strong Effective senior leadership experience in a challenging environment X X X This means that if you want to be part of E-ACT, working relationships at every level you need to be able to embrace and embody these • Recognise and celebrate the success and A proven track record of leading effective improvement strategies to X X X X values in all that you do. achievements, no matter how small, of your raise standards for students of all abilities colleagues Use of innovative approaches to the development of teaching and X X X X Thinking Big • Be generous with sharing your knowledge to learning help to develop others • Show energy, enthusiasm and passion for • Understand and be willing to receive Experience of Ofsted processes X X X X what you do suggestions and input on your area of work Successful management of school self-evaluation, improvement planning X X X X • Demand the highest quality in all that you do, from others and target setting and in the work of your team Support your colleagues, even when this • Effective leadership of staff performance management and professional X X X X • Willing to champion new ideas and think means staying a little later, or re-prioritising development beyond the status quo some of your work • Show an ability to think creatively and • Be aware of other peoples’ needs and show an Leadership in pastoral/student development within a robust safeguarding X X X ‘outside of the box’ in your area of expertise, ability to offer genuine support culture continually seeking improvements in what you • Show an awareness and respect for peoples’ Successful partnership with other schools, relevant service agencies and X X X do to make the organisation better differences, and recognise how different stakeholders • Be open to new ideas and change where it will characteristics and personal strengths build have a positive impact on the organisation dynamic and great teams Skills An ability to design and implement an inclusive, relevant curriculum with X X X X • Show a willingness to embrace different ideas knowledge of latest curriculum developments and ways of thinking to improve E-ACT In-depth knowledge of best practice in teaching and learning to support X X X • Ability to ‘look outside’ – to continually learn student achievement about innovations in your field, new ways of doing things, and bring that learning into your An ability to analyse and interpret student data to inform planning and X X X X work to set challenging performance targets • Commitment to self-development, and An ability to lead, motivate, develop and inspire staff X X X developing your wider Team • Ability to self-reflect on yourself, your Expertise in timetabling design X X X performance, and to think about how this could be improved further • Ability to encourage ideas from others in order to improve the organisation and build your team’s confidence 020 3176 3882 [email protected] www.e-act.org.uk @EducationEACT For Further Information

To arrange a conversation about the role with Allan Torr, Regional Director of Education (North), or if you would like to visit the Academy, please contact Heather Rowe on [email protected]. Visits to the academy will be available Mondays - Wednesdays

All enquiries, formal and informal, will be treated in confidence.

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the Application Form and send to [email protected]. uk. Your application should outline how you meet the qualification and experience elements of the Person Specification.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 10 January 2018. Interviews will be scheduled for w/c 22 January 2018.