Establishment: Smith's Wood Academy Location: Smith's Wood Salary: £79475-£87651 Department: Senior Leadership Team Job Type: Full Time
Closing Date: 28/04/2025 09:00 Interview Date: 07/05/2025 Start Date: 01/09/2025
Contract Type: Permanent Hours per Week: 32.50 Weeks per Year: 52.142 Pay Grade: Leadership Pay Scale | LPS20 - LPS24
The Role
Our children face significant challenges. Yours is to become Principal within two years.
Smith’s Wood Academy isn’t just a school. It’s a place that changes lives. At the heart of Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust, we serve 780 students spanning years seven to eleven. Two-thirds of our pupils are from disadvantaged backgrounds and join us with limited ambitions. You’ll help ensure that they leave us with real belief in their own abilities and the confidence to aim high.
Make no mistake: this is education at the sharp end. We’ve progressed significantly from the Special Measures judgment in March 23, increasing attendance by 5% in the last academic year alone, reducing persistent absence by 10% and improving behaviour beyond all recognition from two years ago. But there’s still a long way to go, and we need you to take us there.
Your own journey will be as remarkable as those of our students. As a Trust we will invest in you through our Aspiring Leaders Program to become a future Principal within Fairfax MAT. That means we need someone who shares this vision and has the ability, tenacity and ambition to ensure it happens.
Already a senior leader, ideally at Vice Principal level, you will join us with an impressive record in pastoral leadership, spanning behaviour management, attendance and safeguarding. Equally importantly, you will be decisive, visionary, passionate and assertive when necessary, making you capable of dealing with anything that arises and delivering profound improvement in all circumstances. Above all, you’ll need to command the loyalty and respect of our dedicated staff, who love making a difference to students’ futures. In fact, 95% of our people said at our latest inspection that they feel proud to work here.
If you have what it takes, your long-term career could take you anywhere within the Fairfax Trust. You can also expect a strong salary package and a comprehensive range of benefits, which we are happy to tailor for an exceptional professional.
If you’re ready for the challenge of your life, please apply.
Applicants are welcome to visit Smiths Wood Academy on 8th or 9th April between 9am-11am - please contact Linda Roe on the details above.
Interviews will be held on 7th and 8th May 2025
In return we will offer you:
* Access to support and guidance from other subject leaders across the MAT and form subject expertise within the Academy SLT
* Bespoke Continual Professional Development (in the academy and online via the National College)
* Discounts at nationwide retailers
* Employee assistance programme
* Up to 4 structured counselling sessions per year
* A MAT wide focus on staff well-being
Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as well as providing evidence of qualifications.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.
Employee Assistance Programme A variety of wellness content to proactively support your health and wellbeing
Green Car Scheme
Salary sacrifice in relation to Technology
Qualifications
* Degree in a relevant subject Essential
Skills
* Leadership Essential
* Focused on standards and positive outcomes Essential
* Adaptable - ability to adapt style to a variety of situations and people Essential
* Experience of successful management and leadership of diverse teams Essential
* Inspirational leader particularly during challenging times Essential
Personal Attributes
* Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, parents and students Essential
* Inspires confidence in all pupils, staff, parents, governors and the wider community in order to promote the school. Essential
* Knowledge, understanding and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion informed by practical experience and application Essential
* Commitment to Trust aim and values Essential
* Excellent attendance and punctuality Essential
* Ability to travel to academies when required Desirable
Experience
* Experience of working in an educational environment Desirable
* Knowledge and experience of SEN code of practice and related procedures and paperwork. Desirable
* Experience working with students with diagnosed difficulties, SALT, ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia etc. Desirable
* Experience of following procedures and instructions. Essential
* Experience/Knowledge
* Knowledge of Health and Safety Regulations and how they apply in a school environment Desirable
* Knowledge and understanding of how children learn and how to motivate them Essential
* Good knowledge of up to date techniques, materials and equipment relevant to provision of the National Curriculum Desirable
* Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection issues and procedures Essential
* Ability to teach ‘good or outstanding’ lessons Essential
* Experience of dealing with sensitive and confidential student information Essential
Fairfax Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.
Following the update of KCSIE 2023 Fairfax Multi Academy Trust will now carry out online checks of all appointments.
Fairfax Multi Academy Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
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Smith's Wood Academy
Windward Way
Smith's Wood
Birmingham
B36 0UE
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