The Richmond upon Thames School

A new in Information for candidates for Headteacher

Welcome

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for taking an interest in our new secondary school in Twickenham.

We’re delighted to be creating a new school. The work our Trust has already done to develop this opportunity is well advanced and running to plan. The next important milestone is for us to appoint an exceptional person to lead the school and see our vision through to reality. This brochure details our aspiration for our school and should convey to you the scale of our ambition in developing this new educational provision for Twickenham. We have very high expectations. We want to establish a vibrant, inclusive school that provides an outstanding experience for every member of its community. Our new school will be an exciting and dynamic centre of learning that is able to draw upon the opportunities provided through the unique partnership that we have formed to develop it. We will ensure that it is a highly effective school that delivers a great education through experienced and qualified teachers. We expect the school to be rooted in its community and responsive to the people of Twickenham that it seeks to serve. We know that we will need someone special to bring all of these expectations to life. For all of us - trustees, children joining the school in 2017, their parents, our staff and possibly you as our Headteacher - this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We hope you will be able to see your place in this story and come forward to apply for this fascinating role. If we can help advise you as you consider your application, please feel free to make contact as we will be more than happy to discuss the process and the role with you.

Graham Willett Trustee and Chair of The Richmond upon Thames College Free School Trust

The Richmond upon Thames College Free School Trust Trustees:

Cormac Bourne Philippa Nunn Haymarket Media Group Waldegrave School

David Ellis Mandy Skinner Harlequins Football Club Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Robin Ghurbhurun Graham Willett Richmond upon Thames College on behalf of Achieving for Children

Foreword The Richmond upon Thames School 1 An introduction to RTS

RTS will provide an inspiring place for young people to learn and work purposefully towards achieving their best at all times. Our students will be valued as individuals, recognised for their talents and challenged in their endeavours.

Our school will encourage an atmosphere shape the curriculum and set real-world that rewards hard work and expects high projects, offer work experience and provide academic achievement, but will also provide mentoring. Our unique access to real-world an environment where children can develop as facilities through on-site partners, Harlequins, people and learn important life skills. Our pupils Haymarket Media Group, Richmond upon will emerge as confident, resilient individuals, Thames College and Clarendon School, will who can build positive relationships and offer students a huge range of opportunities demonstrate commitment in everything they do. that will transform their future employment potential and enhance both their personal and RTS will be a welcoming place where everyone physical development. is valued highly and where tolerance, honesty, cooperation and mutual respect for others are As leaders in ICT, we will also give every student fostered. It will provide equal opportunities the opportunity for safe and responsible access for all pupils regardless of disability, gender, to the latest digital devices and encourage race, religion or beliefs. We will also promote a them to become the developers, not just the shared sense of purpose among our students, consumers, of future technology. teachers, parents, and governors, all working As a new school, connecting with our local towards a common goal to make the best community is important to us. Through possible school for our children. supporting local projects our students will be Our team of talented staff will inspire and encouraged to participate in programmes that nurture students throughout their school life, will widen their experiences and teach them delivering imaginative, stimulating lessons that the value of helping others. The school will will keep every child engaged. also serve as a learning hub, providing a range of before- and after-school clubs, The school will be characterised by excellent holiday activities, sports facilities hire and working relationships with industry partners, adult evening classes. giving students the best possible foundations for their future careers. Our partners will help

2 An introduction to RTS An introduction to RTS

Our Motto Excellence through endeavour

Our Vision

RTS will provide an inspiring, welcoming place for young people to learn that will help them develop the skills they need for both academic and personal success. Our pupils will emerge as well- rounded individuals who understand the rewards of hard work and appreciate the value of caring for others.

Students at RTS will:

• Be confident and happy individuals who • Have the motivation to work independently can build positive relationships with others and conscientiously to achieve and work purposefully towards achieving qualifications that reflect their full ability. their very best at all times. • Become lifelong learners with an insatiable • Possess the knowledge, communication curiosity about the world around them and and technical skills necessary for success a shared responsibility for their peers, the as they move into further education and environment and wider society. the workplace.

An introducion to RTS The Richmond upon Thames School 3 About our school

The School will be co-educational, non-selective and non-faith based. It will be for 11-16 year olds and admit five forms of entry (150 children) per year. The new school will link directly to the College to provide sixth form opportunities for the school’s students. The curriculum offer in the two institutions will be closely aligned to allow for the close planning of transition from school to college and for joint curriculum development and associated training. The school will grow year by year starting with Year 7 from September 2017.

The trustees expect the Headteacher to make a significant contribution to the further shaping of the school and look forward to working with the successful candidate over the coming months.

Our curriculum Our pastoral support The school’s curriculum will be based upon Our new school will be fully inclusive and the national curriculum. Our intention is that devoted to its students’ success. To make this this will be enhanced through collaboration a reality, its curriculum will be underpinned by with our partners. a strong pastoral system. It will be especially important for us to ensure that, as the first Enterprise will play a key part in the school’s cohort of young people join, the school’s curriculum. Students will benefit from a inaugural Year 7, there is an effective pastoral programme of visiting lecturers, seminars system to support and nurture them and to and workshops organised and delivered by cultivate their ambitions. We see investment members of the Free School Trust, their in our pastoral care system as a key priority clients and partners. Harlequins and the for achieving the high levels of motivation and Haymarket Skills will also curiosity we aspire to for our students. contribute to careers evenings, events and work experience placements. The school’s links with Clarendon School will provide it with access to expert staff trained in The use of digital technologies will be a range of special educational needs. The Trust commonplace and young people will be sees the co-location of the two schools as an equipped with the skills to operate confidently innovative way of providing a range of mutually and efficiently in a connected world. beneficial opportunities. Haymarket will help develop the curriculum in these areas and through the Haymarket Skills Academy will provide access to the on-site, tech hub’s state of the art facilities. The school’s links with Harlequins and the College will also provide pupils with access to a very wide range of exercise, fitness and sporting activities, events and facilities. A significant amount of curriculum time will be devoted to physical activity which will be tailored to be accessible to all learners. There will be opportunities for study in health and fitness both within the school and through working with partners.

4 About out school

Role description

The Headteacher will provide professional leadership and management for our school, leading it through its final year of pre-opening, through to the recruitment and welcoming of its first cohort in 2017 and then on to becoming a successful and outstanding secondary school.

The Headteacher will work with the Trust to implement a shared vision of a highly effective school, designed from the start to prepare its young people for the realities of the 21st century. The Headteacher will lead our strategic plan through to realisation. The Headteacher will provide leadership that inspires and motivates pupils, staff and all other members of the community. The Headteacher will take active responsibility in upholding high academic and ethical standards, ensuring care and support for all children studying at the school, across the full ability range. The Headteacher will manage the resources of the school in order to promote learning and to sustain a high level of outstanding performance. The duties and responsibilities of the Headteacher are:

In leading and promoting In the leadership of teaching and the school learning • To work with the Trust, the Twickenham • To be a visible presence in the school, community, staff and students to maintain encouraging and promoting high-quality, and deliver a shared vision for the school. innovative teaching. • To interpret, develop and implement the • To celebrate effective teaching and founding vision and strategy for the school. learning, promoting reflective practice and professional growth. • To set, communicate and uphold high academic and ethical standards for all • To develop relevant strategies for aspects of the school’s performance. performance improvement. • To establish and maintain a profile in • To acknowledge and reward excellent the local community as a trusted and teaching and address poor performance in respected leader. a fair and robust manner. • To oversee the implementation of the school curriculum and ensure it is reviewed and developed to enable students to benefit from a stretching and supportive learning environment. • To ensure that strategies for inclusion, diversity, access and pastoral support are upheld at all times and develop to meet the needs of the school’s population.

6 Role description Role description

In community engagement In the management of the school • To build strong, trusting relationships • To make good use of data to ensure with parents, carers and members of strategic decisions achieve the school’s the community. aims. • To be an ambassador for the school, • To work closely with the school’s Business effectively communicating the school’s Manager to ensure effective financial and vision and ethos to a wide range of resource management. external audiences. • To recruit, retain and develop high • To work with the school’s Trust to ensure calibre staff to ensure that the school’s accountability for the school’s performance broad curriculum is delivered to the and development. highest standard. In educational culture • To ensure continuing professional development is an integral part of the • To embody and promote the Trust’s school’s strategy. expectations for the culture of the school, • To delegate management tasks to the where all students are provided with the school’s senior leaders, ensuring their foundations for life and essential personal implementation is effectively monitored. skills are taught alongside a broad education. • To be a visible, approachable figure among the school’s students, investing time in building strong relationships with the student body and using its feedback to improve the school further. • To deliver exceptional pastoral care, ensuring student welfare and personal, social and moral development underpins all decision-making. • To ensure the co-curricular life of the school is a distinctive strand, through a broad and stimulating programme of enrichment and sport in keeping with the school’s vision.

7 RoleRole descriptionDescription TheThe RichmondRichmond uponupon ThamesThames SchoolSchool 87 Person specification

The Trust will seek to identify these attributes through the recruitment and selection process of application, certification, interviews, professional references and observation. The Trust will also make reference to the “National standards of excellence for headteachers” and candidates should familiarise themselves with this document prior to application.

Essential Qualifications • The ability to challenge and improve and Attainments performance. • Educated to Honours degree level • Creativity and a commitment to innovation, or above. based on evidence of best practice and experimentation. • Qualified teacher status. • The ability to communicate with a wide • Evidence of relevant Professional range of audiences including pupils, Development. parents, teachers, associate staff and governors, as well as external contacts Desirable Qualifications required by the role. and Attainments • Honours degree classed at 2.1 or above. Essential Knowledge • Post graduate qualifications (e.g. NPQH, • Excellent professional knowledge and Masters degree/post graduate diplomas). understanding developed in an established educational context. Essential Qualities • Models of learning and teaching, behaviour • A deep and passionate commitment to the and attendance management. values and ethos of The Richmond upon • Strategies for ensuring inclusion, diversity Thames School (RTS). and access. • The ability to motivate, enthuse and engage • Current educational trends and issues, with children and adults. including national policies, priorities • An appetite for change and development. and legislation, underpinning school effectiveness. • Flexibility and the capacity to handle the unexpected. • Curriculum design and management. • Energy, vigour, perseverance, stamina • Assessment strategies and the use of and resilience. assessment to inform progress in teaching and learning. • A commitment to personal and professional development. • Principles and practice of quality assurance systems, including school review, self- • The ability to maintain professional evaluation and performance management. relationships at all times, acting with authenticity and integrity. • An understanding of the practical application of key strands of Trust’s vision • A resolute and decisive approach to conflict. for the school. • A demonstrable commitment to a robust culture of high expectations and good quality care.

8 Person specification Person specification

Desirable Knowledge • Managing the school efficiently and effectively on a day-to-day basis. • Financial planning, budgetary management and principles of best value. Essential Experience • Knowledge of primary and tertiary phases • Experience as a member of the senior of education. leadership team in a school. • An understanding of the duty on schools to • Experience of whole school responsibility – promote British values. academic and/or pastoral. • A track record of success in raising Essential Leadership and achievement and bringing about Management Skills improvement. • Exceptional strategic planning skills with a • Experience of working in high performing proven ability to translate vision into clear, schools. coherent plans. • Experience of implementing strategies that • Outstanding classroom practitioner who encourage parents and carers to support can lead by example. their children’s learning. • Ability to manage change and work under pressure of changing circumstances. Desirable Experience • The ability to implement effective • Experience as a Headteacher. performance management and act on any • Experience of teaching in at least two issues that arise from the reviews. schools. • Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, co- ordinate, delegate and empower others. Essential Safeguarding Practice • Leadership and management skills • Evidence of commitment to promoting to improve and maintain attainment the health, welfare and safeguarding and success. of children. • An exceptional, collaborative, inspirational • Evidence of promoting, implementing and leader with proven ability to build positive monitoring equal opportunities across the working relationships, negotiate with and full range of protected characteristics. influence individuals and relevant groups. • An understanding of Child Protection • The ability to communicate with and procedures and a commitment to account to a Trust Board. promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children. • Authority and ability to inspire confidence in governors, teaching and associate staff, • Successful completion of Secretary of students and parents alike. State (NCSL, CWDC or local authority) approved ‘safer recruitment’ training or • Analysing and using the full range of a commitment to do so before taking up evidence, including performance data the post. and external evaluations to support, monitor, evaluate and improve aspects • The ability to develop and sustain a safe, of the school, including challenging poor secure and healthy school environment, performance. ensuring an understanding of the legal • A strong commitment to continuing and regulatory issues related to managing professional development for all staff. a school.

Person specification The Richmond upon Thames School 9 Richmond Education and Enterprise Campus

Since 2013 Richmond upon Thames College, Haymarket Media Group, Harlequins, Clarendon School, Waldegrave School, Richmond Council and Achieving for Children have been working together to create an Education and Enterprise Campus on the College site on Egerton Road in Twickenham. Our ambition is to create an outstanding Campus for education, skills and enterprise.

The Campus will provide a new innovative The Campus approach will enable a new college of further and higher education working model of learning integrated with enterprise, in partnership with Haymarket, Harlequins, their delivering high quality education hand in hand partners and other successful global companies with developing young people’s skills, offering and local employers; a new, much needed work opportunities and jobs. Although located 11-16, five form secondary school; purpose in Twickenham, the Education and Enterprise built accommodation for Clarendon School’s Campus is an opportunity for London, drawing secondary pupils (and for the pupils of the students from across the Capital. Our partners, Newhouse Centre, which Clarendon manages); Haymarket and Harlequins are both incredibly and, Haymarket’s new “tech hub” and digital successful both at home and globally and this media incubator. will bring an exciting additional dimension to this project. This is a unique opportunity. In June 2014, the gave conditional approval for the Richmond The co-location of the school with the College upon Thames College Free School Trust to and Clarendon introduces some exciting establish the new secondary school on the possibilities for collaboration, integration and College site. cross-sector working. For more information on this exciting proposal see the Richmond An Outline Planning Application for the Education and Enterprise Campus website Campus was submitted (by the College) over (www.reec.org.uk). the summer 2015 and there is an agreed programme to achieve formal consent early in 2016. The detailed work on building specifications, design and precise layout for each of the Campus’ constituent parts is now well underway and detailed Reserved Matters applications will be submitted as soon as Outline Planning consent has been granted. The target date for the commencement of construction works on site is May 2016, with the new secondary school and phase 1 of the College re-development opening to students in September 2017.

10 RichmondRichmond EducationEducation andand EnterpriseEnterprise CampusCampus The Richmond upon Thames School 10 What our partners will bring to RTS

Achieving for Children: Harlequins: • Expertise in curriculum design, staffing, • Help create a best in class sporting recruitment and school leadership programme for all age groups and levels across a range of sports to encourage • Integration into the strong collaborative participation and healthy living partnership that exists within the local family of schools • Access to elite professional athletes and the experts from their industries • Support for school improvement through including health and nutrition, strength and its very successful local alliance of schools conditioning, leadership and management – SPA[RK] • Access to Harlequins’ facilities – for • Support and challenge to constantly keep example restaurant-standard kitchens and provision under review and improving first-class sporting facilities • Support for the school in all that it does for • Curriculum support young people. • Work experience Richmond Council: • Workshops delivered for students to work • Project management support, expertise with mentors on leadership, management and resources to progress the project and several areas of professional sport through pre-opening and ensure the • Invitations for student groups to work on successful delivery of the school projects which Harlequins are undertaking, • Governance advice and support as including being a part of tendering the school develops its governance processes or designing marketing collateral arrangements for supporters and the general public. • Expertise and resources to facilitate communications and engagement with students, parents, local residents and other key stakeholders • Support the school’s work with local stakeholders and broker opportunities to work with partners.

Harlequins Rugby Ground - The Stoop

What our partners will bring to RTS The Richmond upon Thames School 11 What our partners will bring to RTS

Haymarket Media Group: Richmond upon Thames College: • Media days – Providing lectures, seminars • Provide a wide range of academic and and access to some of Haymarket’s technical pathways not usually accessible facilities, expected to take place twice per to schools or sixth forms school year • Provide access to higher learning skills • Career support presentations and coupled with employability and enterprise workshops – offering students in years development 10 and 11 advice on their careers, CV preparation, interviews, etc. • Access to a large professional teaching • Work experience – Around ten placements and support staff team offered per year • Expertise and culture of working with • Use of facilities – Use of Haymarket’s state of the art, specialist facilities created facilities on a basis to be determined to reflect real working commercial and • Qualifications – Explore linking industrial environments. Haymarket’s offering with various vocational qualifications Waldegrave School: • Sparkle – Exploring opportunities that can • Staff and the school’s governing body will be brought about by Haymarket’s work offer their experience and expertise to with high profile figures and organisations. support the development of the school, including the new school’s Headteacher.

Haymarket Media Group photo shoot

12 What our partners will bring to RTS

For more information about this position and The Richmond upon Thames School, go to: www.reec.org.uk or contact 020 8891 7405 or email: [email protected]