Assistant Head (Academic)

Are you looking for a career in which you can help shape a school and make a real difference to the futures of young people?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our unique setting in the role of Assistant Head - Academic. This is a new role in the school due to expansion of our services into outreach meaning that we need to increase our leadership team from 4 to 5 personnel.

We are seeking to appoint a passionate and inspirational teacher to play a central role in defining, articulating and implementing the shared vision and values of the school. This post emerges following the appointment of the current post-holder to be Head at Radnor House School. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, they will demonstrate outstanding leadership and interpersonal skills in working with the Head on the implementation of the strategic direction of the school and to ensure the provision of a high quality of education for all our pupils.

The Assistant Head (Academic) will be the senior educational figure in the school and will be accountable for the academic development, progress and achievement of all Rose Hill pupils, for learning in and out of the classroom. They will line manage the Heads of Department across the whole school and through them oversee the work of the teaching staff. They will ensure that the academic strengths of the school are outstanding.

The Assistant Head (Academic) will also take on a number of other key roles commensurate with their experience and the seniority of their post, including taking on the responsibilities of the line management of staff, including Heads of Department. The nature of the School as a small institution means that we are a flexible and collaborative team and that responsibilities amongst the senior leadership team may be shared to accommodate the experience and skillset of a strong candidate.

The ideal candidate will have strong academic credentials, a proven record of outstanding teaching and will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills. They will also share the vision of the School, to help support our pupils with a particular aptitude for mathematics and innovative technology, to find extension and excitement in a curriculum that fosters academic growth and curiosity. The opportunity to take on the delivery of the extended curriculum programme opens up the opportunity to teachers of all subject areas offered by the school.

 The post represents an exciting opportunity for a teacher who has experience of middle leadership to take on their first senior leadership role, or for a current senior leader ready to take on more significant responsibility as one of the five members of the Senior Leadership Team.

Medical Fitness: Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the appointee’s fitness to carry out the role. New employees will be asked, following an offer of employment, to complete a questionnaire regarding medical fitness.

Privacy Notice for Staff: Please see the Privacy Notice for Staff on the Rose Hill School website.

Benefits

We will reward you with a competitive salary and benefits package. The salary will be on the Rose Hill School scale and related to experience and qualifications, plus you’ll get:

Training: A full induction with extensive professional development opportunities

Financial: Generous pension scheme & life insurance

Medical cover: So you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment

Holiday: Full school holidays

Fees discount: Generous discount available*

Lunch: In-house catering providing lunch & refreshments

Beautiful working environment: set in 15 acres close to the Tunbridge Wells centre including access to indoor swimming pool

*conditions apply

Full time with teaching commitment

Start - Jan 2024 or Apr 2024

Deadline for applications Noon, Friday 29 September

Short-list interviews: 11 & 12 October

The Post

We wish to appoint an enthusiastic, experienced and well-qualified practitioner to the post of Assistant Head (Academic). The successful applicant will assume day-to-day responsibility for logistics to enable the smooth running of the school.

The application form must be completed in full and should be accompanied by a letter, in which the applicant should set out their rationale behind making this application and should go on to discuss the skills, strengths, enthusiasms and experience that they can bring to the post, without repeating the information already supplied on the application form.

 Candidates should submit their completed application form together with the covering letter. There is no need to submit a CV. The school can be contacted if need be at sam.chowdhury@rosehillschool.co.uk.

Applications will be considered on receipt and early application is recommended as we reserve the right to interview and offer the position.

Notices

It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or age.

Safeguarding Statement

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. You will be expected to engage in annual safeguarding training, be familiar with key policies and ensure you know the steps to take should you be made aware of a safeguarding or child protection concern. You will remain vigilant and act swiftly if you have concerns about a child and be an appropriate role model for both children and colleagues at all times. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS clearance and a section 128 check along with rigorous scrutiny of previous employment gaps and further checks. We will ask you to complete a criminal self-declaration form, and we will conduct online searches for information that is publicly available. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

We welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations in relation to age (as appropriate), disability, ethnicity, gender, religion and sexual identity. We welcome our duty under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to promote community cohesion. We recognise that these duties reflect international human rights standards as expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Online Recruitment Searches

It is not unusual for the School to carry out an internet or social media search on a shortlisted candidate during a recruitment exercise. In light of the changes in Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2022 online searches on shortlisted candidates state that the School should "consider carrying out an online search as part of their due diligence on the shortlisted candidates" when recruiting.