Head of Year

Overall purpose of role : Our aim as a school is to help students to be happy and successful in their time with us and their future lives. We believe success means students achieve their personal best in a variety of areas: academic study, appreciation of and participation in culturally enriching activities, relationships with other people, tolerance for others, healthy lifestyles, taking responsibility, physical activities and development of skills for the future. We want our students to lead rich and rewarding lives. This role is designed to help achieve these goals by developing strategies and working effectively with others to create a safe, happy and positive climate where success is celebrated and all students are helped to achieve their best. As a Head of Year with a particular focus on vulnerable pupils, you will be required to meet the general requirements of this post. In addition, you will be required to fulfil any reasonable expectations from the Headteacher. The post will require you to work in partnership with the Headteacher, Senior Leadership Team, governors and staff to ensure the continuous improvement of the school. You will be responsible for specific tasks and the development of whole school initiatives, which will be determined in consultation with the Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour and Attendance) and pastoral team. Safeguarding requirements: This post requires the post holder to work in settings with children and young adults. Any employment offer is therefore subject to the results of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Key outputs: * Help to develop a culture in which every student is valued, encouraged and supported * Support the Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour and Attendance) and pastoral team in establishing the vision and strategies for excellent student progress, behaviour, attendance and support * Communicate behaviour strategies and expectations effectively to all staff to help meet the needs of identified students * Develop strategies to help overcome obstacles staff may experience in students achieving their personal best * To identify barriers students may face in improving their attendance and /or behaviour and act on them * To monitor behaviour, attendance and wellbeing of students and provide regular updates for the Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour and Attendance) and pastoral team * To support the form tutors to help them achieve the best possible standards of behaviour and outcomes for their tutees * Help ensure the learning and special educational needs / vulnerabilities of individual students are met, particularly vulnerable groups, such as disadvantaged students, underachieving students, young carers, children that are looked after or previously been looked after and those with low attendance. This will include making timely SEND referrals and support for students in your allocated cohorts * To monitor the implementation of the Behaviour Policy and behaviour logs across your allocated cohorts through Arbor, provide evidence through data analysis for middle leaders, SLT and strategic SIP meetings to discuss students of concern * Working with other staff, ensure attendance and punctuality have a high profile throughout school. Lead on strategies to help support high levels of attendance and punctuality across all students in your year group * Working with the Deputy Head (Pastoral) to oversee and quality assure the alternative provision/external support provided for specific students in your allocated cohort * To discuss/share sensitive issues with parents/carers, for example, behaviour, uniform, wellbeing, safeguarding, attendance etc. * Working with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to effectively implement the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, by following up any minor logs of concern * To attend Parents’ Evenings for where required to support students and families in your allocated cohorts * To develop effective working relationships with outside agencies, parents/carers etc to best support students with specific needs * Act as the staff lead for My Support Plans where required for students in your cohort and review these regularly * Celebrate successes amongst the students, through effective communication with home/delivering assemblies * Evaluate own performance and undertake professional development to help achieve the highest possible standards in the role * To undertake any other duties associated with the role, as may be decided by the senior leadership team/Headteacher * To support the transition of students from one year group to the next * To ensure high standards in detentions, working with the other heads of year to ensure consistency * To ensure high standards in Reflection, working with other heads of year to ensure consistency and strategic oversight of the isolation provision *To deliver targeted interventions with allocated students to support improvements in academic performance, attendance, behaviour and wellbeing * To work in collaboration with the Inclusion team and SENDCo to support the complex needs of those students within your allocated cohorts * To lead on the new student induction process for identified students * To work in collaboration with the Inclusion team and SENDCo to support the complex needs of those students within your allocated cohorts * To lead on the new student induction process for identified students . Expertise in Role Required (At selection - Level 1) Essential Criteria: * Be qualified in GCSE English and Mathematics (Grade 4/C) * Experience of working with children of mixed age ranges preferably in a school environment * Experience of promoting high standards of attendance * Experience of working with families * High level of Safeguarding understanding * Understanding of relevant policies/code of practice and awareness of relevant legislation * Understanding of child development and learning including Special Educational Needs * Experience of providing support and advice to students and their families * Experience of planning, monitoring and evaluating work * Experience of short, medium and long term planning at an operational level * Ability to work as a member of a team and/or independently * Experience of delivering defined projects to a deadline and managing a complex workload * Is willing to work flexibly within scope of overall hours, e.g. early morning visits and occasional evening meetings, deliver assemblies Desirable criteria: * Experience of dealing with sensitive issues * Experience of leading assemblies or similar for groups of students We very much encourage and welcome potential candidates to visit during the Academy Day. Please call or email to make an appointment. Julia Wood, Admin Manager Tel: 01274 851152 Email: Julia.wood@sharemat.co.uk