CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK Executive Headteacher

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CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK Executive Headteacher

www.cap.education WELCOME

WELCOME

Thank you very much for your interest in becoming Executive Headteacher of Parkside Community College.

Parkside Community College has a unique culture, and aims to provide an exceptional education for young people in Cambridge. With almost 800 pupils, this is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Headteacher to lead the school on the next stage of its journey.

In taking on the role of Executive Headteacher, you will have both the opportunity to lead an outstanding school which is ambitious to be exceptional, and also a wider responsibility for coordination of the work of Cambridge Academic Partnership, and ensuring that its four schools work together to deliver excellent outcomes for the young people of Cambridge.

We are looking for a Headteacher, or exceptional Deputy, who believes that extraordinary academic success is possible and is able to draw together a team that delivers it. As a confident leader you will have the ability to motivate others and command respect in staff and pupils alike. You will be a leader with a clear vision, and the focus to drive forward excellence at the school.

The Board of Cambridge Academic Partnership is proposing that our Trust joins the United Learning group of schools in September 2019. This development will, we believe, enable us to drive further improvements and offer access to additional support and resources , including educational expertise, specialist finance, HR and technology business partners.

Cambridge Academic Partnership and United Learning are deeply committed to the progress, success and safeguarding of all children and young people. We believe in serving local communities through creating excellent schools which provide outstanding education and support all the children of the area. Headteachers are central not only to the leadership of their school but also to the collective leadership of the Partnership and the Group. We aim to offer more by working together than any single school could on its own: we aim to support and develop leaders, provide excellent professional development for all staff and offer broader experiences for children and young people.

This role would be suitable for either an experienced Headteacher who wants a unique new challenge; or an exceptional Deputy Head with the drive and passion to take on a new experience. This will be a demanding but deeply rewarding headship for a skilled and ambitious school leader. We look forward to receiving your application

With best wishes, Janet Swadling, Chair of Cambridge Academic Partnership Joe Parry, Chair of LGB, Parkside Community College SCHOOL INFORMATION

Cambridge Academic Partnership … confident to learn

Cambridge Academic Partnership is a Multi-Academy Trust with Our Values a Local, National and International reputation for educational excellence. We pride ourselves on an innovative approach to Empowerment – Innovation – Ambition – Respect teaching and learning and a commitment to high standards for all. All our schools are situated in the south of Cambridge and Parkside Community College is an outstanding school with a their close geographical proximity enables our highly collaborative very strong reputation in Cambridge. We are a relatively small approach. community of learners, situated in the heart of Cambridge, which means that all students can be known as individuals. Students and Our Partnership began as Parkside Federation in 2005 when Parkside staff work well together, based on high expectations and mutual Community College joined Coleridge Community College to form respect. Our approach is both liberal and demanding - we aim to one of the first Federations in the country. The Federation converted provide our students with the very best teaching and encourage to a Multi-Academy Trust, Parkside Federation Academies in 2011, an approach to learning which will build confidence and enable at the same time opening a new sixth form Parkside Sixth. In the success. last three years, we have also opened an innovative new secondary school, Trumpington Community College and welcomed the Parkside’s GCSE results are among the very best in the region Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology into our Trust. In for both attainment and progress. They are also at the top in 2018 we renamed our Trust as Cambridge Academic Partnership. comparison with other similar schools nationally. We also have a distinctive Sixth Form offering the International Baccalaureate, We are proud of what out Partnership has achieved so far, but we where results are above the world average for this highly are ambitious for the future and want to give our schools every challenging qualification. possible opportunity to further improve the education we offer our students. Andrew Hutchinson, CEO who has led the development Parkside also has a strong record in system leadership. The last of the group since 1999 will be retiring in the summer, and the two Headteachers have been National Leaders of Education and Trust Board is planning that CAP should join United Learning. All Parkside is a designated Teaching school working as part of the four schools are at different stages of their development, but we Cambridge Teaching Schools Network. Collaboration with other believe that being part of a national network of schools will enable educational providers is strongly embedded in the school’s history. us to continue to grow all of them to become popular, outstanding institutions serving their local communities. We are proud of Parkside, but ambitious that it gets even better. We want to grow the sixth form and develop further as an Our Purpose International Baccalaureate World School, develop our facilities to the highest standards, and enhance our focus on the well-being • We build the confidence and capability to grow, and the of the whole school community. We know that Parkside is a great direction, collaboration and security to succeed. school, we want it to be exceptional. Our Vision

• A leading learning partnership offering inspirational, responsive and dynamic education.

Our Principles

• Every student will be recognised and valued for their many efforts, contributions and successes • Every person will demonstrate the desire to communicate, inform and learn • Every school will aspire to individual excellence and collaborative growth • Every decision made will be based on achieving the best for each student. ABOUT UNITED LEARNING

United Learning is a group of schools which aims to provide excellent education to children 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, parents and the wider community. We uniquely comprise schools in both the state and the independent sectors. We currently educate over 40,000 students and employ over 8,000 members of staff including over 3,500 teachers.

As 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 will mean 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 independent and state schools in the country, creating benefits for all the schools involved.

United Learning comprises both United Church Schools Trust, which operates our fee-paying independent schools, and United Learning Trust, which operates our state-funded academies. To find out more about United Learning, please visit the website: www.unitedlearning.org.uk As part of United Learning, Cambridge Academic Partnership will share the objective of bringing out ‘the best in everyone’, enabling each student to become a balanced, happy and articulate person with intellectual freedom, confidence, compassion, integrity and a lifelong love of learning.

Cambridge Academic Partnership will join United Learning in September 2019 subject to Regional School Commissioner Headeacher Board approval. vv JOB DESCRIPTION

Broadly, the responsibilities of the role are as detailed below: EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT • Developing a shared expectation of outstanding teaching and learning. • Creating and supporting an aspirational and innovative culture of learning in the School and in the partnership. • Creating a climate for learning and a system of monitoring and intervention that enables all students to thrive. • Setting high educational standards in the School. • Designing and implementing the curriculum and the broader pupil experience across the partnership. • Setting and monitoring against targets for student achievement. • Ensuring the welfare and safety of all students from all groups, including their safeguarding.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT • Defining and delivering the vision and objectives of the School and the School Strategic JOB DESCRIPTION Plan as agreed with the Local Governing Body and the Director of Secondary Academies - South The Executive Headteacher of Parkside Community College will lead, motivate and • Leading the School in partnership with the LGB and key senior leaders in the School. inspire students, staff, parents and the wider community, to ensure every student is confident in himself/herself, is respectful of others, achieves well and gains the • Agreeing, communicating and delivering aspirational short and medium term aims within skills and qualifications to succeed in life and at work. the context of the longer term vision. As a senior leader within United Learning, the Executive Headteacher, together • Leading partnership Headteachers and Business Manager to deliver the vision and with the Local Governing Body (LGB), will be responsible for establishing and objectives of the Partnership implementing the vision and direction for the School. In leading the School, the • Developing and maintaining the values of United Learning in the School Executive Headteacher will ensure that Cambridge Academic Partnership and • Contributing professionally to the broader United Learning agenda. United Learning’s ethos and values are deeply embedded and visible amongst students and staff, and that the School brings out ‘the best in everyone.’ The Executive Headteacher will also have a wider responsibility as the ‘first among PEOPLE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT equals’ in coordinating the work of the schools within Cambridge Academic • Leading on all school staffing issues, including the appointment and development of staff. Partnership and working with the Partnership Board to ensure that the schools within the partnership bring out ‘the best in everyone’. • Ensuring a culture of working together to achieve high standards throughout the School and Partnership . • Managing performance and ensuring that staff receive appropriate support in order to achieve those high standards. • Undertake effective planning to ensure that the staffing needs for the School and Partnership are proactively identified and that plans are in place to ensure appropriate succession. • Creating a climate of reflective practice and professional development that enables all members of staff to flourish and achieve their very best. • Developing the capacity within the senior and middle leadership teams. • Promoting equality and fairness for all staff. • To take interim responsibility for another CAP school when required • To act as mentor to newly appointed Headteachers within the Partnership. • Taking responsibility for one’s own professional development as the Executive Headteacher

JOB DESCRIPTION

FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT • Working closely with the Business Manager to ensure school and Partnership budgets are set and managed within guidelines agreed with the LGB and the Group through the Director of Secondary Academies – South and the Group Finance Director. • Monitoring of actual spending against budget. • Implementing key Group-wide policies and strategies (eg in relation to compliance, finance, HR and IT). • Ensuring that efficient administrative systems are implemented and managed. • Managing and utilising the site and facilities to maximise their value to the School, the Group and the Community. • Ensuring that health and safety policies are fully implemented and managed.

LINKS WITH COMMUNITY, BUSINESSES AND ACROSS UNITED LEARNING • Developing strong and effective partnerships with parents. • Developing a thriving sense of school and partnership community to include present and past pupils and parents. • Creating proactive, entrepreneurial and effective links with the community including, for example, with business, feeder schools, other local schools and with local churches. • Making a strategic contribution to the development of the Group. PERSON SPECIFICATION PASSION POSITIVITY POTENTIAL

PERSON SPECIFICATION

EDUCATION AND TRAINING • An understanding of the importance of research in • Educational and professional qualifications appropriate developing approaches to learning and curriculum for the role of Executive Headteacher – Secondary of the design and the ability to put this into practice; school. Such qualifications would normally include a • An understanding of expectations of all phases of degree from a recognised university, professional education; qualifications (for example PGCE) and ideally a further • A thorough understanding of school markets, the postgraduate qualification; analysis required to develop those and the skills to • Evidence of professional development across career to implement successful marketing strategies. date. PERSONAL QUALITIES EXPERIENCE • A clear understanding of and commitment to the • Demonstrable success in a leadership role in a development of the Cambridge Academic Partnership comparable organisation and through significant periods vision, values and ethos and the United Learning of development; Framework for Excellence; • A proven track record of securing excellence in an • Belief in equality of opportunities for all pupils and staff educational establishment; regardless of culture, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation • A proven track record in rapidly raising pupils’ or religious identity; achievements; • Clarity of vision with the ability to communicate it in a • Evidence of the ability to develop excellent relationships compelling and engaging way; with staff, members of the local community, parents and • An adaptable leadership style which encourages pupils aged 11-18 years of age; leadership from others and celebrates success; • Experience in leading and developing colleagues and • Determination and resilience; effective teams. • Sensitivity and wisdom in managing relationships with pupils, parents and staff; KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALITIES • High level interpersonal and communication skills with • An in-depth understanding of school leadership and the capacity to influence at all levels; school improvement needed to achieve outstanding • High expectations of pupil achievement, conduct and pupil progress and personal development; behaviour; • The ability to create and implement effective • A commitment to collaborative working, both within the management systems in which roles, responsibilities and school and across the Group; accountabilities are clearly articulated; • Openness, sense of humour, energy and enthusiasm THE APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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

COMPLETE A LETTER OF APPLICATION (to be submitted along with 1 your completed application form) which explains your motivation for applying and outlines your suitability for the role including how you satisfy the requirements of the Person Specification. Please confirm in your letter that you are available for the interview date (see below) around which there is no flexibility. This supporting statement should be no more than 2 sides A4 in Roboto font 11/8000 characters. THE SELECTION PROCESS We will treat all enquiries, formal and informal, in confidence. The selection process will be as follows:

• All applications will be acknowledged by email. If you have not received acknowledgement that your application has been received within two PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH 2 REFEREES (as part of your application working days of sending it, please contact the HR department on hr@cap. 2 when filling in the form). In line with our practice on safer education. Shortlisting will occur week commencing 18th March 2019 and recruitment, we will take up references for all those candidates who you will be notified by Tuesday 19th March. proceed to interview, as well as asking candidates to complete a standard application form. The deadline for receipt of applications is • The selection process will take place on 4th and 5th April 2019 at Parkside midday on 25th March. Community College. You do need to be available for both dates.

• Shortlisted candidates will be offered the opportunity to visit the CAP schools and meet the CEO prior to the interview days.

Completed applications and covering letters should be addressed to • Shortlisted candidates will be offered full feedback on their application 3 Janet Swadling, Chair of MAT Board, and sent to the HR Department and/or interview. at Cambridge Academic Partnership, Parkside, Cambridge, CB1 1EH or emailed to [email protected]. Should you wish to discuss your application or find out more about the post, please contact Pam O’Grady, CEO Executive Assistant on pogrady@cap. education

Cambridge Academic Partnership will join United Learning in September 2019 subject to Regional School Commissioner Headeacher Board approval. ship ner rt a

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