The Hawthorns School - Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2XT £79,474 - £93,400 per annum plus Residential Schools Allowance £6,234 (Relocation Package available) Full Time Permanent Reference: 6545 Required as soon as possible About us Thank you for your interest in this post. The Hawthorns School opened its doors in our newest school building in January 2023, for children with autism. The school is currently in temporary accommodation and preparing to move into a permanent purpose-built school and bespoke residential facility in January 2025, when we will expand our provision to 50 pupils in KS2 and KS3. Then, in September 2025 we will complete our final stage of growth to 70 pupils which will include KS4. The current Headteacher and her team have already established a therapeutic, dedicated, tight-knit and supportive team, which prioritises the needs of the pupils through an evolving curriculum with the development of social communication at its core. As Headteacher, you will lead the work to shape the future of the school, enabling pupils to develop the skills necessary for their next steps, together with the SEAX Trust CEO and Director of Education, Hawthorns’ current Leadership Team and Local Governance Group. Our model is holistic and bespoke to the individual child, within the inevitable constraints of a school setting, and we are therefore seeking a forward-thinking, creative Headteacher who recognises that adapting and trialling different methods may be necessary before goals are realised. We are committed to developing pupil achievement through the aims of personal growth, participation and preparation for adulthood and our core offer forms a key part of this. We seek someone with a combination of leadership experience and an understanding of autism, to ensure that this is the focus of all who are in, or with, the school. This role will be challenging at times, as all the best jobs are, and you will be fully supported by the current dedicated and dynamic team. In addition, The Hawthorns is one of a community of Special Schools, supported by the well-established and highly regarded SEAX Trust. The trust respects and trusts each school to evolve its unique identity, whilst providing layers of support and networking at all professional levels. Together, in close partnership with Essex Local Authority, The Hawthorns School could not be in a better position to continue fulfilling its aims of personal growth, participation and preparation. Your role Establish and sustain the school’s ethos and strategic direction together with the executive committee and trust and through consultation with the school community Establish and oversee systems, processes and policies so the school can operate effectively Effectively line manage the residential facility’s leader and ensure the seamless link between the education and residential Identify problems and barriers to school effectiveness, and develop strategies for school improvement that are realistic, timely and suited to the school’s context Make sure these school improvement strategies are effectively implemented Monitor progress towards achieving the school’s aims and objectives Allocate financial resources appropriately, efficiently and effectively What will the job entail? Uphold public trust in school leadership and maintain high standards of ethics, behaviour and professional conduct Build positive and respectful relationships across the school community Serve in the best interests of the school’s pupils School culture and behaviour The Headteacher will: create a culture where pupils experience a positive and enriching school life uphold ambitious educational standards in order to prepare pupils from all backgrounds for their next phase of education and life ensure a culture of staff professionalism understand that in a neuro-diverse community like The Hawthorns, behaviour that may be challenging is a form of communication and that an approach to individual challenges will link to a deep understanding of each young person and their needs. The Headteacher will ensure that this is understood by staff and clearly demonstrated by all adults in school use consistent, fair and trauma informed approaches to managing behaviour, in line with the school’s behaviour policy. Teaching, curriculum and assessment The Headteacher will: establish an expectation of a ‘no limits’ curriculum which ensures that barriers to access are overcome through knowledge of the young people, knowledge of autism and a wide range of imaginative solutions to how and what our young people learn establish and sustain high-quality teaching across all subjects and phases, based on evidence ensure teaching is underpinned by subject expertise effectively use formative assessment to inform strategy and decisions ensure the teaching of a broad, structured and coherent curriculum establish curriculum leadership, including subject leaders with relevant expertise and access to professional networks and communities use valid, reliable and proportionate approaches to assessing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum ensure the use of evidence-informed approaches to reading so that all pupils are taught to read. Additional and special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities The Headteacher will: promote a culture and practices that enables all pupils to access the curriculum have ambitious expectations for all pupils make sure the school works effectively with parents, carers and professionals in relation to additional needs and provide support and adaptation where appropriate make sure the school fulfils statutory duties regarding the SEND Code of Practice Managing the school The Headteacher will: ensure staff and pupils’ safety and welfare through effective approaches to safeguarding, as part of a duty of care manage staff well with due attention to workload ensure rigorous approaches to identifying, managing and mitigating risk. Professional development The Headteacher will: ensure staff have access to appropriate, high standard professional development opportunities keep up to date with developments in education ensure training and continuing professional development is effectively planned, delivered and evaluated make sure professional development opportunities draw on experts both within, and beyond the school seek training and continuing professional development to meet the needs of all staff members. Governance, accountability and working in partnership The Headteacher will: understand and welcome the role of effective governance ensure that staff understand their professional responsibilities and are held to account ensure the school effectively and efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties work successfully with SEAX Trust and its schools sharing expertise and offering support through understanding that we all work collaboratively to improve the life chances of every member of our school communities maintain working relationships with fellow professionals and colleagues to improve educational outcomes for all pupils. Safeguarding Responsibilities: The Headteacher will: support, guide and act with the school’s designated safeguarding lead, in order that they may act as a source of support, advice and expertise for staff within the school in relation to child protection and safeguarding be familiar with, understand and ensure that all staff apply the school’s Child Protection Policy appropriately support the DSL to ensure that staff make referrals to the relevant external body as necessary and in line with KCSIE support the DSL’s liaisons with local authority officers and other relevant agencies/parties in relation to child protection and safeguarding issues and concerns ensure that all staff receive relevant safeguarding training in line with KCSIE, in order that the appropriate level of knowledge and skill is maintained keep up to date with developments relevant to the role in line with KCSIE assist the designated safeguarding lead with raising awareness of child protection policies as appropriate in line with KCSIE ensure cover for the designated safeguarding lead as required. Equal Opportunities: The Headteacher will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Equalities Act 2010. You will need: Qualified Teacher Status and Degree (essential) NPQH or working towards (essential) Advanced qualification in autism in children and young people (desirable) If you are a current leader who is looking for a new challenge, has a can-do attitude and a keen sense of humour, then we would like to hear from you We can offer you professional fulfilment, development, care and attention to wellbeing, a highly supportive and dedicated team and a delightful pupil community. Work with us The SEAX Trust is a growing partnership of Special Academies within the community of Essex, whose Vision is to: provide outstanding educational experiences for children and young people with special educational needs put the well-being and achievement of pupils at the heart of all decision making. Our greatest asset towards achieving our Vision is our body of highly valued staff and, in recognition, we implement a wide range of strategic and person-centred reward practices in all of our Trust Academies. Be rewarded by us By becoming part of a team of outward-looking professionals, where you can influence the future. Progress with us A focus to provide high quality professional development opportunities for all staff An extensive range of training and development opportunities, including Challenge Partners Experienced and dedicated practitioners who are keen to help you learn A range of exciting internal career opportunities. Be inspired by us Challenging roles and recognition of achievement A motivational strategy towards both education and business Headteacher involvement in wider decision-making Teachers who stay in the profession. Be reassured by us A strategic aim to ensure a fair work/life balance A highly supportive organisational culture A firm commitment to the strengths of equality and diversity A sense of cohesion and belonging A policy to raise matters of concern. We look forward to hearing from you soon. To find out more: For an informal discussion only, please contact Kate Stannard, Director of HR, SEAX Trust on 01245 963006, or email: jobsseaxtrust.com How to apply: Job attachments can be downloaded below: Application Form (docx) Job Description (pdf) Privacy Notice (docx) Strategic Plan (pdf) Recruitment and Selection Policy Statement (docx) All applicants are strongly advised to read the job description and person specification for the post prior to submitting their application. Completed applications should be made via: jobsseaxtrust.com Closing date: 1pm, 12 November 2024. Interview date: 19/20 November 2024. All posts are subject to satisfactory medical checks, enhanced DBS clearance, on-line checks and references. Safeguarding Statement: The SEAX Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Headteacher will be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all children for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact, in accordance with the Trust’s Safeguarding Policy. You will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application, medical checks and references. This job description will be reviewed annually and may be subject to change or modification at any time after consultation with the post-holder. It is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations of the trust in relation to the post-holder’s professional responsibilities and duties.