The Haberdashers’ Federation consists of two schools. Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy. Hatcham is a highly successful, leading edge, independent comprehensive school and is the lead school in the Federation of Academies. Required for April 2009

PRINCIPAL of HABERDASHERS' ASKE'S KNIGHTS ACADEMY
Launcelot Road, Downham, BR1 5EB

Salary range equivalent to L18-L31

The Haberdashers' Governors seek to recruit a Principal of the Academy. The Principal will report to the Chief Executive of the Federation of Academies.

Above all we are looking for a leader who:

• Has proven successful school management experience
• Has proven experience in raising standards of attainment
• Is a proven team worker with a very strong commitment to collaboration
• Has outstanding communication and inter-personal skills
• Is committed to the highest standards in all areas of school life (behaviour, academic, enrichment)
• Has a strong grasp of contemporary educational issues in both state and independent sectors
• Has knowledge of and is committed to maintaining the unique ethos of the hard Federation and Haberdasher schools in general
• Has excellent skills in utilising data to raise standards
• Is committed to independent state education
• Is committed to 3-18 education

Applications should include an application form, a statement in support of your application and the name and address of two referees. The form and further details of the post are available from our website at www.hahc.org.uk (under Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College/recruitment) or by telephone on 020-7652-9500 or Email receptiontemp@hahc.org.uk. The closing date for applications is 3.30pm on 21st November 2008.

The post carries a requirement for enhanced disclosure (under the provisions of the Police Act 1997). The Federation will require you to give permission to carry out a disclosure

Academy Site Principal – Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy

Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer (Executive Principal)

Background Information

The Federation of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy was set up by the Haberdashers’ Company in order to increase the availability of an Aske’s education to more students and to make wider use of the strengths that Aske’s has to offer.  

The Academies are run as separate schools within the hard Federation. Each has its own Principal who reports to the with an over-arching Chief Executive of the Federation, Dr E M Sidwell and a single Governing Body. There is a single Federation Chief Financial Officer.

The Aske’s vision is one where all students in the Federation are inspired to reach their full potential, regardless of ability or background, where aspirations and achievements are constantly raised through the highest quality academic, personal and vocational teaching and guidance, and where the students and staff at the two Academies benefit from each other’s strengths.

Knights Academy is fully comprehensive and specialises in Sport. 10% of of students at Knights are be selected for their sports aptitude. Achievement at Knights has risen since opening from 9% 5+ A*-C (predecessor school) to 52% in 2008 but 5A*-C including Maths and English is 19% and proves a significant challenge which is being addressed as the highest priority.

Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College, the Lead School in the Federation is an academically successful comprehensive school in New Cross, South London with a specialism in Music. In 2008, 96% of students achieved 5 or more A*-C GCSEs 94% of which included English and Mathematics. In September 2008 Temple Grove Hatcham opened the Primary Phase making Hatcham an all-through 3-18 Academy. Temple Grove Hatcham has 2 forms of entry and a Nursery. Children come from a variety of backgrounds and are well supported by the phase’s teaching team and leadership in attaining effective personalised learning .

The Federation vision is to develop of each of its schools as all-through 3-18 academies. The next step is to open an all-through academy in Bexley Crayford in 2009 and it is hoped to open a primary phase for Knights in 2010 thus completing the Federation Vision.

HABERDASHERS' ASKE'S KNIGHTS ACADEMY PRINCIPAL

The Academy has made excellent progress in five years, it is now a “good school with outstanding features”, see Ofsted 2008, having been bottom of the UK league table in July 2005 prior to becoming a Haberdasher academy.

We are looking for a Principal who can develop the very good work already achieved and take the school up to the next level. This will mean building on the current curriculum breadth and high standards of behaviour, strong ethos, enrichment, inclusion, collaboration and focussing particularly on academic standards. We are looking for an experienced Head or Deputy who has a proven understanding of assessment and data analysis as a tool for monitoring and raising standards.

TThe Academy Principal will work to the CEO who oversees the Federation. He/She will need a clear understanding of the Federation Vision and the strengths of a Hard Federation structure. The vision foresees Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy becoming a 3-18 school in 2010 through a merger with an existing local primary school. Commitment to the benefits of all-through education is crucial to the appointment as is an understanding of promoting a Federation Sixth Form across all three Federation schools.

PERSON SPECIFICATION & REQUIREMENTS OF THE POST

We are seeking to appoint someone who:

• Is well qualified and an excellent teacher in their field
• Has a proven record of success
• Has experience of leading a pastoral and academic team
• Has a thorough understanding of the Key Stage 1, 2, 3 and 14-19 curriculum requirements in their broadest terms and can use this knowledge effectively
• Is committed to the importance of personalised learning
• Has excellent skills in utilising data to raise standards
• Is committed to independent state education
• Is able to enthuse and motivate
• Has excellent personal management skills and is able to communicate effectively with all stakeholders
• Has very high standards and expectations in terms of academic skills and behaviour
• Can manage time effectively balancing classroom practice, the pastoral role and continuous personal and professional development
• Is a very strong team player who is able to work with skilled and committed Tutors and Subject Teachers, the Federation Team and other schools
• Can plan strategically for the future in a Federation context

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Responsibilities:

• To raise academic standards and be committed to continuous improvement. To provide personalised learning for each student.
• To have a limited teaching timetable as the lead academic professional.
• To have full responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Academy.
• To be committed to establishing a shared identity and Haberdasher ethos across the Federation.
• To work in partnership with the Principal of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College and the new Bexley Crayford Academy and the Federation Leadership Team and to work within the context of a hard Federation.
• To develop the Academy Leadership Team to ensure all the necessary skills are represented.
• To prepare and annually review an Academy Development Plan and Department Development Plans that feed seamlessly into the Federation Development Plan.
• In consultation with the Chief Executive (CEO) and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to appoint all staff for the Academy and be responsible for their training and motivation.
• To liaise with the Federation CFO to ensure those parts of academies’ allocated budget are used efficiently.
• To ensure all staff are properly appraised by securing an effective management system that develops all staff in collaboration with the Federation.
• To appraise the Academy Leadership Team personally.
• To be responsible for admissions and exclusions to the Academy working with the Federation Registrar.
• To be appraised annually by the Chief Executive of the Federation and agree annual targets.
• To promote the spiritual, intellectual, moral, cultural, physical and social development of all students.
• To be responsible for the implementation of the Academy’s Health and Safety policy.
• To promote positive behaviour of all students and the maintenance of good order at all times when students are under the jurisdiction of or representing the Academy.
• To be responsible for the design, content and implementation of the curriculum and to ensure it is continually reviewed and enhanced as is appropriate for the Federation. To ensure a variety of vocational and academic courses appropriate for all abilities.
• To lead by example in the Academy to secure a shared commitment to the vision and forward direction of the Academy within the Federation Vision.
• To provide for the social and pastoral development of the students to compliment their academic work.
• To ensure that trainees, NQTs and teachers new to the Academy are offered appropriate support, mentoring and training including statutory training and support requirements in conjunction with all Federation schools.
• To take responsibility for own professional development in discussion with the CEO.
• To represent the Academy at meetings of Governors, external seminars, conferences and other meetings as reasonable, as directed by the Chief Executive.
• To keep all staff and the Federation Leadership Team informed of the Academy’s achievements, acts and plans for the future.
• To ensure all staff and students are able to work in a secure environment and that the Academy’s premises are adequately secured at all times.
• To liaise regularly with parents to create a cooperative and effective relationship with parents which promotes learning and supports teaching. To increase attendance by parents at Parents’ Evenings.
• To develop local community links to give a strong sense of belonging to the local community. To oversee the management of the HAKA Sports Centre.
• To support and encourage joint activities within the Federation for students and staff, e.g. House activities, Sport, CPD, etc.
• To prepare, disseminate and review policies assisting the Academy to pursue its objectives as a successful Haberdasher School and member of the Federation.
• To ensure equal opportunities in all areas of Academy life for staff and students.
• To enable the Academy to plan or fully participate in the context of the Haberdashers’ Federation and the extended Haberdashers’ Family of Schools.
• To assess Upper Pay Spine applications for Knights staff.
• To develop the Federation Post-16 offer across 3 schools and support a joint management structure.
• To develop the proposed Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy’s primary phase as an integral part of the academy.

All Staff

• To promote the Federation Vision of three, 3-18 schools
• To promote equal opportunities in the Federation
• To promote the Academy’s commitment to the continued professional development of all staff
• To undertake any duties as may reasonably be required by the CEO

The job description will be subject to reasonable review