Headteacher

Headteacher

Required from September 2025

Based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Southend High School for Boys (SHSB) is a remarkable School with an impressive history. The school is a selective grammar with 180 boys in each year group 7-11, and a large co-educational sixth form. For over 100 years we have been inspiring and empowering our students to achieve their full potential. Our School preserves values and traditions from the past whilst preparing students through a contemporary curriculum for the world of tomorrow. As one of the highest achieving selective state schools in the country we were proud this year to have been recognised by Ofsted as providing a world-class education.

We are strongly committed to supporting staff in their educational research which results in a creative and pioneering teaching community and has been recognised for improving learning and for encouraging innovation. Our philosophy is to share good practice, encourage creativity and nurture innovation so students benefit from a stimulating learning experience and staff benefit from collaboration and professional development. The combination of our rich heritage and commitment to academic excellence, makes SHSB a truly unique and inspiring place to learn and work.

We are looking for an exceptional senior leader who possesses the vision, authority and energy to lead our outstanding school as Headteacher. Collaborative in your approach, you will lead the strategic direction and development of the School, across all areas, evidencing your integrity and judgement through sound decision-making and strong communication. You will be able to utilise your prior experience in school improvement, innovation and development to continue to deliver brilliant results within our school. Alongside this, you will use empathy and gravitas to build on the longstanding culture of trust, high performance and accountability within staff and students alike. Your personal values should align with the values and mission of SHSB to build on the extraordinary legacy of the school, recognise, and embrace the importance of its culture and ethos.

You will be supported in delivering the school’s vision and performance by a talented Senior Leadership Team, our Board of Trustees and our committed colleagues who have a passion for each student achieving their best. 

About The Role:

As an experienced senior leader, you will work collaboratively and energetically, bringing a strategic approach to:

• Develop and embed the vision and strategic direction across the School.
• Ensure students are provided with a caring, safe and attractive environment to thrive.
• Lead curriculum design and development within and beyond the National Curriculum such that each student may develop their individual interests and talents to the full.
• Secure high-quality teaching appropriate to the differing needs and aspirations of all students and foster an enthusiasm for learning through a varied programme
• Inspire, motivate and lead the staff within the School, ensuring morale is high and the right structure and mix of staff skills are in place to deliver a world class educational experience.
• Be an effective and proactive ambassador promoting the work of the School, locally and nationally.

About You:

• Highly experienced senior leader within secondary education in a large, high-performing selective, non-selective or independent school.
• A strategic thinker, with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• An expert collaborator who is able to motivate and empower people and teams both within and beyond the school.
• An empathetic leader, committed to evolution, not revolution.
• Possess a deep understanding of what makes for excellence in an ambitious and selective but diverse school. This will include comprehensive knowledge of national policy, legislative and financial frameworks and school governance.
• Clearly committed to delivering best practice in safeguarding and demonstrating excellent child protection behaviours and procedures.
• Proven ability to develop highly effective partnerships with all key stakeholders.

Benefits:

• The salary for the role will fall within the Group 7 scale.
• Access will be given to the contributory pension scheme (TPS).
• Free on-site parking and cycle to work scheme.
• CPD through internal and external providers (including a subscription to National College)
• Employee Support Programme offering retail discounts and vouchers, a 24/7 confidential advice line, and counselling.
• Free use of the sports facilities

SHSB is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). 

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

To Apply - Please download the candidate pack and application form from our website https://www.shsb.org.uk/page/?title=Current+vacancies&pid=90

Closing date: 10.00am on Monday 20th January 2025

Interview dates: Monday 3rd February and Friday 7th February 2025.

Contact:

Applicants who require further information should contact the HR Manager or Chair of Trustees (contact details for whom are within the candidate pack)