Gidea Park - Head

Gidea Park - Head

Candidate Information for the Position of Head

C ON T E N T S

Welcome from Mrs Molyneux, Director, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Letter from MrsWhiskerd, Headmistress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

History of the School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Facilities and Class Sizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Job Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Person Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Qualifications Experience and Knowledge

Recruitment Process

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Why Gidea Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Remuneration Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

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W E L C OM E F ROM M R S MO LY N E U X , D I R E C TO R

On behalf of the Directors I would like to thank you for expressing an interest in our School, and specifically in the post of Head of Gidea Park College. This pack has been designed to give you an idea of the type of Head we are looking to appoint, whilst also giving you a feel for the School and its history. The vacancy has arisen due to our current Headmistress, KatherineWhiskerd, leaving us to take up a new challenge pursuing a long-held ambition of working in Special Education, which includes studying for a Masters Degree. Mrs Whiskerd has been with Gidea Park College for over ten years, successfully leading the School as our Head over the last four years.We are wishing her every success in the future and are very sorry to see her go. Gidea Park College was established by Edward and Jessie Parkinson, my grandparents, over 100 years ago and has run as a small, family school ever since.You will find the School warm and welcoming, known for its friendly, tight knit community, inquisitive pupils and staff who are dedicated to suppor ting all aspects of learning and development. Everything you need to apply for this post is contained within this pack and on our website. Please do not hesitate to contact me personally should you have any fur ther questions.

Mrs Niki Molyneux

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L E T T E R F ROM M R S WH I S K E R D , H E A D M I S T R E S S

Here at Gidea Park College, we are an independent, co-educational day school for children aged 3 to 11, where pupils get the best star t possible and learn in a happy and secure environment. Situated in Gidea Park, an affluent and attractive residential area in Essex, our School offers a well-rounded, contemporary education concentrating on personal growth, the development of character, self-confidence and academic success. Since 1917 Gidea Park College has been run as a small, family-owned school, where each pupil is valued as an individual, and where talents are encouraged to blossom, and weaknesses are strengthened. Our School motto is ‘Light Work Life’ and we aim to deliver this vision by offering our pupils a first-class education, where great emphasis is placed on pastoral and academic excellence. The role of Head of Gidea Park College is multi-faceted and rewarding.We are a small and suppor tive community, and the role of Head is key, requiring someone with ambition for themselves as well as for the School and its pupils.This is a very happy place to work; I hope you are inspired by what you read and will want to join the School.

Mrs KatherineWhiskerd

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A P RO U D H I S TO RY

Gidea Park College has recently celebrated its centenary, a hundred years of providing an outstanding primary education for the children in the town and surrounding areas. A family- owned school, it was originally created by James Edward Parkinson and his wife Jessie, grandparents of the current owners, sisters Niki Molyneux and Annie Parkinson-Curd. In 1917, with the Great War raging, James and his wife moved south from Scotland.With the ambition to provide the best possible education for the community, the School was opened initially in Hare Hall Lane but within just four years it outgrew this space and moved to its present location, Balgores House. Balgores House has a rich heritage. Originally housing the Ar tists Rifles, a volunteer regiment of the British Army, it was also home to the war poet Wilfred Owen – in fact, his former bedroom is now the Head’s office.

James Edward and Jessie Parkinson, the original owners of the School

The Ar tists Rifles

Wilfred Owen

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F AC I L I T I E S & C L A S S S I Z E S

Even though the numbers have grown over the years, a sense of ‘family’ runs through the School, creating a closeness that is very special to staff and children and immediately sensed by everyone who visits us. Gidea Park College is a beautiful 1850s building, located in the hear t of the Gidea Park community.The large and airy classrooms are character-filled, with large outdoor spaces for teaching, learning, play and enjoyment.

Gidea Park College is proud to have formed strong community links and works hard for local charities and community groups, including local care homes.

Class sizes at Gidea Park are small, usually in the region of 18 per group.

Pre-School (3-5 years)

These early years are formative, experiences at this time can shape a child’s future attitude to school and it is our aim that they should look forward to every day. From the star t, young children quickly settle into our happy School family, keen to explore the new experiences available to them.

In addition to the on-site facilities, which include Repton, our Ar t/Science Annex, and Sensory Garden, the staff and pupils are regular visitors to: Raphael’s Park - a lovely, leafy park, where our Year 3 – 6 pupils enjoy Cross Country training from the end of Michaelmas to the middle of the Lent term, with an inter-house cross country competition in February. In the Trinity Term, the pupils inYears 3 - 6 also visit the park for cricket training. Central Park Leisure Centre - Years 3 - 6 attend weekly swimming lessons, on a half-termly rota.This is a new and large pool, with a dedicated team of professional swimming coaches. St Michael’s Church - in the hear t of Gidea Park, just down the road from the School house, is where we hold our annual Nativity.The Church Hall is also used as an additional space for PE lessons for Years 3 - 6 during inclement weather.

Pre-Preparatory (5-7 years)

The Pre-Prep is a happy community. Five year-olds join us from the Pre-School and elsewhere and they quickly settle in together, exploring their surroundings and making new friends.

Preparatory (7-11 years)

Once they move into the Prep School the children are progressively immersed into the full curriculum where they have access to a broad range of subjects including Science and Languages (including French inYears 5 and 6).

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J O B D E S C R I P T I ON

Key Responsibilities • Provide inspirational leadership and

Nurture Pupil Achievement andWellbeing • Provide a caring, healthy, happy and well-ordered environment for all pupils, emphasising high moral standards and exemplary behaviour. • Build an academic culture with a consistent and continuous focus on the pupil; develop a broad and challenging curriculum to ensure pupils continue to attain entry to the best senior schools. • Set high standards and expectations for academic success. Ensure individual pupil progress is monitored and an effective system is in place for stretching and suppor ting pupil potential whilst communicating progress to parents. • Work with staff and parents to design an extra-curricular programme which expands the learning oppor tunities for pupils within the wider school curriculum. • Recognise and promote the use of Information Technology as an essential 21st century learning tool including the provision of online learning.

• Communicate the School’s vision and ethos. Promote and sustain a culture of continuous improvement, empowering pupils and staff to excel in a happy and inclusive environment. • Lead by example - with integrity, creativity, resilience, and clarity - drawing on pedagogy, exper tise and skills, and that of colleagues. Empower High Quality Teaching • Recruit and retain high quality staff to ensure the delivery of outstanding teaching to pupils with the aim of achieving Excellent across all ISI Standards. • Identify emerging talents and coach current and aspiring leaders in a climate where excellence is the standard, leading to clear succession planning. • Delegate leadership and empower others to action positive change. • Forge teams of colleagues who have distinct roles and responsibilities and suppor t each other in decision making. • Motivate staff towards reflective practice and encourage staff to welcome feedback and provide development to continually enhance the quality of teaching.

management of Gidea Park College so that it continues to deliver a first-rate education.

Responsibilities • Ensure pupils achieve academic success in a happy and caring community, and staff maintain teaching excellence within a professional and motivated team. • Oversee the teaching resources and the learning environment to inspire teachers to be the best that they can be – motivated and committed to delivering teaching excellence. • Manage the overall performance of the School, including the quality of the academic curriculum, pastoral care, recruiting and retaining high quality staff and achieving commercial results. • Act as the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead. Lead and Inspire • Work with the Directors to design the strategic vision of the School, with a goal of being the leading independent Prep School within the area.

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Shape our Future • Develop and drive the delivery of the School

Provide effective School Management • Work with the staff to build a collaborative working environment focused on achieving high academic standards, excellent pastoral care and efficient day to day operations. • Ensure that the administration of the School is well considered and efficient, upholding the principles of transparency and probity in all areas. Ensure policies and procedures meet the required standards for ISI compliance. • Work with the Directors to agree future resources and budgets which suppor t the delivery of academic excellence. Keep the Directors informed on all aspects of the School’s progress and achievements. • Welcome strong governance, actively suppor ting the Directors, working together across all areas of policy and performance and providing the information needed to monitor and govern effectively.

Expand our Community • Be the ‘face of the School’: build strong relationships with parents, be available for staff and approachable to pupils, and engage with the local community. • Take ownership for the ‘parent journey’ – from first contact, through admissions and onto joining our School family. • Promote the School through creative public relations and the effective use of social media to effectively reach more prospective parents. • Foster and maintain good relationships with senior schools to ensure all pupils move on to the secondary school that is best for them.

development plan, identify key areas for change, improvement and investment.

• Create an outward -facing school. Engage with the latest educational pedagogy and research.

Direct Reports • Deputy Head, Academic and Deputy Head, Pastoral • Head of EYFS, Facilities Manager,Welfare Assistant, School Secretary

Location

The Head will be based at Gidea Park College but should be prepared to travel occasionally.

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P E R S ON S P E C I F I C AT I ON

Required

Desired

Required

Desired

Qualifications Qualified Teacher Status

Skills Proven leadership skills; with experience

✓

✓

demonstrating the capacity to initiate, lead and effectively manage teams to perform Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Evidence of being able to build and sustain effective relationships with staff, Governors/Directors, parents and the wider community Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of situations; ability to communicate a vision and inspire others Strong influencing, negotiation, persuasive

Degree – please specify

✓

Evidence of fur ther study (this could be an advanced degree in School Management and/or Fur ther Professional Qualifications in preparation for senior leadership) Successful substantive Senior Leadership and management experience in a high performing primary school – minimum 3 years – with proven track record of delivering excellent teaching and learning Demonstrable experience of successful line management, staff development, collaborating with and leading team members Teaching experience - minimum 8 years’ experience - in more than one Key Stage Experience of successful management of change

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

and collaboration skills Effective people management skills, including effective delegation, empathy and listening skills Ability to initiate and lead change by inspiring and influencing others

✓

✓

✓

✓

Experience of promoting safeguarding

✓

procedures in school Proven business acumen

✓

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Required

Desired

Required

Desired

Knowledge Understanding and knowledge of current issues in education, including the current ISI Inspection Framework. Ability to lead, manage and organise an effective curriculum Ability to analyse and evaluate school

Personal qualities The commitment and drive to move the school forward, relishing the challenge to implement necessary changes as required A clear vision and understanding of the needs of all pupils; a commitment to getting the best outcomes for all pupils and promoting the ethos and values of the school A commitment to promoting high quality care, guidance and suppor t for pupils and parents The ability to foster an open, transparent and equitable culture, and deal effectively with difficult conversations Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively; resilient Commitment to maintaining confidentiality at all times Commitment to safeguarding and equality

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

self-evaluation processes, including the use of external and internal >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13

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