Bitterne Park School An 11-19 Teaching School with Outstanding features Headteacher’s Information Pack 2016/2017 BITTERNE PARK SCHOOL 1 COPSEWOOD ROAD SOUTHAMPTON SO18 1BU t: 023 8032 5200 e: [email protected] w: www.bitterneparkschool.org.uk Contents Letter from our Chair of Governors Page 2 Letter from the Executive Headteacher (Designated) Page 3 Welcome to Southampton Page 4 Overview of our School Pages 5-6 Data and statistics Pages 7-8 Record of Ofsted Inspections & Specialism Status Page 9 Our ethos, values and aims Page 10 Proposed Senior Leadership Team Structure Page 11 Our Governing Body Page 12 What the parents and children say Page 13 Job Profile Pages 14-16 Teaching Schools Page 17 Sixth Form Page 18 New Build Page 19 Application and selection process Page 20 Map, contact details and grounds Page 21 1 Letter from Kevin Turner, Chair of Governors Dear Applicant On behalf of the Governing Body of the Southampton Riverside Federation, I would like to thank you for expressing your interest in this exciting opportunity to become the new Headteacher of Bitterne Park School in Southampton. We have been working towards this significant moment over recent years and believe the time is now right to fully restructure our leadership team to allow us to take the next steps in support of our vision to create and sustain a world-class education establishment for the families in our communities who are at the heart of the eastern side of Southampton. Bitterne Park School is currently a LA maintained community school for 11-19 year-olds and will expand by 300 spaces to support nearly 2000 students as we move into a brand-new building for 1800 KS3 and KS4 students during the autumn of 2017. This is part of the government-funded Priority Schools Building Programme, complementing our recent Sixth Form Building for 180 KS5 students completed in 2012. Through the leadership of our existing Headteacher, Mrs Susan Trigger, the last 19 years has seen the school build an excellent reputation with an outstanding track record of leadership development and school-to-school support. Our status as both a National Support School and as a Teaching School, leading the Bitterne Park School Teaching Alliance, spanning a range of primary and secondary schools across Southampton and the south of England is second to none. Most recently in September 2015, the Governing Body formally federated Bitterne Park School with Townhill Junior School, one of our major primary feeder schools, to create the Southampton Riverside Federation and to formalise the cross-phase working and development that we believe to be key to the success of our students all the way through their schooling. In this ongoing spirit and belief of the value of outward-facing collaboration, it remains our stated intention to convert to Multi-Academy status as a sponsoring Academy, to be effective not later than September 2018, and we are currently exploring options for collaboration and partnership with a number of other local and Alliance schools to this effect. We intend the restructuring of our leadership team to be effective in September 2017 and it will include the formalisation of Mrs Susan Trigger as Executive Headteacher, Teaching School Alliance and Business Development Executive, through a newly defined outward-facing and revenue-generating role. In parallel, this appointment of a new substantive Headteacher for Bitterne Park School will ensure outstanding day-to-day operational management and drive the ongoing success of our school for the next stage of its development journey to become one of the largest and most successful schools on the south coast. I trust you will find all the other necessary information in this pack to answer your initial questions and I very much look forward to receiving your application and the opportunity to discuss in person this exciting career development - for an experienced Headteachers’ next step. Yours Faithfully Mr Kevin Turner Chair of Governors Southampton Riverside Federation 2 Letter from Susan Trigger, Executive Headteacher (Designated) Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Headship of Bitterne Park School. This is a very exciting time as we embark on the next phase of our outstanding journey. As you know, we are currently a massively oversubscribed school of 1650 students. Our planned growth to 1800 on roll in the main school, with a target of 200 in our Sixth form, will create one of the largest and successful schools in the UK. The leadership and management of what are being called “Titan” schools must not be underestimated which is why I am delighted the Governors have supported and encouraged the move to a strengthened leadership model. Our future planning also has to take into account the anticipated journey we will make as a small federation into a MAT. Firm foundations are being laid for a small group of like minded schools to work together and convert to a MAT status. I am looking forward to being able to spend more of my time on this important work knowing that the daily leadership and management of Bitterne Park School is safely in the hands of our new Headteacher. Our MAT model will be based on each of our partner schools having strong hands on and charismatic leadership with a clear identity for each community. Our passion for teaching and learning will join us together and we will continue to prove we can achieve well above the average for the students in our schools. The Teaching School will be a central source of opportunity and support for all the schools in our partnership. We also work well beyond our local boundary on Teaching School activities. The number one priority for the new Headteacher will be to regain our overall outstanding school position. The bar continues to be raised but we have a clear understanding and ambition to reach this. The challenge is to not lose sight of this goal whilst undertaking the move into our exciting new school building in the Autumn term 2017. In summary, we are looking for an outstanding Headteacher with the skills, leadership and enthusiasm to direct Bitterne Park School on a daily basis to become a centre of educational excellence for its pupils and community. If you believe you have the skills and expertise to make such a significant contribution I do hope that you will apply. I very much look forward to working with the successful candidate. Best Regards SUSAN TRIGGER Headteacher 3 Welcome to Southampton (a brief overview) Southampton lies on the south coast of England and is the largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire. It is 75 miles (121 km) south-west of London and 19 miles (31 km) north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest. It lies at the northernmost point of Southampton Water at the confluence of the Rivers Test and Itchen, with the River Hamble joining to the south of the urban area. The city, which is a unitary authority, has an estimated population of 253,651. The city has an important aviation and maritime heritage. Henry V marched his troops through the Westgate (still standing) to sail for France and the battle of Agincourt. The Mayflower sailed from Southampton taking settlers to the New World of America. The Titanic embarked from Southampton on its fateful maiden voyage, taking over five hundred Southampton residents who would never return. Southampton was home of some of the first flying boats, and it is thought that the term ‘air port’ was first used in reference to Southampton in this role. Local resident RJ Mitchell designed the Spitfire and it had its maiden flight from what is now Southampton airport. Local people kept production of this vital plane going throughout the war. The port also served as a critical base for American soldiers amassing in secret for the D Day landings. In 1620 the Pilgrims chartered the Mayflower to sail to the New World to escape religious oppression in England. They also bought a smaller boat the Speedwell, which was originally built in Southampton, to use permanently when they reached America. Old Town today still contains a wealth of historical attractions – the Bargate which was originally built as the main gateway to the medieval city, the 800 year old Bargate stands as a prestigious entrance to the Old Town where you will find the third longest stretch of unbroken medieval defensive walling in England and Tudor House are some of the many sites worth visiting. The city has magnificent theatres, unique galleries and museums, plus lots of intimate music and comedy venues for its tourists and residents alike. The award winning parks make Southampton the greenest city in Southern England and Southampton Common has over 300 acres of flora and fauna for you to enjoy. 4 An overview of our school Bitterne Park, an 11–19 mixed comprehensive community school, is set in a splendid site of eighteen acres overlooking the River Itchen and Riverside Park. The School has its own seven and a half acre field for recreational use and nearby are Bitterne Leisure Centre and Woodmill Outdoor Education Centre, both extensively used by our students. Our current on-site facilities include specialist accommodation for Technology, Art and Ceramics, Photography and a Hair Salon. There is one gymnasium for Physical Education and one converted into two Dance Studios. We have a state of the art Fitness Suite with staff membership. The Sports Hall is also used by the community in the evenings. There is a separate Music/Drama building and a brand new theatre.