What skills and experience we're looking for
St Michael’s Junior School is a very special place. Along with our local church, we live and breathe our school vision of being ‘ready for life, now and in the future’, ensuring that our pupils develop spiritually, emotionally and academically so that they can flourish throughout their lives. We are looking for an inspirational leader who will commit to this vision, continuing to move the school forwards on its journey of improvement.
This is an exciting time for St Michael’s with plenty of opportunities on the horizon. The school has been selected for the schools rebuilding programme and the incoming headteacher will take the lead on this development alongside external agencies and contractors. Leaders and teachers are currently developing a new curriculum with the support of Guerilla Education, an award-winning educational consultant, which will start being implemented towards the end of this academic year. From January 2025, we are extending our wraparound provision to support our working parents and provide our children with even more opportunities.
The school is situated in the Twerton area of Bath, an area of significant deprivation in relation to national indicators. We use the phrase under-served to describe our community and endeavour to provide opportunities and open doors that might ordinarily be closed to some of our pupils. A high proportion of our children are eligible for pupil premium funding, and we have a significantly higher than average percentage of pupils with special education needs and/or disabilities. We know our community well and shape our offer around what our children and families need. This includes the implementation of Thrive, trauma-informed practice, ongoing pastoral support and a strong focus on play at the centre of school life.
We are looking for a senior leader who:
• Has experience of implementing large-scale curriculum change, preferably with elements of personalisation to meet the needs of a school community
• Can build positive relationships with staff, children and the parent community
• Puts the safeguarding of children at the forefront of their thinking
• Understands the impact of poverty, trauma and ACEs on how pupils learn and behave
• Values collaboration and trust-wide working
What the school offers its staff
We can offer you:
• Caring and supportive partnerships and strong relationships within the school community, where wellbeing and emotional regulation are prioritised
• Pupils who are supportive, inclusive, kind and caring towards one another
• A committed, dedicated and supportive team of staff and governors
• A safe, stable, nurturing environment where children learn and play
• Extensive grounds including a forest, climbing frame, bus and boat as well as a library.
St Michael’s Junior Church School is part of the highly successful Bath & Wells Multi Academy Trust, which provides plentiful opportunities for collaboration, sharing of good practice and lots of professional development for staff in all roles.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.