DEPUTY DIRECTOR - NORTH United Learning 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 academy 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 24 Leeds 37 38 6 Barnsley 61 23 20 42 12 Sheffield Salford Manchester 43 40 30 1 52 60 24 3 2 22 48 6 Stockport 12 61 23 40 30 1 60 20 48 42 43 29 45 54 Walthamstow 57 58 11 Westminster 56 25 59 36 15 16 Dagenham 34 Fulham 51 5 28 21 27 Lambeth 332619 Surbiton 49 37 Claygate 7 Banstead 54 35 57 58 13 50 59 36 15 Reigate 51 5 49 2827 39 7 17 13 62 47 32 4 ABOUT UNITED LEARNING 18 31 Guildford 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 Portsmouth 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 Guildford High School 33 North Oxfordshire Academy 49 Surbiton High School independent and state schools in the country, creating benefits for all the schools involved. As 2 Accrington Academy 18 Hampshire Collegiate School 34 Northampton Academy 50 Swindon Academy more schools join the Group we will continue to develop regional clusters of independent schools 3 AKS 19 Hanwell Fields Community School 35 Nova Hreod Academy 51 The Hurlingham Academy and academies. 4 Ashford School 20 High Hazels Academy 36 Paddington Academy 52 The Hyndburn Academy 5 Bacon’s College 21 Hill View Primary School 37 Richard Rose Central Academy 53 The Regis School Our schools work as a team and achieve more by sharing. Our subject specialists, our Group-wide 6 Barnsley Academy 22 Hull Collegiate School 38 Richard Rose Morton Academy 54 The Totteridge Academy 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 John Smeaton Academy 40 Salford City Academy 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 Seahaven Academy 57 Walthamstow Academy benefits, and ultimately, the satisfaction of helping children to succeed. It’s an ethos we call ‘the 10 Carter Community School 26 King Richard School 42 Sheffield Park Academy 58 Walthamstow Primary Academy best in everyone’. 11 Corngreaves Academy 27 Lambeth Academy 43 Sheffield Springs Academy 59 Wilberforce Primary 12 Cravenwood Primary Academy 28 Langford Primary 44 Shoreham Academy 60 William Hulme’s Grammar School United Learning comprises both United Church Schools Trust, which operates our fee-paying 13 Dunottar School 29 Lincoln Minster School 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 Wye School To find out more about United Learning, please visit the website: 15 Goresbrook School 31 Midhurst Rother College 47 St Ives School Haslemere www.unitedlearning.org.uk 16 Grange Primary Academy 32 Newstead Wood School 48 Stockport Academy 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.