Head Of School

Ark Greenwich Free School 
Head of School

Location: Ark Greenwich
Salary: Highly competitive and generous, including potential relocation package
Contract: Permanent
Working hours: Full Time
Start date: September 2024 or as soon as reasonably possible
Closing date: Wednesday 24th April 2024
School visits: To be arranged as suitable for the candidate
Interview date: Tuesday 7th May 2024

About the role:
The Head of School will manage the day-to-day running of the school and be responsible for the overall leadership and management of the academy in line with the Executive Principals’ vision and that of the Ark network.

They will be responsible for providing an outstanding education for all pupils and will drive exceptional teaching and learning and an excellent school culture.  This will include maintaining the excellent standards of curriculum, teaching and learning, and the strong culture of character development throughout the school that underpins all aspects of personal development for both pupils and staff.    

Key responsibilities

• Leadership and management of the school and its staff to achieve high standards of behaviour and attainment
• Manage senior and middle leaders, developing a professional culture amongst all staff at the school
• Drive a positive and collaborative staff working culture which both support and challenges to perform at the best
• Oversee the school’s self-evaluations and internal review process
• Support the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff where necessary
• Provide training and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for all school staff
• Identify areas of progression and promotion for staff that support succession planning for the school
• Develop strong community relationships with parents and other engaged stakeholders
• Leadership of effective external relationships with community and other stakeholders

Teaching and learning

• Work with staff to promote high quality teaching across all subjects 
• Identify any areas of weakness in teaching and implement, monitor and review interventions to improve these areas as well as teaching and learning across the school
• Make sure the school’s assessment system is fit for purpose and provides teachers with useful information about pupils
• Identify areas where staff may benefit from sharing good practice or accessing support from other schools in the trust
• Monitor the outcomes of pupils and draw out any patterns of underperformance in key groups of pupils, such as disadvantaged pupils or pupils with special educational needs
• Make sure standards of behaviour are high to foster an environment in which learning can thrive

Communication

• Work with the Executive Principal to keep them informed of the educational performance of the school, giving them what they need to provide support and challenge
• Help to build on the vision of the trust and share with colleagues across the trust how this is being demonstrated in the school
• Attend any relevant local governing body and/or trustee meetings
• Contribute to reports to the LGB or LA as necessary
• Attend Network Principal Briefings, Meetings and Residentials as required and scheduled In Principal PD overview

Managing resources

• Contribute to the budget setting, cash-flow management and all other financial management processes with the FRD
• Ensure value for money in any delegated financial responsibilities for purchasing and procurement
• Ensure the efficient and effective use of School resources

Other areas of responsibility

• Deputise for the Executive Principal in their absence
• The Head of School will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, and follow school and trust policies
• Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks expected to be carried out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the Executive Principal.

View the full job description and person specification here

About our school:

At Ark Greenwich Free School, we believe education has the power to transform lives; that's why we strive for excellence in all that we do.

Our goal is for Greenwich Free School to be the top choice for families in Greenwich, known for outstanding teaching, exemplary student behaviour, and unparalleled opportunities in and out of the classroom.

Ours is a close-knit community of staff, students and families. You'll join a team of dedicated professionals who put students at the heart of every decision. We each play a vital role in making our school a secure, welcoming place to learn and grow.

Greenwich is our home, and we tailor our approach to serve this diverse, historic borough. We provide targeted support, challenge each student, and open doors to new experiences.

Learn more about our school and community at https://arkgreenwichfreeschool.org/.

We offer:

·       Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale.

·       Twice as many training days as standard.

·       Generous pension scheme.

·       Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers

·       Interest-free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.

·       Gym discounts – offering up to 40%.

·       Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer.

How to apply:

Please visit the school website to submit your application. Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. Early application is strongly advised.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity or for any questions, please contact Leann Cripps on LCripps@arkgreenwich.org.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.