Executive Principal Candidate Material - Shaw Education Trust

Executive Principal

                        Candidate Material

     Closing date:      14th March 2019 at 12 noon
     Short Listing:     15th March 2019
     Interview Dates:   20th /21st March 2019

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Contents

       Welcome from the Chief Executive Officer
       About the Shaw Education Trust
       Our values and mission
       Shaw Education Academies
       Copy of the advertisement
       Job Description
       Person specification
       Safeguarding policies and checks
       Application notes

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Dear colleague

Thank you for your interest in the position of Executive Principal, working with the
direction and support of the Chief Executive across the Shaw Education Trust. We
are seeking to appoint an inspirational, experienced and successful senior leader
who will provide excellent leadership and management across the Trust. You will be
crucial to giving every student high quality education which promotes the highest
possible standards of achievement; This post will build leadership capacity in every
academy and secure the long-term success of designated academies by maximising
potential through the skills and resources available from across the Family of
Schools.

The Shaw Education Trust is a growing multi-academy trust based in Staffordshire
and the North West. We are sponsored by a third sector charity, The Shaw Trust- an
organisation realising over £130 million annual turnover. The additional capacity our
sponsor brings enables us to affect rapid transformation to the lives of young people.
We are an innovative, aspirational and motivated Trust, determined to affect positive
outcomes for all. We have a Teaching School, Blackfriars, which has an alliance of
schools, in our partnership. Exceptionally high quality professional development is at
the heart of our approach. Our academies will be great places to work, buzz with
creativity and achieve awesome outcomes.

We are keen to appoint an ambitious colleague who shares the values and ethos of
the Trust. This unique opportunity will suit a candidate who has the skills and
experience of a previous Headteacher post and wants to extend their successful
career into leading and supporting other colleagues translating the vision into clear
objectives that promote and sustain school improvement. You will have a thirst for
initiating and building capacity for change.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of one successful headship in the
secondary phase, coaching and/or mentoring experience and be able to
demonstrate evidence of school improvement training /support.

If you would like an informal discussion about working for the Shaw Education Trust,
please contact: Jo Morgan, Chief Executive Officer on 07790 399368 or Julie
Yarwood, Director of Education, Quality, Standards & Training on 07817 575213.

Yours faithfully

Jo Morgan

Chief Executive Officer

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Our collaborative approach
Shaw Education Trust is a growing multi academy trust sponsored by Shaw Trust.
We lead and manage academies in all phases, all sectors and in all communities.

We believe that every child should have the opportunity to be successful whatever
their starting point. We pledge an unswerving commitment to improve, accelerate
and enable ambitious life goals amongst all young people in our academies.

To ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential,
whatever that might be, we expect each of our academies to be on the journey to
good or outstanding within two years of joining the Trust. We don't believe in
prescribing a curriculum; instead we support our academies to offer a curriculum that
deepens knowledge, develops skills and fires the curiosity of students. We also
expect each Academy to offer a range of support that addresses life after school,
develops students' independence and helps them to prepare for university and the
world of work.

Senior leaders at each Academy have the support of a core team and commissioned
experts to provide high quality teacher training and development to staff to ensure
they are continually developing their good practice.

We also encourage collaboration within and between our academies to create a
community of professionals with a wide range of valuable experience and specialist
knowledge to share.

Integrity and transparency underpin our accountability approach. Local accountability
is supported through a system of Academy Councils, with representatives of the
whole school community in membership.

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WHAT WE STAND FOR …

Our vision

Our vision is for a society in which everyone has the opportunity to excel, gain
employment and sustain independence; a society where aspiration is the norm and
high achievement the only acceptable standard. Barriers to success will be removed
by high quality educational and training experiences.

Our mission

We believe every young person can achieve great things, whatever their ability
and whatever their background. We will facilitate excellence by all and for all: with no
exceptions.

We will deliver ‘best in class’ tailored learning to ensure that every young person
attending one of our academies has the opportunity and support required to achieve
their potential.

High quality intervention and targeted leadership development will be the
foundation stone of our Trust. We will accelerate improvement in all our academies
from their individual starting points. Schools facing challenge will be intensively
supported to ‘get to good’ within two years. Leaders will be celebrated, encouraged
to excel, think innovatively and be incredible.

We pledge an unswerving commitment to improve the life chances of all the
young people in our academies. We will focus on bridging the gap between
school and the outside world to give young people the best chances to progress to
high quality further/higher education, employment or training.

We will create a self-sustaining family of schools who will support each other’s
success and promote consistently high standards across the Trust.

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Academies within the Trust*

Blackfriars Academy
Brookfields Special School
Castlebrook High School
Coppice Academy
Great Barr Academy
The Kidsgrove Primary School
The Kidsgrove Secondary School
The Madeley School
Meadows Primary
New Friars College
Saxon Hill Academy
Seabridge Primary School
Streethay Primary School (due to open in September 2019)
Tottington High School
Walton Hall Academy
Wolstanton High School
The Westleigh School

(* additional Academy Orders are in stream)

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Advertisement

Executive Principal
Required: As soon as possible
Salary Range: £77,613 - £111,007 (a four-point scale will be agreed depending on
candidates’ experience and impact within these minimum and maximum points)

Shaw Education Trust, seeks applications from an outstanding leader for the above
post.
We are seeking to appoint an inspirational, experienced and successful senior leader who
shares our values and ethos. You will be crucial to giving every student high quality
education which promotes the highest possible standards of achievement; You will create
and build leadership capacity in every academy and secure the long-term success of
designated academies by maximising potential through the skills and resources available
from across the Family of Schools. Supported by the Chief Executive Officer you will
develop and implement robust systems in key areas including short- medium- and long term
strategies that provide improvement, sustainability and capacity building.

The Shaw Education Trust is a growing multi-academy trust based in Staffordshire and the
North West. We are sponsored by a third sector charity, The Shaw Trust- an organisation
realising £270 million annual turnover and incorporates Gabbitas and Optimus Education.
The additional capacity our sponsor brings enables us to affect rapid transformation to the
lives of young people. We are an innovative, aspirational and motivated Trust determined to
affect positive outcomes for all. We have a Teaching School, Blackfriars, which has an
alliance of schools, in our partnership. Exceptionally high quality professional development is
at the heart of our approach. Our academies will be great places to work, buzz with creativity
and achieve awesome outcomes.

We want the very best for our children therefore if you have completed a successful
Headteacher post and have the drive, tenacity and want every child to achieve their potential
then we would love to hear from you.

If you would like an informal discussion about working for the Shaw Education Trust, please
contact: Jo Morgan, Chief Executive Officer email jo.morgan@shaw-education.org.uk or
Julie Yarwood, Director of Education, Quality, Standards & Training email
julie.yarwood@shaw-education.org.uk or telephone 01782 742910.

Our Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Therefore, all appointments will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS
disclosure.
Application packs available from: heather.bayliss@shaw-education.org.uk

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JOB DESCRIPTION
Salary                      £77,613 - £111,007
                            (a four point scale will be agreed depending on candidates’
                            experience and impact within these minimum and maximum
                            points)

Location                    To be agreed with the successful candidate

Job purpose

Working with the support of the Chief Executive as required, to provide strategic
leadership and hold accountability for direction, standards achieved and quality in
designated academies in order to:

       Provide leadership and management which enables the Trust to give every
        student high quality education, and which promotes the highest possible
        standards of achievement;
       Secure the long-term success of the designated academies by maximising
        potential through the skills and resources available from across the Family of
        Schools;
       Build leadership capacity in every academy;
       The post holder shall be required to work in any of the schools/academies
        within the SET family as directed by the Chief Executive.

Shaping the future

 Creates and communicates a shared vision, ethos and strategic plan for the
    partnership that inspires and motivates all stakeholders and reflects the needs of
    each school and its community.
   Translates the vision into clear objectives that promote and sustain school
    improvement.
   Initiates and builds the capacity for change.
   Develops and implements robust systems in key areas including short- medium-
    and long term strategies that provide improvement, sustainability and capacity
    building.
   Empowers, develops and maintains strategic leadership capacity to support
    succession planning and meets the needs of both schools.
   Ensures both schools move forward for the benefit of all pupils and their
    communities
   Motivates and inspires all stakeholders to create a strong, shared culture of
    learning within an inclusive environment. Leading learning and teaching
   Sets high expectations and challenging targets, monitoring effectiveness and
    evaluating learning outcomes.

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 Ensures a partnership-wide focus on pupil achievement, using data and
  benchmarks to monitor progress in every child’s learning.
 Establishes creative, effective approaches to learning and teaching, responsive to
  the needs of the pupil community.
 Ensures a culture that supports and facilitates pupil engagement in, and
  ownership of, their own learning.
 Implements strategies to improve the quality of teaching and learning across all
  schools to ensure it is consistently strong enough to raise standards.

Leading Learning and Teaching

 Sets high expectations and challenging targets, monitoring effectiveness and
    evaluating learning outcomes.
 Ensures a holistic focus on pupil achievement, using data and benchmarks to
    monitor progress in every child’s learning.
 Establishes creative, effective approaches to learning and teaching, and is
    responsive to the needs of the pupil community and the Trust.
 Drives and ensures a culture that supports and facilitates pupil engagement in,
    and ownership of, their own learning.
 Implements strategies to improve the quality of teaching and learning across both
    schools to ensure it is consistently strong to raise standards.

Developing Self and Others

 Develops a positive ethos that celebrates the achievement of all and fosters a
    culture of continuous improvement.
   Builds a collaborative learning culture within the partnership of the Trust and
    actively engages with others to build effective learning communities and
    partnerships.
   Ensures effective planning, co-ordination, support and evaluation, ensuring clear
    delegation of tasks and devolution of responsibilities.
   Develops and maintains effective strategies and procedures for the induction,
    professional development and performance review and management of all staff.
   Sets high expectations for all and addresses underperformance, makes
    appropriate challenge for unacceptable practice and attitudes.
   Acts as a role model for the highest professional standards and behaviours.
   Self evaluates, sets personal targets and takes responsibility for their own
    personal professional development.
   Ensures both self and others achieve an appropriate work/life balance.
   Ensures the performance management of staff reflects the Trust aims and
    objectives.

Managing the Organisation

 Creates organisational structures that reflect the Trust and school values, and
  enables the management systems, structures and processes to work effectively in
  line with relevant legal requirements.
 Ensures the schools and their resources are organised and managed to provide
  an efficient, effective and safe learning environment.
 Recruits, retains and deploys staff efficiently and effectively across both schools.

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 Ensures the leadership teams are empowered and able to support and deliver the
    smooth operation and high quality teaching of both schools.
   Ensures the schools resources are deployed to achieve value for money
   Produces and implements clear, evidence-based improvement plans and policies
    for the development of the schools and their facilities.
   Manages and optimises the use of financial and human resources to achieve the
    Trust and schools’ educational goals and priorities.
   Ensures the range, quality and use of resources is monitored, evaluated and
    reviewed to improve the quality of education for all pupils and provide value for
    money.
   Ensures effective time management between each school to ensure an effective
    leadership presence and support on both sites.

Securing Accountability

 Develops effective working relationships with the Trust Board, Academy Council
  and relevant bodies of the schools.
 Is legally and contractually accountable to the Chief Executive Officer and Trust
  Board for the schools, its environment and all its work. The Executive Principal will
  work with all parties to meet required responsibilities.
 Develops an ethos across the school that enables everyone to work
  collaboratively, shares knowledge and understanding, celebrates success and
  accepts responsibility for outcomes.
 Ensure individual staff accountabilities are clearly defined, understood and agreed
  and are subject to careful and regular review and evaluation through performance
  management.
 Develops and presents an accurate account of the schools’ performance to a
  range of audiences including the Chief Executive Officer, Trust Board, Academy
  Council, parents and carers, Children and Ofsted.

Strengthening Community

 Embeds positive and purposeful relationships across and beyond the school that
    benefit children, families and local communities.
   Co-operates and works with relevant agencies and partners to ensure the well-
    being of children in line with statutory requirements. e.g. Every Child Matters
   Ensures positive learning experiences for all pupils are linked and integrated with
    the wider community, local, national and global.
   Builds school culture and curriculum that takes account of the richness and
    diversity of the school’s communities.
   Networks and quickly develops effective relationships in order to secure a range
    of resources and opportunities for the schools.
   Creates and promotes positive strategies for challenging all forms of prejudice and
    harassment.
   Promote the concept of lifelong learning and family engagement with learning
    though partnership.

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Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children

 Substantial knowledge and effective experiences of addressing every Child
    Matters agenda and safeguarding issues.
   Ensures a safe and supportive school culture.
   Ensures the welfare of children is safeguarded and promoted in line with current
    best practice and advice.
   Identifies key features of staff recruitment that help deter or prevent the
    appointment of unsuitable people.
   Develops and introduces policies and practices that minimise opportunities for
    abuse or ensure its prompt reporting.

    Additional duties

       To undertake work on behalf of the Chief Executive as required.
       To act as Academy Principal if required and directed by the Chief Executive.
       To hold the Academy Principals to account for the academy results, focusing
        on the securing of KS4 results and levels of progress. Ensuring that all the
        relevant intervention and monitoring is in place to secure the best possible
        outcomes for students at the end of this phase.
       Ensure that a modern, current curriculum is developed and implemented and
        that curriculum delivery is translated into effective learning and assessment
        practice.
       Encourage and promote innovation in educational provision through the
        commissioning and delivery of services, ensuring that the academies can
        meet changing needs and demands consistent with government guidelines
        and requirements.
       Ensure that high quality provision is available to all students regardless of
        race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, economic background or
        special educational needs.
       To attend SET Board and Committee meetings.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Candidates must evidence the following

    Qualifications and Skills                               Application Form/ interview
       Qualified Teacher Status
       Evidence of regular and appropriate professional
           development
       NPQH, or NPQEL
       Experience of a minimum of one successful
           headship in the secondary phase
       Coaching and/or mentoring experience
       Evidence of school improvement training/support

                                                            Application form/ interview /
    Shaping the Future: candidates must be able to
                                                            assessment process/ refs.
    demonstrate an understanding and delivery of …
       Local, national and global trends in education
       Strategies which build, communicate and
         implement a shared vision
       Strategic planning processes including financial
         planning, budgetary management and principles
         of best value
       Communication strategies both within and beyond
         the school
       New technologies, their use and impact
       Leading change, creativity and innovation and its
         impact on organisations and individuals
       Transforming schools and networks into
         successful learning communities
       Developing a culture that encourages
         participation, builds stakeholder esteem,
         recognises successes and celebrates existing
         good practice.

    Leading learning and teaching: candidates must be
    able to demonstrate an understanding and delivery
    of…
        Strategies to raise achievement and achieve
           excellence

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          Strategies to develop a personalised learning
           culture
          Strategies to ensure inclusion, diversity and
           access
          Strategies to develop effective staff
          Models of learning and teaching
          Principles of effective teaching and assessment
           for learning
          Models of behaviour and attendance management
          Curriculum design and management
          Data collection and analysis tools
          Performance monitoring and evaluation
           techniques
          Principles and models of self-evaluation including
           School self evaluation
          Time-management between both schools to
           ensure effective management presence
          Rapid understanding of the ethos and mechanics
           of both schools, diagnose their requirements and
           establish personal credibility with stakeholders
          Understanding concept of distributed leadership
           and its role in effective management

    Developing self and others: candidates must be able
    to demonstrate an understanding and delivery of…
        Strategies to promote self and team development
        Models of continuing professional development
        Building and sustaining a learning community
        Challenge underperformance and increase
          expectations coaching and mentoring skills

    Managing the organisations: candidates must be
    able to demonstrate an understanding and delivery
    of..
          Implementation and management of rapid change
           initiatives
          Strong professional relationships and affiliation
           with colleagues
          Flexible/differentiated approaches to targeting
           improvement measures at staff

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          Strategies to manage challenge and disagreement
           when required
          Management of the challenge of balancing
           schools short term and long term objectives
          Principles and strategies of school improvement
          Project management skills and knowledge
          Policy creation, through consultation and review
          Personnel, governance, security and access
           issues relating to the diverse use of school
           facilities
          Legal issues relating to managing a school
           including Equal Opportunities, Race Relations,
           Disability, Human Rights and Employment
           Legislation

    Securing accountability: candidates must be able to
    demonstrate an understanding and delivery of…
       Principles and practice of quality assurance
          systems, including school review, self-evaluation
          and performance management
       Statutory educational frameworks, including
          governance public service policy and
          accountability frameworks, including self-
          evaluation and multi-agency working
       A range of tools (including performance data) to
          support, monitor, evaluate and improve aspects of
          school life, including challenging poor
          performance
       Effective networking in order to secure a range of
          resources and opportunities for Trust schools

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    Strengthening community: candidates must be able
    to demonstrate an understanding and delivery of…
        Establishing and developing effective relationships
          and gain trust of all stakeholders
        Current issues and future trends that impact on
          education and the school community
        Strategies to encourage parents and carers to
          support their children’s learning
        Models of school, home, community and business
          partnerships
        Wider curriculum beyond school and the
          opportunities it provides for pupils and the school
          community
        The work of other agencies and opportunities for
          collaboration

    Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children:
    candidates must be able to demonstrate an
    understanding and delivery of…
        The KCSIE agenda and possessing current and
          relevant knowledge and understanding of national
          and local safeguarding guidance
        Developing and ensuring a safe and supportive
          school culture
        Developing and introducing policies and practices
          that minimise opportunities for abuse or ensure its
          prompt reporting
        Safer recruitment

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SAFEGUARDING

The Trust is committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of all of its
students. Each student’s welfare is of paramount importance. We recognise that
some children may be especially vulnerable to abuse e.g. those with Special
Educational Needs, those living in adverse circumstances. We recognise that
children who are abused or neglected may find it difficult to develop a sense of self-
worth and to view the world in a positive way. We recognise that some children who
have experienced abuse may harm others. We will always take a considered and
sensitive approach in order that we can support all of our students.

The Trust’s Child Safeguarding Policy applies to all adults, including volunteers,
working in or on behalf of the Trust.

‘Everyone in the education service shares an objective to help keep children and
young people safe by contributing to:

      Providing a safe environment for children and young people to learn in
       education settings; and

   Identifying children and young people who are suffering or likely to suffer significant
      harm, and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept
      safe both at home and in the education setting’

   Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education DfES updated 2012

The Trust pays full regard to DfES guidance ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer
Recruitment in Education’. We ensure that all appropriate measures are applied in
relation to everyone who works for the Trust who is likely to be perceived by the
children as a safe and trustworthy adult including e.g. volunteers and staff employed
by contractors. Safer recruitment practice includes scrutinising applicants, verifying
identity and academic or vocational qualifications, obtaining professional and
character references, checking previous employment history and ensuring that a
candidate has the health and physical capacity for the job. It also includes
undertaking interviews and, where appropriate, undertaking List 99 and Disclosure
and Barring checks.

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ADDITIONAL NOTES

Safeguarding Children & Young People
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young
people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate
checks, including enhanced DBS checks.
    Candidates should be aware that all posts in Shaw Education Trust involve
      some degree of responsibility for safeguarding children and young people,
      although the extent of that responsibility will vary depending on the nature of
      the post. Please see the job description enclosed in this Application Pack for
      further details.
    Accordingly, this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
      and therefore all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded
      as “spent” must be declared.
    If you are currently working with children, on either a paid or voluntary basis,
      your current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences, including those
      related to children or young people (whether disciplinary sanction is current or
      time-expired), and whether you have been the subject of any child protection
      allegations or concerns and if so the outcome of any investigation or disciplinary
      proceedings. If you are not currently working with children, but have done in the
      past, that previous employer will be asked about these issues.
    Where neither your current or previous employment has involved working with
      children, your current employer will be asked about your suitability to work with
      children, although it may where appropriate be answered not applicable if your
      duties have not brought you into contact with children or young people.

Interview Process

After the closing date, short listing will be conducted by a Panel, who will match your
skills/experience against the criteria in the Person Specification. You will be selected
for interview entirely on the contents of your application form, so please read the Job
Description and Person Specification carefully before you complete your form.

All candidates invited to interview must bring the following documents:
     Documentary evidence of right to work in the UK
     Documentary evidence of identity that will satisfy DBS requirements such as a
       current driving licence including a photograph and/or a passport and/or a full
       birth certificate
     Documentary proof of current name and address (i.e. utility bill, financial
       statement etc.)
     Where appropriate any documentation evidencing change of name

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       Documents confirming any educational or professional qualifications that are
        necessary or relevant for the post

Please note that originals of the above are necessary. Photocopies or certified copies
are not sufficient.

We will seek references on shortlisted candidates for Trust based positions and may
approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or
qualifications before interview. Any relevant issues arising from references will be
taken up at interview.

In addition to candidates’ ability to perform the duties of the post, the interview will also
explore issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children,
including:
     Motivation to work with children and young people
     Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries
       with children and young people
     Emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours
     Attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline

Conditional Offer: Pre-Employment Checks

Any offer to a successful candidate will be conditional upon:
    Verification of right to work in the UK
    Receipt of at least two satisfactory references (if these have not already been
       received)
    Verification of identity checks and qualifications
    List 99 check
    Satisfactory DBS Disclosure
    Verification of professional status such as QTS Status, NPQH (where required)
    Satisfactory completion of a Medical Assessment
    Satisfactory completion of the probationary period (where relevant)
    Where the successful candidate has worked or been resident overseas in the
       previous five years, such checks and confirmations as may be required in
       accordance with statutory guidance

For teaching posts
    Verification of successful completion of statutory induction period (applies to
      those who obtained QTS after 7 May 1999)
    Verification of medical fitness in accordance with DfES Circular 4/99 Physical
      and Mental Fitness to Teach of Teachers and Entrants to Initial Teacher
      Training

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You should be aware that provision of false information is an offence and could result
in your application being rejected or summary dismissal if you have been
selected, as well as possible referral to the police and/or DBS and/or other
relevant investigating bodies.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply for this amazing opportunity to join our Trust please complete the Shaw
Education Trust application form. No CV’s are permitted and no agencies please.

You should include a supporting letter with your application detailing why you are
suitable to the role and what you can offer for our children.

Closing Date:       12.00 midday on 14th March 2019

Short Listing:      15th March 2019

Interviews:         20th and 21st March 2019

Applying:

Completed application forms and supporting letters may be returned in electronic
format to:

heatherbayliss@shaw-education.org.uk for the attention of:

Chief Executive Officer, Jo Morgan.

If you would prefer to submit a paper application form, please return to:

Jo Morgan
Chief Executive Officer

Shaw Education Trust
The Lodge
Wolstanton High School
Milehouse Lane
Newcastle-Under- Lyme
ST5 9JU

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    The Lodge                Twitter:   @shawedutrust
    Wolstanton High School   Tel:       01782 742910
    Milehouse Lane           Email:     info@shaw-education.org.uk
    Newcastle-under-Lyme     Online:    www.shaw-education.org.uk
    Staffordshire
    ST5 9JU