Headteacher Applicant Pack

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire Contents

Chair of Governors Letter 3

Head Girl’s Letter 4

School Distinctiveness 5

Living in & 7

Headteacher Job Role 8

Person Specification 12

Key Facts 14

How to Apply 15

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 2 Chair of Governors Letter

Dear Prospective Applicant

Thank you for your interest in the post of Headteacher at our outstanding girls’ grammar school in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The vacancy arises due to the retirement of Alan Rosen who has led the school for the last 13 years and has been fundamental to its success.

For the ideal candidate, the Headteacher appointment represents a unique opportunity to build on this success and drive the school forward. The Governing Body is committed to ensuring we have the best provision and support for all our students, ensuring a developing and innovative environment for our staff and identifying leadership and enhanced teaching opportunities throughout the school. It is essential, therefore, that the new Headteacher is an excellent leader of people who respects, develops and channels the talents of the school staff, giving a clear and highly motivational sense of the moral purpose of their work. In developing our teaching school (Aylesbury Vale Teaching Partnership) we also look to better prepare and equip our future teachers.

For us, the opportunities start with, but are not limited to, academic excellence. We look to ensure that each of our students reaches their individual potential so that they are ready and equipped to succeed in a demanding and fast-changing world. Therefore a cornerstone of our success is the importance we also place on personal growth through the arts, sport, social development and breadth of opportunity. You will find much relevant material included in this pack and on our website which will give you a real flavour of our school.

The school is in the exciting position of celebrating our 60th year. The Governing Body is looking to appoint an inspirational and dynamic leader, one who can inspire students, staff, parents/carers and who is absolutely committed to achieving exceptional progress for every student whatever their individual starting point or background.

Whilst you will have outstanding people skills, a track record of providing strong strategic leadership and management, excellent communication skills and a deep professional knowledge of teaching and learning, you will also be required to develop effective relationships and engage with all parts of our community and our stakeholders. You can expect the role to be highly challenging, one which will demand vision and strategic thinking, and one in which you will need to demonstrate resilience.

In return for your exceptional leadership, we will offer a dynamic and committed Governing Body that will provide support, strategic guidance and, where necessary, constructive challenge to meet the long-term vision of the school. The Headteacher of Aylesbury High School will continue to nurture effective partnerships with parents and carers in the very demanding work of supporting young people through a challenging curriculum whilst dealing with the pressures of adolescence in modern society.

If you are interested in applying for this post, we have arranged two dates when you can come and visit our school before you submit your application. These are 1st and 5th November between 09:15 and 12:30 or at 14:30. To book a place please contact Sue Onley at AHS Reception on 01296 388 222 or at [email protected], with preferably 2 working days notice.

I look forward to receiving your application in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Arfan Chaudhry Chair of Governors

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 3 Head Girl’s Letter

There may be many things that are attractive about taking on the challenge of being the Headteacher at AHS. Most obviously, the intellectual stimulation that comes with working with students of this calibre, the passion, experience and commitment of the staff and the quality of the teaching. Undoubtedly a great reward of working at AHS is waving the flag of its success and launching students onto the range of highflying academic pathways that the students go onto. However, ask any of the students or staff what the greatest reward is and it will be the pride of working with young women harbouring such passion, complexity and diversity. The students you will encounter as Head of AHS will be some of the most intelligent, varied and dynamic people you will ever meet. From award- winning actresses to founders of charities, the students from here carve their own paths into fulfilling careers.

The school’s spirit thrives on the authenticity of its students. A Headteacher must enhance and nurture the ardent and zealous spirit of the students at AHS. We’re looking for a Headteacher whose highlights of the academic year won’t just be the remarkable exam results, but the countless opportunities that AHS presents its students to champion their passions and individuality. Some of these things include House Dance, ‘Spectrum’ the school’s LGBT+ society, the year-round music concerts, Fundraising Week, our countless sporting achievements, and the Multicultural week that showcases the school’s vast cultural diversity.

Additionally, they must continue to empower the female force that is the AHS student body. In the school’s 60 years of existence, it has been a springboard for young women through reinforcing that the sky’s the limit. We want a Headteacher who is committed to producing well-rounded women who will be ready to make a dent in society. We have an extensive range of student leadership opportunities presented to the students from the moment that they join the school as they organise assemblies to present to the whole year in year 7, to the ability to run for Cabinet and become Head Girl in year 13. The role that the students have in leading their fellow peers is something that is vital and must be continued in your duration as Head here, as these opportunities for leadership arm the girls here with important skills for the working, adult life.

In summary, the Headteacher of AHS needs to be able to meet the warmth, enthusiasm and energy of the students and be an advocate for its students from all outlooks. To be successful at AHS, you need an open mind, a warm spirit and a desire to learn, as inevitably you can expect to learn as much from the students as they will learn under your leadership.

We eagerly await to meet all those who apply, in the hopes of meeting an enthusiastic individual who has similar interests for the school as the rest of the student body.

Kind Regards, Sam Burt, Head Girl

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 4 School Distinctiveness

Aylesbury High School is an exceptional place in two single-sex schools, serving boys and girls. Since which to educate young girls. We offer every student that time Aylesbury High School has developed into a balanced and broad curriculum which is forward- one of the most successful schools in the county with looking, innovative and of the highest academic quality. GCSE and A-level results which reflect the emphasis Our staff, quite naturally, set standards of excellence placed upon engaging, rigorous and creative teaching for themselves and for their students, helping each combined with the determination of the students to do student to reach her full potential and recognising her well. individual needs. We aim to cultivate self-confidence, independent thinking, tolerance and a sense of The work of the school is propelled by our mission; responsibility and well-being in our students. Prepare, Challenge, Inspire. Part of Aylesbury High School’s distinctiveness and ethos is its commitment to The school provides opportunities for students to preparing students to meet the opportunities of the 21st develop their skills and their ideas through the creative century. We have achieved this through an emphasis arts, sport and recreation, a diverse range of House on a broad taught curriculum which includes STEM activities and community involvement. In all that we do, subjects, creative and performance arts, the humanities we aim to prepare students for life in a fast-changing and sport and a focus on personal development. world, ready to play an active and positive part in the Equally, innovation has played an important part, local, national and international community. principally through the adoption of 1-2-1 devices*, which have given our students access to all sorts of Aylesbury High School was founded in 1959 when the exciting educational opportunities that have enabled existing co-educational Grammar was divided to form them to be more collaborative in their learning.

*Chromebooks for Years 7–11 and BYOD for Years 12 & 13.

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 5 School Distinctiveness continued...

The extended curriculum provides frequent Aylesbury High School benefits from a talented and opportunities for cultural exchange both in Europe dedicated Governing Body with expertise in finance, and further afield. From Year 7 the students are law, public service, consultancy, accountancy and challenged to develop and build confidence in project management. Judicious financial management, increasingly significant aspects of leadership where through the Resources Committee, has ensured that the support of the highly effective House system the school remains financially secure. However, the nurtures growing skills, curiosity and inquiry in students Governing Body is eager to ensure that the students seeking the best educational environment. The vibrant at Aylesbury High School continue to benefit from and friendly atmosphere at Aylesbury High School, the most effective and dynamic provision of learning with its focus on ensuring that each and every student environments and that resources are deployed with can develop her talents in a dynamic and supportive entrepreneurial expertise and a clear vision for the environment, inspires success. teaching environment.

The Governing Body appreciates the significant The school community is clearly ambitious for the demands of Headship and recognises that in future of Aylesbury High School and looks forward addition to inspiring great teaching and learning, the to welcoming to the leadership of the school someone Headteacher must balance strategic planning with with an inspiring vision for single-sex education, the best possible operational delivery, ensuring that whose work is underpinned by a clear moral purpose, the school grasps opportunities to forge effective who is strategic and consultative, nurturing all that is partnerships and alliances to ensure the continued excellent at Aylesbury High School whilst shaping its growth and success of the school. dynamic future.

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 6 Living in Buckinghamshire & Aylesbury

Aylesbury is at the heart of the rural Vale of Aylesbury and is in the county town of Buckinghamshire. The countryside around encompasses the natural beauty of the rolling Chiltern Hills, together with many charming villages and towns such as Waddesdon, Wendover, and Princes Risborough.

Aylesbury itself is a lively town with modern shopping centres, and traditional markets. It has plenty to keep children and adults occupied, whether outdoor pursuits in the countryside, or cinemas, theatre and restaurants in towns and surrounding villages.

Across the Vale, superb travel links exist, with key motorways of M40, M1 and M25 close to hand. Quick and easy access to the cities of London by train (~1 hour), Oxford and Birmingham are also possible, and Heathrow and Luton Airports are accessible within ~45mins-1hr for travel further afield.

With Aylesbury Vale ranking as one of the top areas to live in the UK*, it does offer fantastic variety for living to suit all tastes.

*Halifax 2018 Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 7 Headteacher Job Role

Responsible to Members of the Trust and the Governing Body.

Purpose Vision and Purpose

To lead and direct Aylesbury High School with • Hold and articulate clear values and moral purpose vision, determination, courage and wisdom. focussed on providing a world-class education for The Headteacher will build upon the strengths of the students. Communicate a compelling vision for the school whilst sustaining a safe and nurturing the school and drive the strategic leadership. environment and motivating and inspiring students, staff and all members of the school community to • Demonstrate optimistic personal behaviour, positive achieve their full potential. relationships and attitudes towards students and staff, and towards parents, governors and members of the local community.

Legal Requirements • Exhibit visible leadership, integrity, creativity, resilience, and clarity, drawing on personal The Headteacher is required to carry out all the scholarship, expertise and skills and that of statutory duties in the School Teachers’ Pay and professional colleagues and the wider school Conditions Document para 46.1 and 47.1 and 47.2, community. the contractual framework and the professional responsibilities outlined in sections 48 and 49 • Work with political and financial astuteness, within a of the STP. clear set of principles centred on the school’s vision, ably translating local and national policy into the context of the School.

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 8 Excellence in Teaching and Learning

• Require ambitious standards for all students at Aylesbury High School, overcoming disadvantage and advancing equality and also by instilling a strong sense of accountability in our staff to recognise the impact of their work to promote the best possible student outcomes.

• Secure excellent teaching through an analytical understanding of how students learn and of the core features of successful classroom practice and breadth of curriculum design, leading to rich opportunities and student well-being.

• Promote a culture where student baseline and predictive data is used to inform highly effective differentiated planning which supports individual student progress and success.

• Promote the belief in all members of the school community, and especially in the student body, that hard work and determination are essential attributes of effective learners.

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 9 Leadership and Management

• Ensure that systems, organisation and data- • Welcome strong governance, and support the management are well considered and efficient, Governing Body to deliver its functions effectively, upholding the principles of transparency, integrity in a trusted and transparent manner. and probity. • Exercise strategic, curriculum-led financial planning • Provide a safe, calm and well-ordered environment to ensure the equitable deployment of budgets and for all students and staff, with a focus on resources, in the best interests of students and the safeguarding students and developing exemplary sustainability of the School. behaviour at the School and in wider society. • Delegate leadership throughout the school forging • Continue to implement rigorous, fair and transparent teams of colleagues who have distinct roles and systems for managing the performance of all staff. responsibilities and who hold each other to account. Acknowledge and reward excellence, value excellent practice and address under-performance in a proactive and timely manner.

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 10 Wider Engagement and Contribution

• Further develop an outward-facing school which • Shape the current and future quality of the teaching works effectively with fellow professionals and profession through high-quality training and colleagues, other schools and organisations - in sustained professional development for all staff. a climate of mutual challenge and support - to champion best practice and secure excellent • Engage fully in the extra-curricular life of the school. achievements and social outcomes for all students. • Inspire and influence others to believe in the • Work effectively to secure the commitment of all fundamental importance and value of education parents/carers and the wider community to the in the lives of young people. school’s vision.

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 11 Person Specification

Competencies, skills and experience should be evidenced and described in your covering letter, application form and during selection events. Evidence will also be obtained through appropriate references.

Categories Qualities/Competence (All Essential unless specified) Additional evidence requirements

Qualifications Honours graduate Professional and academic & Continuing certificates Education Qualified teacher status Certificates

A CPD portfolio Evidence of continuing professional development or relevant further study

Completion of Designated Senior Lead and Safer Recruitment Training

Enhanced DBS check Evidence to be provided on arrival at Selection events

Experience Experience of teaching at KS3, GCSE and A level Evidence of substantial experience and effectiveness

Proven ability to lead, motivate and manage effective teams

Professional Knowledge and understanding of current educational issues Demonstrate opportunities and Competencies challenges relevant to AHS

Expertise in monitoring, assessing and improving classroom performance

Effective ICT skills including utilisation of MIS (Desirable) Demonstrate satisfactory level of confidence and competence in the applied use of ICT in an educational setting

Effective and persuasive communicator both orally and in writing

Ability to marshall, analyse and evaluate evidence and data

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 12 Person Specification Continued...

Categories Qualities/Competence (All Essential unless specified) Additional evidence requirements

Leadership & Ability to motivate and inspire through vision and inclusive Management leadership

Strategic thinker who can translate concepts to implementation

Innovative and ability to lead and embed transformational change, including the use of information technology to support creativity and learning

Robust management expertise, including budgetary Demonstrate a high degree of experience management competence in an educational setting

Promotion and maintenance of high standards and expectations

Ability to forge effective, positive relationships both within the school and the wider community including students, governors, staff, parents, and potential funders

Personal A strong personal commitment to inclusion and diversity Qualities Energy and optimism

Excellent interpersonal skills with both adults and young people

A practical, down to earth, hands-on approach (Desirable)

Resilience and confidence

Integrity and loyalty

A demonstrable commitment to the wider life of the school

A strong commitment to personal development for all

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 13 Key Facts

Type of School • Girls selective school • Stand-alone academy • Teaching School (Aylesbury Vale Teaching Partnership)

Location • Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Age Range • 11 - 18

Number of students • 80 teachers, 69.98 FTE • 67 support staff, 38.2 FTE

Budget • £6M

External recognition •  Outstanding 2012 • Top state school for sport 2014 (2015 3rd, 2016 8th) • ‘Outstanding School for Physical Education’ at the 2016 Youth Sports Trust Awards

Attendance • 95%

Pupil Premium • Years 7 - 11: 6% • Years 12 - 13: 4% • Service Children 0.7% (All Years)

SEND • 5% (currently 1 EHCPs)

EAL • 21% (~45 languages)

GCSE Results • 2018 Progress 8 0.99 (Provisional) • (2017 0.83, top band nationally) • 2018 Attainment 8 7.4 (Provisional) • 71% of grades 7/A or higher • 57% of students gained 8+ grades at 7/A or higher • 25 subjects

A Level Results • Average grade B, 67% of grades B or higher • 19% of students with 3+ A grades • 24 subjects plus EPQ

University Admissions • Students going on to 60+ universities to study 120+ different courses • 8 students to Oxford and Cambridge • 16 students studying medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine • 48% of 2018 university entrants going to Russell Group Universities

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 14 How To Apply

Applications are warmly invited from all sectors. In addition to completing an application form you are requested to submit a letter in support of your application. Applicants must complete all sections of the application form in full.

Your letter should be specific to Aylesbury High School. Please address the following task:

In your letter please explain clearly how you meet the requirements of the Person Specification with a particular focus on effective, empowering leadership, change management and the promotion of the highest academic standards.

Your letter should not exceed 1000 words. Please address it to Mr A Chaudhry, Chair of Governors. Your completed application, including your letter, should be sent to [email protected] and copied to [email protected].

The deadline for applications is 12.00 on Monday 12th November 2018.

References will be taken up shortly after shortlisting and prior to interview using the contact details you supply on your application form.

We reserve the right to research applicants on social media platforms and the internet, and the Governing Body may take this information into consideration during the recruitment process.

Shortlisting will take place on or around the 22nd November and candidates will be informed by the 23rd November. The selection process and interviews will take place at the school between 27th and 29th November.

Further information about Aylesbury High School can be found on the school website www.ahs.bucks.sch.uk. In addition, candidates are encouraged to take the opportunity to visit the school informally on either 1st or 5th November prior to applying. Please contact Sue Onley at AHS Reception on 01296 388 222 or [email protected] (with preferably 2 working days notice), to arrange a mutually convenient date/time for your visit.

Mrs Kate Abbott of ASCL ([email protected]) will be providing professional support to the Governing Body throughout the selection and appointment process. Please copy her into any correspondence with the school.

Prepare, Challenge & Inspire 15 Aylesbury High School Walton Road Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 7SX 01296 388226 [email protected] Prepare, Challenge & Inspire