Vacancy: Assistant Headteacher (Inclusion)

School
The Mead Primary School
Job reference
CM/AHT
Closing date
25 April 2022 at 9.00am
Interview date
To be confirmed
Start date
1 September 2022
Contract type
Permanent
Salary
Leadership 1-5
Hours
Full time
Location
Mascroft Road, Trowbridge BA14 6GD
Role overview
We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and passionate Assistant Headteacher with SENCO responsibilities to work at Castle Mead School in Trowbridge. The school opened in 2014, and now has 369 children on roll. 29 of those are educated within the school’s Resource Base, a provision specifically supporting children with Complex Needs, and 56 are in the nursery, which cares for 2 – 4 year olds and accepts universal as well as extended funding.

This vacancy presents an exciting opportunity to join not only a fantastic school, but a growing and forward-thinking Trust. The successful candidate will be a visible and important member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team, and a part of our Trust team of Inclusion Leads who work collaboratively with our resource base practitioners, behaviour and SEMH Improvement Champions, and equalities lead. We can offer the right candidate a depth and breadth of experience with opportunies to shape and share practice.

We are interested in hearing from experienced SENCOs who are looking for the next step in their career, as well as those currently in a leadership post who are willing to undertake NASENCO or equivalent qualifications.

In addition, we would like to hear from you if you are:
• An outstanding classroom teacher with a passion for developing children’s knowledge, inspiring their learning and celebrating their achievements
• Dedicated to, and have high expectations of, children - with a belief that all children can succeed
• Able to demonstrate experience of working within a school’s Senior Leadership Team and how your contribution to the leadership of the school has impacted on the children’s learning
• Passionate about nurtured learning, and able to articulate a vision for supporting children who need an alternative curriculum which enables successful inclusion with their peers
• Experienced in working with colleagues (including multi-agency professionals), children and parents to ensure that all learners make good progress from their starting points, and are advantaged by your leadership
• Someone who understands the function of a Complex Needs Resource Base, and can work in close partnership with existing Resource Base staff and leaders
• A champion of inclusion within mainstream classrooms, and able to coach class teachers in scaffolding provision as required
• Able to undertake regular teaching, which may include include teaching within nurture provision or providing regular release time for class teachers

To be truly effective in this role, you will need to have:
• An Advanced Safeguarding Qualification (or the willingness to attain one), in order to act as Deputy DSL within the school
• Excellent communication skills
• An innovative, creative and forward thinking approach
• An ongoing committment to your professional development and learning
• Enthusiasm for developing strong engagement with the local community and multi-agency professionals
How to apply
To apply for this role, you must send the following items to admin@castlemead.wilts.sch.uk by the above closing date and time. Any applications that do not include all of this information will be incomplete and we won't be able to consider them:
1. A completed application form
2. A letter detailing any additional information
3. A video (no longer than 2 minutes) or a written explanation (no more than 500 words) describing the skills and experience needed to be an excellent Assistant Headteacher/SENCO – and how you know you’ve got them
Other information
We’d love to show you around our lovely school. If you would like to come and visit us, please call the school office on 01225 768641 to make an appointment.

Candidate Briefing Pack >

Application Form >

Equality & Diversity Form >

This role will involve contact with children and the post holder will be engaged in regulated activity relevant to children and will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check before appointment is confirmed. 

This Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exception Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’.  These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Please note that by submitting an application, you acknowledge that we reserve the right to view any publicly available information published on social media platforms as part of our shortlisting process, in line with current KCSIE guidelines.

Child Protection Policy >

Code of Conduct >

What we offer

We recognise the value and contribution every member of our staff makes to our schools, and in return for their dedication and commitment we provide:

  • An ambitious and vibrant place to work, with enthusiastic staff and children in all of our schools
  • A highly organised and very supportive team
  • An unparalleled depth and breadth of experience and focus on Inclusion, through our Trust Quality Reviews, Complex Needs Resource Bases, and The Harbour Programme
  • The opportunity to work and plan collaboratively with the Trust SEND / Inclusion Team, supported by our Executive Leader
  • Specialist support and mentoring from our Trust Behaviour, SEMH and Equalities Improvement Champions
  • Dedicated weekly planning time (which Teaching Assistants are paid to attend) enables liaison regarding planning and provision
  • High quality professional development opportunities from Day One, including A National College training account, where you can access thousands of training courses online for free
  • A clear vision with purpose and values that are supported by all our staff
  • Unlimited, free access to the Employee Assistance Programme which gives all our staff confidential support and guidance just when they need it most