What skills and experience we're looking for
1. Faith Commitment
• A practising and committed Catholic
• Secure understanding of the distinctive nature of the Catholic school and Catholic education
• Understanding of leadership role in spiritual development of pupils and staff
• Understanding of the school’s role in the parish and wider community and in promoting community cohesion
• Evidence of participation in faith life of the community
• Experience in leading acts of worship in Catholic schools
2. Qualifications
• Qualified teacher status
• Postgraduate level qualification
• CCRS or equivalent
• NPQH award
3. Experience
• Experience as an effective deputy or assistant headteacher or key stage leader
• Successful experience of leading one or more subject areas
• Substantial, successful teaching experience
• Recent experience in a Catholic voluntary aided school or Academy
• Teaching experience in at least 2 of the 3 key stages: Foundation Stage, KS1 and KS2
• Curriculum leadership in one or more core subjects
• Experience of teaching in more than one school
• Experience teaching mixed age classes
4. Professional
Development
• Evidence of continuing professional development relating to school leadership and management, and curriculum/ teaching and learning
• Evidence of continuing professional development relating to Catholic ethos, mission and religious education
• Experience of working with other schools /organisations /agencies
• Experience of leading/ co-ordinating professional development opportunities
• Ability to identify own learning needs and to support others in identifying their learning needs
5. Strategic Leadership
• Ability to articulate and share a vision of primary education within the context of the mission of a Catholic school
• Evidence of having successfully translated vision into reality at whole-school level
• Ability to inspire and motivate staff, pupils, parents and ‘governors’ to achieve the aims of Catholic education
• Evidence of successful strategies for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating school improvement
• Ability to analyse data, develop strategic plans, set targets and monitor/evaluate progress towards these
• Knowledge of what constitutes quality in educational provision, the characteristics of effective schools and strategies for raising standards and the achievement of all pupils
• Understanding of and commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of pupils’
• Knowledge of the role of governance in a Catholic voluntary aided school or Academy
6. Teaching and Learning
• A secure understanding of the requirements of the National Curriculum and Early Years development
• Knowledge and experience of a range of successful teaching and learning strategies to meet the needs of all pupils
• A secure understanding of assessment strategies and the use of assessment to inform the next stages of learning
• Experience of effective monitoring and evaluation of teaching and learning
• Secure knowledge of statutory requirements relating to the curriculum and assessment
• Understanding of the characteristics of an effective learning environment and the key elements of successful behaviour management
• A secure understanding of the requirements of the Curriculum Directory for Religious Education
• Understanding of successful teaching and learning in religious education across the key stages
• Successful experience in creating an effective learning environment and in developing and implementing policy and practice relating to behaviour management
7. Leading and Managing Staff
• Experience of working in and leading staff teams
• Ability to delegate work and support colleagues in undertaking responsibilities
• Experience of performance management and supporting the continuing professional development of colleagues
• Understanding of effective budget planning and resource deployment
• Successful experience in creating an effective learning environment and in developing and implementing policy and practice relating to behaviour management
• Experience of working with ‘governors’ to enable them to fulfil whole-school responsibilities
• Successful involvement in staff recruitment,/induction, understanding needs of a Catholic school
• Understanding of how financial and resource management enable a school to achieve its educational priorities
8. Accountability
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing to a range of audiences – e.g. staff, pupils, parents, ‘governors’, parishioners and clergy
• Experience of effective whole-school self-evaluation and improvement strategies
• Ability to provide clear information and advice to staff and governors
• Secure understanding of strategies for performance management
• Experience of presenting reports to ‘governors’
• Understanding the criteria for the evaluation of a Catholic school
• Leading sessions to inform parents
• Experience of offering challenge and support to improve performance
9. Skills, Qualities & Abilities
• High quality teaching skills
• Strong commitment to the mission of a Catholic school
• Commitment to their own spiritual formation and that of pupils
• High expectations of pupils’ learning and attainment
• Strong commitment to school improvement and raising achievement for all
• Ability to build and maintain good relationships
• Ability to remain positive and enthusiastic when working under pressure
• Ability to organise work, prioritise tasks, make decisions and manage time effectively
• Empathy with children
• Good communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Stamina and resilience
• Confidence
10. References
• Positive and supportive faith reference from priest where applicant regularly worships
• Positive recommendation in professional references
• Satisfactory health and attendance record
• Faith reference without reservation
• Professional reference without reservation
What the school offers its staff
• A school environment which is committed to delivering outstanding education and care
• Children who are happy and eager to learn
• A staff team dedicated to high standards of educational success
• A Governing Body that is forward thinking in striving to improve the strategic direction of the school
• Ongoing continuous professional development opportunities to support you in your role
• A supportive, involved school community providing excellent networking opportunities including a partnership with local Catholic schools.
Commitment to safeguarding
This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to necessary pre-employment checks, including: an enhanced DBS; Prohibition check, Childcare Disqualification; qualifications; medical fitness; identity and right to work. All applicants will be required to provide two suitable references. We will also carry out an online search about you. This will include social media accounts you may hold. This will only be carried out on shortlisted candidates and before interview.