DEPUTY DIRECTOR - NORTH

unitedlearning.org.uk WELCOME

LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Thank you very much for expressing interest in becoming a Deputy Director - North with United Learning.

United Learning sets out to provide all children and young people with a broad and deep education which prepares them to succeed in life. We were founded 130 years ago to provide education for girls when it was in short supply, and the independent schools which started the Group remain an important part of it today. In the last 15 years, we have become one of the biggest groups in the country – still focusing on the original aims of the academy programme – turning around poor schools serving poor communities.

As Deputy Director – North, you will have a central role in raising standards in our schools across the north. We are determined to raise attainment and ensure that children make exceptional progress. But we do not want this to be at the expense of a broad education, and are determined that all our schools offer a wide range of opportunities within and outside the classroom, developing character as well as intellect.

So we are looking for a leader who shares our strong educational values, who has the highest expectations and who achieves great results but does so by putting children rather than performance indicators first. You will have a track record of success as a leader in secondary education, have the personal energy and confidence to raise standards working through other leaders and be effective in developing others and building teams.

I look forward to hearing from you.

With best wishes

Jon Coles Chief Executive ABOUT UNITED LEARNING

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37 Claygate 7 54 35 57 58 13 50 59 36 15 51 5 49 2827 39 7 17 13 62 47 32 4 ABOUT UNITED LEARNING 18 31 17 55 8 44 4 United Learning is a group of schools whose main aim is to provide excellent education to children 26 46 53 41 10 14 9 Haslemere 47 and young people across the country. We seek to improve the life chances of all the children and young people we serve and make it our mission to bring out ‘the best in everyone’ – students, staff, 18 31 Midhurst parents and the wider community. We uniquely comprise schools in both the state and the Southampton 55 8 independent sectors. We currently educate over 40,000 students and employ over 7,000 members 26 46 51 14 10 9 Bognor Regis of staff including over 3,000 teachers. Bournemouth Through being a group, we can offer more to both staff and young people than any single school could offer alone. The growing range of outstanding Group-wide activities that we can provide means that more young people will have truly exceptional and inspiring experiences. We believe that our group contains the most developed relationships and practical interaction between 1 Abbey Hey Primary Academy 17 33 North Oxfordshire Academy 49 independent and state schools in the country, creating benefits for all the schools involved. As 2 18 Hampshire Collegiate School 34 Academy 50 more schools join the Group we will continue to develop regional clusters of independent schools 3 AKS 19 Hanwell Fields Community School 35 51 and academies. 4 20 High Hazels Academy 36 52 The Hyndburn Academy 5 Bacon’s College 21 Hill View 37 Richard Rose Central Academy 53 Our schools work as a team and achieve more by sharing. Our subject specialists, our Group-wide 6 22 38 Richard Rose Morton Academy 54 intranet, our own curriculum and our online learning portal all help us share knowledge and 7 Banstead Preparatory School 23 Hunningley Primary School 39 Rowan Preparatory School 55 The Victory Primary School resource, helping to simplify work processes and manage workloads for an improved work-life 8 Beacon View Primary Academy 24 40 56 Timbertree Academy balance. As a group, we can reward our staff better: with good career opportunities, better pay, 9 Bournemouth Collegiate School 25 Kettering Buccleuch Academy 41 57 benefits, and ultimately, the satisfaction of helping children to succeed. It’s an ethos we call ‘the 10 26 King Richard School 42 Sheffield Park Academy 58 Walthamstow Primary Academy best in everyone’. 11 Corngreaves Academy 27 43 Sheffield Springs Academy 59 Wilberforce Primary 12 Cravenwood Primary Academy 28 Langford Primary 44 60 William Hulme’s United Learning comprises both United Church Schools Trust, which operates our fee-paying 13 29 45 Silverdale Primary Academy 61 Worsbrough Bank End Primary School independent schools, and United Learning Trust, which operates our state-funded academies. 14 Glenmoor & Winton Academies 30 Manchester Academy 46 Southway Primary School 62 To find out more about United Learning, please visit the website: 15 31 47 St Ives School Haslemere www.unitedlearning.org.uk 16 Grange Primary Academy 32 48 Accurate as of March 2018 ABOUT UNITED LEARNING

OUR ETHOS learning from each. We believe that each of our schools is and should be distinctive – committed to developing its own strengths Our approach to education is underpinned by a sense of moral and identity while sharing our core values to promote service, purpose and commitment to doing what is right for children compassion and generosity. and young people. We believe in supporting our colleagues to achieve excellence and in acting with integrity in all our This ethos is our expression of our Christian roots, in schools which dealings within and beyond the group. We summarise this ethos are fully inclusive and both welcome and respect students and staff as ‘the best in everyone’. of all faiths and none. This ethos underpins our core values: CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AMBITION – to achieve the best for ourselves and others; We believe that successful organisations prioritise staff CONFIDENCE – to have the courage of our convictions and to take development especially in education, where the people in the risks in the right cause; organisation are its most important asset. While the development CREATIVITY – to imagine possibilities and make them real; of all staff is important, we make support and professional development for Principals and senior leaders a particular priority, RESPECT – of ourselves and others in all that we do; given their demonstrable and positive impact on staff and pupils’ ENTHUSIASM – to seek opportunity, find what is good and pursue experiences within the organisation. talents and interests; We work on the basis that each of us, however effective, can DETERMINATION – to overcome obstacles and achieve success. always improve. As Deputy Director – North, objectives will be set As a single organisation, we seek to bring together the best of with the Director of Secondary Education and Regional Director – independent and state sectors, respecting both traditions and North each year, and you will be supported to achieve them. OUR FRAMEWORK FOR EXCELLENCE

‘EDUCATION WITH CHARACTER’ Academic success is very important. Exam passes are an important aspect of that. But there is more to a good education. Our schools also aim to develop character, compassion and service. Young people are expected to contribute to their school and to society; to try things which they think they cannot do; to persist in the face of difficulty; to become resilient in overcoming obstacles; to manage themselves; OUR FRAMEWORK to work independently on things which challenge them; to work with FOR EXCELLENCE others and in teams; to be courageous and caring; to lead. We want young people to look back on a joyful schooling which To achieve our mission, our schools prioritise five key principles: has inspired and challenged them, given them wide opportunity and prepared them for the ups and downs of life. ‘THE BEST FROM EVERYONE’ Our aim is to bring out ‘the best in everyone’. So we must expect ‘LEADERSHIP IN EVERY ROLE’ the best from everyone, all the time. Every child is a special Our children are leaders of the future. We expect them to start today individual, capable of extraordinary things. Who can know – taking advantage of structured opportunities to lead and taking the limits of any child’s potential? So, we expect unreasonably responsibility for themselves and others. Every adult in the school – we constantly challenge children to do what they think they is a leader. In every word, tone and gesture, they set direction and can’t, to persist, to work hard and to be at their best. expectation. We expect every adult to take responsibility and the initiative to do what is right for the children. From every adult we expect the same: that they are at their best, expect unreasonably of themselves, are determined and resilient All those in formal leadership positions create the climate in and pass those expectations on to the children in all they do. which others work. They demand the highest standards, build We act with the utmost love, care and good faith – the highest a performance culture, develop their teams and create the space standards come with the greatest attention to the wellbeing of all. for others to lead. All leaders listen, grow relationships, act with integrity and care and expect the best from themselves and others ‘POWERFUL KNOWLEDGE’ in building a happy, confident school. Our most important purpose is to teach young people things they would not learn outside school, which free them to think and act ‘CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT’ more powerfully in their lives. Words and numbers are our most However good we are, we can be better. We constantly look for powerful ways of representing the world. Mastery of language improvements, and implement them with pace. We look for ideas and fluent mathematical skills are therefore our top priority. We for improvement inside the organisation and out; we observe one aim to prepare young people to make a success of their lives: a another; we steal good ideas with pride and look to make them core entitlement to subject-based learning; the development of better; we work together to improve. talents; an understanding of work and society. We always look at the evidence, and are rigorous in evaluating Worthwhile learning is often hard. Inspiring teaching is what gives impact. We stop or change things which aren’t working; we improve access to difficult concepts and the thrill of intellectual discovery. things which are. We aim for high leverage: high impact Powerful knowledge is not static or backward-looking. It includes for low effort and low cost. We constantly look to have more impact the ability to critique, challenge the status quo, think and learn. for less cost and effort and to spend every pound wisely. vv JOB DESCRIPTION

COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT The successful candidate will work directly with regional clusters of schools that each comprise a small group of United Learning’s secondary academies. This offers a significant and unique opportunity to develop positive collaborative relationships with multiple leaders in a variety of contexts and support them in their respective schools, while simultaneously fostering strong support networks in the north which share expertise and strengthen collective leadership across the Group. This work will be supported by a network of internal and external colleagues, specifically our national and regional Subject Advisers, who provide regular, ‘on-the-ground’ bespoke challenge and support to individual schools either across a range of provision or in subject specific areas. The successful candidate will demonstrate the skills required to draw on the work of these specialists when assessing school performance and quality assuring recommendations for school improvement activities. Additionally, working alongside the schools will require close JOB DESCRIPTION collaborative working with members of the wider Improvement Team, who provide project expertise and administrative co- The Deputy Director – North will be a key member of United Learning’s Secondary ordination for senior colleagues, as well as members of our Teams School Improvement Team. The wider team supports all our secondary academies around the School, who provide expertise and support in key areas across the country, from Carlisle to Bognor Regis, and comprises a team of – finance, HR, technology, estates, safeguarding, health and safety Regional Directors, Subject Advisers and project leads, led by Dame Sally Coates – for each of our schools. as Education Director. In all their activities the successful candidate will have the ability The new post of Deputy Director – North will work to drive improvements in our to develop strong working relationships with individuals and 12 secondary academies in the north. Our strategic direction is for schools to work when operating as part of a team. They will use all their together in localised clusters, and we have 4 clusters in the north: South experience to create a positive and engaging working environment, Manchester, Lancashire, Carlisle and Yorkshire. Most of our academies serve areas which encourages a shared expectation of outstanding service of considerable disadvantage and you will need to be well versed in how to among colleagues for our pupils both at school level and in the support schools both individually and as part of a cluster with leveraging wider organisation. significant gains for pupils in challenging contexts. We believe that schools are at their best when autonomous and able to develop a distinctive ethos, reflecting the needs of their SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT pupils and the context within which they work. The Regional Whilst overall reporting to the Director of Secondary Education, your day to day Director and Deputy Director – North will help define and deliver a activities and direction will be managed by the Regional Director - North. Together vision for secondary provision within the Group which supports you will work to drive improvements in our 12 secondary academies in the north. individual school leaders to deliver outstanding educational provision, while strengthening United Learning at both the cluster, The Deputy Director – North will lead and contribute to strategic projects to help regional and national level. develop improvement provision and meet the Group’s objectives. This presents exciting opportunities to innovate and implement support programmes for our schools in a number of key areas across the Group, including: building cluster capacity and growth; developing the quality of teaching and learning, particularly mastery teaching; improving behaviour; supporting schools in preparation for external inspections; and contributing to Group-wide Education Forums which are held throughout each academic year and provide CPD for leaders at all levels. JOB DESCRIPTION

• To contribute to the strategy for growth of the Group, ensuring • To spend sufficient time in schools and academies in the Group that the expansion of United Learning in the secondary phase is to review and evaluate provision, understand their existing ACCOUNTABILITIES • Working closely with functional heads in central office (such as well thought-through, coherent and consistent with our aim of progress, the live issues and the next steps being taken, and to finance, technology, HR, data, marketing and events, estates) to doing an outstanding job of supporting each new secondary coach and support the leaders as required; • Deputising for the Regional Director – North; ensure that the needs of the academies are understood and met school that joins the Group; • To monitor, interrogate and understand reported performance • Supporting and implementing the secondary school improvement so that the potential of a single highly professional back office is • To ensure that processes of induction and improvement for data from schools and academies in order to secure appropriate strategy, developing support to schools within a culture that promotes fully realised; secondary schools are effective. support to school leaders; imaginative and effective solutions to drive school improvement; • Liaising with our external support partners (such as legal and PR); • To work in partnership with leaders in the field of secondary • Providing high quality strategic input and operational support • Providing advice and guidance on policy requirements, including SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES practice in order to ensure that the Group is constantly learning and guidance for secondary school improvement; safeguarding and statutory compliance; • To coach and support senior and middle leaders, getting behind and improving. their efforts and helping them to accelerate improvements; • Taking the lead role in the development and implementation • Working with the Regional Director – North to: COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING of secondary school improvement projects; (i) improve the performance and improvement of academies; • Support termly meetings and with Heads, Senior Leadership RELATIONSHIPS • Contributing to raising standards of achievement across our (i) ensure that the right challenge and support are in place to Teams and LGB chairs to review the impact of school • Deputy Director – North will report to the Director of Secondary support leaders. improvement strategies; secondary schools; Education, with day to day activities and direction managed by • Promoting collaboration between schools, within clusters and • Supporting the building and maintaining of a culture of learning • Participate in formal Review and Support days with our schools; the Regional Director – North. and development at every level of the organisation; between sectors; providing challenge and support to secure • Reviewing and promoting school participation in Group wide • Headteachers and senior staff – so that schools receive high school improvement; • Contributing to the continuous improvement of existing Group activities; quality strategic input and operational and support; systems for performance monitoring and quality assurance; • Liaising with our People Development Team, ensuring that the • To develop strong partnerships within the Group and with • Functional heads and teams in central office (such as finance, IT, programmes of professional development for staff across the • Working collaboratively with leaders in the identification and external organisations to support and accelerate the HR, data, marketing and events, estates) to ensure that the needs Group continue to improve and have impact; transfer of knowledge and practice across the Group; development of excellence in secondary education; of the academies are understood and met. PERSON SPECIFICATION PASSION POSITIVITY POTENTIAL

PERSON SPECIFICATION

TRACK RECORD PERSONAL QUALITIES • You will have a strong record of educational leadership as a • You will be committed to United Learning’s ethos and values; strategic leader in an educational organisation: raising standards, • You will be committed to the safeguarding of all children and achieving outstanding results and having personal impact; young people; • You will have achieved high levels of professional credibility • You will be a learner – always looking to develop your skills with leaders in schools; and practice, listen to feedback and adapt as necessary • Desirably, you will have recent inspection experience; to achieve results; • Desirably, you will have experience of a specialism area, • You will readily build effective relationships which allow you to for example most able, EAL, SEND, disadvantaged. both challenge and support, and will deal with staff, students and others with wisdom and with sensitivity to the situation; PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE • You will be a determined and resilient leader, who understands • You will have significant understanding of and expertise in how to draw out great leadership from others, but will also take school operations; on with courage the challenges that need to be addressed; • You will be skilled in developing a culture of outstanding • You will be a skilled communicator, capable of adapting to a performance and supporting improvements in standards, situation, equally able to represent externally, drive performance in teaching and learning and in behaviour; and work in partnership; • You will have effective partnership working skills – able to build • You will be skilled in achieving outcomes through working as and draw on the strengths of others to generate outstanding part of a central office team which has a diverse range of expertise; results; • You will embody relentlessly high expectations while being open, • You will have a thorough understanding of latest legislation to energetic and enthusiastic and retaining a sense of humour; ensure that all young people are safe and thrive; • At the centre of this leadership role will be the promotion of a • You will be capable of building strong relationships with adults culture of learning, integrity, moral purpose and high standards. and young people, analysing data and qualitative information, observing practice with insight, working with experts in curriculum and qualifications and analysing and setting longer term policy, strategy and direction; • You will have shown the ability to innovate systematically and in a disciplined way in order to achieve results. THE APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

HOW TO APPLY For your application to be considered, we will need you to:

REGISTER YOUR PROFILE 1 (Including referees – one of whom must be your current or most recent employer – education and employment history) using our online portal via: https://www.networxrecruitment.com/Jobs/ THE SELECTION PROCESS Advert/1212954?cid=1567 We will treat all enquiries, formal and informal, in confidence. The selection process will be as follows: COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FORM • All applications will be acknowledged by email. If you have 2 (You will be prompted to do so after completing your not received acknowledgement that your application has profile), which details your previous employment history been received within two working days of sending it, please and qualifications. You will also be asked to complete contact Sarah Henderson as PA to Derek Davies at a personal statement and this should explain your [email protected] motivation for applying and outlines your suitability • The selection process will take place on 17th May 2018 (location TBC). for the role including how you satisfy the requirements of the Person Specification. Please note there is no flexibility around this date. Please confirm in your personal statement that you are available for the interview date (see below) around which • Further information will be provided nearer the time. there is no flexibility. • Candidates will be offered full feedback on their application This personal statement should be no longer than and/or interview. 8,000 characters.

FURTHER INFORMATION IN LINE WITH OUR PRACTICE ON SAFER RECRUITMENT, WE WILL TAKE UP REFERENCES To arrange an informal discussion with the Regional Director – North, 3 FOR ALL THOSE CANDIDATES WHO PROCEED please contact Sarah Henderson as PA to Derek Davies on TO INTERVIEW, AS WELL AS ASKING CANDIDATES 01832 864496 to make an appointment. TO COMPLETE A STANDARD APPLICATION FORM. The deadline for receipt of applications is midnight 10th May 2018. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYER United Learning POSITION Deputy Director – North

JOB TYPE Full year or term time, dependent on the candidate

REPORTING LINE Whilst overall reporting to the Director of Secondary Education, day to day activities and direction will be managed by the Regional Director - North.

LOCATION Home based or Northern Office (based at Salford City Academy).

START DATE September 2018

STARTING SALARY Competitive

ILL HEALTH United Learning’s sick leave and pay policy will apply. The policy allows for a three years’ sliding qualification period, at the end of which you will be entitled to full pay for 100 TERMS AND CONDITIONS working days and half pay for 100 working days. OF EMPLOYMENT HOLIDAYS The below outlines United Learning’s normal terms of conditions Duties as Deputy Director – North. of employment for the position of Primary Regional Director. The final detailed terms and conditions are subject to agreement SAFEGUARDING between United Learning and the successful candidate and will United Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and be reflected in the formal employment contract. expects all staff to share this commitment. DBS (previously CRB) check is required for all successful applicants. Where teaching is better shared unitedlearning.org.uk

United Learning’s normal terms and conditions of employment apply for the position of Primary Regional Director. The final detailed terms and conditions are subject to agreement between United Learning and the successful candidate and will be reflected in the formal employment contract.