School Counsellor

Thank you for your interest in this role within The Spencer Academies Trust (SAT). This is a very exciting time for our Trust as we are entering a new phase of growth; building on our successful and proven track record for school improvement; as well as continually sustaining and improving outcomes for children and young people across our Academies.

We are driven by the values and principles of working in collaboration and together we share high expectations across all areas of our work. Unashamedly, we maintain a hard-edged focus on results and outcomes but balanced with the optimal development of the whole child, so we really can deliver the best start for all our children and young people in a culture of no excuses: we believe everyone can achieve.

Mission

Our Mission is to provide high quality education and deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people, with an ethos based on our unshakeable ambition to be a high performing academy sponsor of outstanding schools. We strive to be a highly effective organisation, which values and promotes high aspiration, working in partnership and shared responsibilities. We regard all of our stakeholders, students, parents and staff as one team.

George Spencer Academy

George Spencer Academy, part of the Spencer Academies Trust, is an oversubscribed 11-18 mixed comprehensive school of over 1400 students, including almost 300 in the 6th Form. It is situated close to the M1, six miles west of Nottingham City Centre and is easily accessible by road and rail networks.  From its humble beginnings as a small 11- 16 secondary school it has evolved into a current high performing school in the Spencer Academies Trust, a medium sized trust of local primary and secondary schools. George Spencer has a continuous track record of excellence and a plethora of accolades which include:

• National Teaching School, and the lead school in the George Spencer Teaching School Alliance
• Lead School for the East Midlands West Maths Hub
• The George Spencer SCITT leads a network of schools offering schools direct and provider-led routes for primary and secondary teacher training
• Licence holder for Leadership Development Programmes  including the NPQH qualification for aspiring and working  headteachers
• Link and partner school for the Institute of Physics
• Lead school in the network of excellence in Computer Science teaching
• National Hub Lead for Challenge Partners
• Partner school for Whole Education
• Leading Edge School
• Healthy Schools Gold Award
• Investors in People status (re-designated in 2014)
• International Schools Award (2011)

Ofsted Endorsement

Our latest Ofsted inspection was in March 2023 and we were graded as good. Students are quoted in the report, saying ‘We  are extremely lucky to come to this school. We feel like we’ve won the golden ticket!’ The report is clear about the strategic leadership of the academy - “The Principal and Executive Principal are driven by a strong moral purpose to improve students’ life chances. They are relentless in their quest for continuous improvement, and provide outstanding leadership in this school”.

Leadership, Management and organisation

The school has very supportive Governors, and distributed Leadership which provides a clear vision and direction for the school. There is a Leadership Team of 6, including the Principal, Head of School and Vice Principals. The whole school organisation is team based and 'total quality' aligned. We are responsive to the flexibility needed to manage change. All staff expect to be involved in the identification and removal of 'barriers to progress'.

Collegiate practice is elective and achieved in teams by discussion and by research and development models. Such a participatory decision-making process can only work effectively if all staff accept the personal responsibility this brings.

Performance management is carried out and includes an annual salary statement and review for all staff against performance indicators. This has been long-standing accepted practice at our school.

Our Commitment - A Quest for Excellence

We are one staff with a commitment to the quest for excellence. Our single aim “achieving excellence through innovation and individualised learning” drives everything we do. Our purpose is to develop students to their highest possible potential and to have them all learn effectively and achieve success whatever their ability or background.

We acknowledge and encourage both the rights and responsibilities of our pupils, their parents, our staff and Governors and the wider community. We seek a spirit which enables individuals to achieve personal success - we welcome the accountability this brings.

We want quality to count in every aspect of our School, in our care for children; in our relationships between people and the way we communicate with others; and in our use of resources, buildings and grounds. We believe that seeking quality involves continuous review and development, which leads to change. This is part of everyday life at George Spencer.

Staff Development and Training

As an Investor in People, Teaching School, Maths Hub and Licensed Leadership Programme provider, we believe that teachers and support staff are our most valuable resource. We therefore provide a very comprehensive programme of in-service training and development to enable staff to maximise the skills they have and develop new ones to reach their potential.

We are recognised as a provider Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) and we are able to confer qualified teacher status on successful trainees  (OFSTED, April 2010).

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum structure is based on Faculties, each with a Curriculum Leader and responsibility holders. We follow a two-week timetable with 50 lessons.

Our Students

- support, achievement and development

- the majority of our students come from local feeder schools

Our pastoral care guidance and support is outstanding. There are Directors of Learning and Achievement and  teams of Learning Managers for all year groups. All staff are involved in the pastoral system

The Directors and their Learning Managers are also supported by Pastoral Support Assistants who do not have teaching commitments and who are able to respond quickly to behavioural, personal or welfare issues.  The combination of an individualised curriculum appropriate to the needs of the learner and personal support from a Learning Manager creates excellent conditions for learning for each student to realise his  or her potential.

We know this works for our students because of the excellent track record of results and the personal achievements of the students and staff across a broad spectrum of sporting and cultural activities, including good citizenship and service to the school and community. Some of our sporting stars have taken part in national and international competitions.

Our Wider Activities

The school enjoys active parental support through its Governing Body and PTA. George Spencer Academy offers a wide range of clubs and societies which give the school a rich life which it shares with the local community.

Close links have been established with a wide range of businesses and Higher Education Institutions.

Many pupils engage in Community Service during their time at the school. The variety of engagement is wide and has included the development of a conservation area; partnership with the Borough Council in maintaining a public area; helping to “Keep Stapleford Tidy”; social activities such as carol singing, distributing harvest gifts, and school band performances; and care for the community for instance in working with disabled people, sick children in hospital, old people, and  young children in our 'feeder' schools, nurseries and playgroups.

Considerable sums of money have been raised for nominated charities, including support for children and schools in Africa and India. The school is developing the international dimension. Exchange visits and trips to Germany and France take place regularly and there are  and there are links with schools in Italy, India, Africa, China, Australia and New Zealand.

Spencer Academies Trust

Thank you for your interest in this role within The Spencer Academies Trust (SAT). This is a very exciting time for our Trust as we are entering a new phase of growth; building on our successful and proven track record for school improvement; as well as continually sustaining and improving outcomes for children and young people across our Academies.

We are driven by the values and principles of working in collaboration and together we share high expectations across all areas of our work. Unashamedly, we maintain a hard-edged focus on results and outcomes but balanced with the optimal development of the whole child, so we really can deliver the best start for all our children and young people in a culture of no excuses: we believe everyone can achieve.

Employees within our Trust belong to a strong community of collaboration and benefit from a wide range of networks, support and development opportunities. Those we recruit will need to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with all our stakeholders and colleagues, and continually develop their skills, in pursuit of personal and professional excellence.

If you feel you can meet the challenge and be part of a successful and dynamic team, then we would be delighted to receive your application.

Paul West - Chief Executive

About our Trust

We became a Multi-Academy Trust in March 2012 starting with our local partner primary schools. We have now evolved into a medium-sized Trust – continually learning and developing together. We have made a commitment to work with other schools and share our expertise. We are relentless, in our focus on results, high achievement, and high expectations.

Aims of the Trust

To improve the life chances of children and young people by raising aspiration and fulfilling potential, challenging and supporting all the schools within the Trust on their journey to and beyond outstanding and to achieve this by developing world-class system leaders.

Mission

Our Mission is to provide high quality education and deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people, with an ethos based on our unshakeable ambition to be a high performing academy sponsor of outstanding schools. We strive to be a highly effective organisation, which values and promotes high aspiration, working in partnership and shared responsibilities. We regard all of our stakeholders, students, parents and staff as one team.

Vision

The Spencer Academies Trust is an exceptional Trust, which provides an outstanding education for local children. Our Trust is a model of national excellence. We work collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for all young people, in an environment where partnership is valued and success is celebrated. Our education delivers real life experiences for students, promotes independent enquiry and stimulates intellectual curiosity; whilst developing a strong sense of individual responsibility and a personal belief and confidence. All of our students fulfil their potential and make unparalleled progress. They are fully prepared for the next phase of their education and have unrivalled opportunities to become future leaders.

We Believe:

All children have a right to a quality education regardless of background or ability, and have an entitlement to the opportunity of a secure progression route in their learning and development.

Schools are stronger when they work in collaboration with each other, operate within a ‘family’ and are open to a true sense of partnership.

We grow the effectiveness and sustainability of our schools by developing the people within them, and that through shared and equitable responsibility for quality and outcomes; we achieve more.

Our Trust Behaviours

• Straight talking and sincere
• Love to deliver
• Obsessive about detail
• Strive to do it differently
• Share responsibility, celebrate success together

Capacity for Improvement

• Established and experienced Academy Improvement Team, Educational & Business Support.
• 3 existing NLEs and 2 LLEs, with a pipeline of additional LLEs imminent through the January 2018 application window.
• SLEs with expertise in curriculum development, vulnerable groups, behaviour, T&L, SEN, Pupil Premium, EYFS, Primary, Secondary, Post 16.
• TSA - One of the first 100 National Teaching Schools.
• Licensee Holder for Leadership Development Training for all NPQs including the new NPQ for Executive Leader, which few TSAs have achieved.
• SCITT - Nationally ranked 2nd for Primary and 10th for Secondary – Teacher Training in 2015.
• One of only 23 Regional Maths Hubs in the country, and held up as a national model of excellence in this.
• Research School status to drive up standards across the Derby Opportunity area, drawing down expertise from the wider EEF backed Research School network.
• George Spencer Academy is a link and partner school for the Institute of Physics and a lead school in the network of excellence in computer science teaching.
• Practicing primary and secondary Ofsted inspector expertise within Trust.
• Regional East Midlands Teaching Schools Alliance (EMTSA) Strong links to HEIs at all levels, including in the SCITT and Maths Hub. „ National networks eg Whole Education and Research Schools Network.
• A well-established ‘Leadership Pathways’ talent management programme for emerging leaders – we had 50 participants and coaches in 2016-17.
• In primary: Trust-wide Associate Leaders deployed as required and Academy Angels/Rapid Improvement Team.
• In secondary: Trust-wide Executive Curriculum Leaders in English, Maths, Science, EBacc & Data.