Elsley Primary School - Assistant Headteacher

About the school

At Elsley we value high-quality learning and achievement, together with an ethos of sharing and respecting

Elsley is a diverse and happy community with a wealth of experience and cultures. Staff are committed to sharing good practice and collaborative working, with opportunities for creativity within the curriculum encouraged. Together we are focused on making a positive impact on achievement. Our children are at the heart of everything we do. We pride ourselves on our nurturing culture for children and for staff. In June 2020 we were recognised with a Gold Award for supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of staff during the pandemic.

In recent years Elsley Primary School has doubled to 4-forms of entry. We have created a supportive and high-achieving culture, matched by modern buildings and facilities. Our school is situated in a highly urban area but the school itself is tucked away in a quiet residential setting with its own on-site farm and extensive grounds to support Outdoor Learning.

We are proud of the breadth of our curriculum and holistic education which is matched by strong academic achievements. The most recently published assessments prior to COVID continued an upward trend of achievement with KS2 progress in each of Reading, Writing and Maths placing us in the top 20% of all schools nationally.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2022, confirmed the school is a good provider and the report reflects the school’s many strengths.

We have high expectations for pupil progress and outcomes, combined with creativity within our curriculum offer. Some of our more unusual initiatives include an on-site farm and a whole-school residential curriculum. This starts by giving our youngest children the experience of a night-time walk and a campfire, leading through on-site camping under canvas and culminating in longer trips away from school for the oldest children.

Our pupils face many challenges, including high levels of deprivation and associated difficulties. Significant numbers of pupils arrive mid-year and with little or no English. Our systems and staff training reflect these additional challenges and we collectively strive to overcome these barriers.

The Post

Are you passionate about overcoming barriers and creating the best opportunities for children?

Do you have successful whole-school experience, empowering and developing staff?

The leadership structure has a total of four assistant headteachers, supporting two Deputy Headteachers and the Headteacher.

Elsley Primary School has doubled to 4-form entry. We have created a supportive and high-achieving culture, matched by modern, state-of-the-art buildings and facilities enveloped in a rich, outdoor environment including a small school farm.

We are proud of the breadth of our curriculum and holistic education which is matched by strong academic achievements. Progress tends to be very strong from pupils’ starting points.

We have a happy and diverse community of staff, pupils and their families. We pride ourselves on our nurturing culture for children and for staff. In June 2020 we were recognised with a Gold Award for supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of staff during the pandemic.

Staff are empowered and improve their practice through an established coaching culture and there is no data-led performance management. There are opportunities for professional development from a strong track-record of working with partners to host trainee teachers, through to excellent collaboration and high-quality CPD, and further opportunities for middle and senior leadership. There are opportunities to complete National Professional Qualifications, and many have progressed to leadership posts within and outside of the school.

We have high expectations for pupil progress and outcomes, combined with creativity within our curriculum offer. Our school is situated in a highly urban area but the school itself is tucked away in a quiet residential setting with its own on-site farm and extensive grounds to support Outdoor Learning. Our pupils face many challenges including high levels of deprivation and associated difficulties, and significant numbers of pupils arriving mid-year and with little or no English. Our systems and staff training reflect these additional challenges which helps us to collectively overcome these barriers.

We want to hear from you if you are driven to overcome challenges on behalf of our children. You would need to have considerable whole-school leadership experience, an excellent understanding of teaching and learning and well-practiced coaching skills to empower others.

Some of our more unusual initiatives include an on-site farm and a whole-school residential curriculum. This starts by giving our youngest children the experience of a night-time walk and a campfire, leading through on-site camping experiences under canvas and culminating in longer residential trips away from school for the oldest children. Whilst some of this was disrupted during the pandemic, we have begun to re-establish this culture again.

The person

If you want to join an enthusiastic, dynamic and committed team, with modern buildings and facilities and a collaborative, supportive atmosphere, then we want to hear from you!

You will:

• be passionate about overcoming barriers and relish the challenge to improve children’s lives
• be an inspiring teacher and leader who empowers and develops children and staff
• be an empathetic and excellent communicator
• be strategic and analytical but also practical and able to take swift action when required
• be courageous at your core but fun and able to excite and engage others

We are a school with:

• A motivated and able staff team, committed to the school ethos and always striving to improve
• A supportive and welcoming atmosphere, at all levels
• Children who are happy and eager to learn
• A learning community and a strong commitment to developing everyone
• A track record of supporting and developing leaders, including into Headship