Address
Children First and at the Heart of all we do.
Are you passionate about securing brilliant outcomes for our Children and Young People? Do you want to make a real difference to the lives of some of our most vulnerable learners? Can you be a driver for change across a wide range of partners and services? If so, then this is an exciting opportunity to join us at Dudley Council as the Virtual School Headteacher.
Parents want their children to have the best start in life and to reach their full potential, and as corporate parents we have equally high aspirations for our children and young people in care.
As a strategic leader you will be part of the Education, SEND and Family Solutions Senior Team in Dudley Children’s Services Directorate and will champion the best possible opportunities for the education of children and young people in care, those who have been previously looked after, and those with a social worker.
As a restorative council we work collaboratively with each other and our partners to positively engage with our children and young people to collectively ensure that they are able to make accelerated progress.
We are proud of our strengths. Our most recent Ofsted inspection (pub Jan 2023) stated “The highly effective Virtual School has a clear oversight of children missing education in Dudley ... Leaders do not shy away from using statutory attendance orders to ensure that pupils attend school or receive their education in appropriately registered places.”
Our Virtual School
- Supports and challenge schools, carers and all relevant partners to ensure children in the care of Dudley Council achieve the best possible educational outcomes and life chances
- Works collaboratively to ensure Dudley's Children in Care attend the best possible education establishments and are provided with the opportunities to progress and realise their individual potential.
- Supports effective delivery of Personal Education Plans and monitor their outcomes.
- Identifies specific areas of concern in the education of a Child in Care and ensure appropriate action is taken.
- Tracks and monitors attendance, exclusions, progress and personal achievements of Children in Care.
- Manages the Pupil Premium Plus funding for Children in Care and work with schools to ensure it is used effectively.
- Encourages, supports and celebrates young people’s successes and achievements. This includes the promotion of children's participation in out of school activities and projects.
- Provides advice and guidance to children, parents, carers, social workers, schools and others, as appropriate, around the education of Children in Care and previously looked after children.
- Provides a range of joint and specific training opportunities to raise awareness of issues and concerns relating to the educational needs of Children in Care and previously looked after children.
As the Virtual School Headteacher you will build on the successes of the team and be supported by the Service Director for Education, SEND and Family Solutions in developing the school to deliver the best possible outcomes for our children.
The Dudley Virtual School are looking to appoint a creative, innovative individual to promote excellent education outcomes for all of our children in care. If you think this role is for you, we look forward to receiving your application.
So that we can demonstrate Dudley’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to improve bias in the recruitment process that could create barriers for candidates your personal data will be anonymised when you apply. To ensure that you comply with our anonymisation process please ensure you have removed your name and date of birth from any attachments prior to uploading them to your application.
Online application forms will only be accepted for this vacancy, online facilities for jobs are available at public libraries within the Dudley Borough.
If you require support completing an online or paper application form and or interview techniques, please contact Dudley Adult and Community Learning on 01384 818 143 or acl@dudley.gov.uk who can support with Digital Skills and Job Applications.
If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application please contact the HR Resourcing Team via HR.Resourcing@dudley.gov.uk
If you are experiencing a problem whilst applying for a position, please follow the link below to the WM Jobs Help Page in the first instance https://help.wmjobs.co.uk/
If the WM Jobs Help Page does not resolve your issue then please contact the HR Resourcing Team via HR.Resourcing@dudley.gov.uk
Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness. The Council will check, share and cross match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so.
The Council’s full Privacy and Disclaimer Statement can be accessed on the website at http://www.dudley.gov.uk/
N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications
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