Welcome, and thank you for your interest in The Boyle and Petyt Primary School's Headteacher opportunity
Dear Applicant,
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our exciting Headteacher opportunity at The Boyle and Petyt Primary School. We hope that the information we have provided encourages you to make an application to our vibrant and happy Voluntary Aided school.
Due to a career change for our outgoing Headteacher, our Governors are seeking to appoint a leader who will build on her successes and the school’s many strengths. The pupils, staff, parents, governors and our community are proud of our school where children are happy, well-behaved and enjoy learning.
We are a successful and friendly village school located in a rural setting with stunning views of the countryside. We serve a number of small villages in the north of North Yorkshire; we are located about 6 miles east of the market town of Skipton.
We wish to appoint a Headteacher who will be a committed member of the team and central to the task of continuing to take our school forward. In the changing educational environment, there will be many exciting challenges ahead. The school has the benefit of a highly committed, experienced and loyal team of staff coupled with a committed, supportive Governing Body and parents/carers.
For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please email Helen Poole, who has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this key role, or call on 01609 532254. We would encourage you to come and visit in advance of your application and see for yourself the enthusiasm that our pupils have for their education. Such a visit is not part of the selection process, and whether applicants have visited will not influence the outcome. We would also encourage applicants to have a look at the school website(opens in a new tab), newsletters (opens in a new tab) and our Facebook page (opens in a new tab) to get a feel for our school.
I hope you find the information provided useful and informative and that it will encourage you to apply. On behalf of the governing body, thank you again for your interest in The Boyle and Petyt Primary School.
Yours faithfully,
Alison Kaye
Chair of Governors
Learn more about our Headteacher opportunity
Post: Headteacher
Number on Roll: 79
Commencing: January 2025
Salary: L9 - L15 (pay award pending)
Contract Term: Permanent
Our Opportunity:
Our school is a unique, exciting and vibrant learning environment which inspires a love of learning and a passion to aim high. Through inspirational teaching, we develop confident, resilient and creative learners who flourish and feel cared for. Known in our community for being well-behaved, respectful and polite, our children all meet their potential.
Though small, we have everything needed to ensure an excellent academic and pastoral experience for our children. Our children thrive in the purposeful and stimulating environment provided and our staff are committed to ensuring that every child is given the opportunity to achieve.
About You:
We are seeking to appoint a committed and experienced professional to further shape our vibrant school. The successful candidate will continue to raise standards whilst ensuring our caring environment is maintained. You will effectively motivate, inspire and influence children, staff and stakeholders, and assume responsibility for all aspects of school life. This will include directing the school’s strategic planning, leading the development of the curriculum and delivering an outstanding provision which meets the needs of all our children. You will also have an approximate 0.3 teaching commitment. It’s important that you have the flexibility to teach across all year groups.
You will be the sole leader in the school and you will hold other safeguarding, GDPR and Safeguarding roles including the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Prevent Lead, Single Point of Contact, Educational Visits Co-ordinator and Fire Warden. You will also be expected to lead curriculum subjects alongside your colleagues.
To succeed, you must be a proven leader and manager with outstanding teaching skills and the ability to develop our small, dedicated team while maximising achievement. An excellent communicator, you should have a thorough knowledge of curriculum and pedagogy and possess the networking skills needed to maintain and develop future partnerships. In addition, you will also need proven assessment, evaluation, data analysis and reporting skills and be able to balance your teaching and leadership responsibilities effectively. A good understanding of the needs and requirements of a small, rural school together with a good grasp of financial management would be a distinct advantage.
We can offer you:
- A happy and friendly school, with delightful children who respect each other and have a thirst for learning.
- A culture which allows all staff to thrive and develop.
- An opportunity to see the huge potential that exists and the time to make the Boyle and Petyt Primary School a beacon of excellence in primary education.
- Significant levels of support from the Local Authority, Governing Board and a staff team who are experienced, committed and passionate about our school.
- A committed and knowledgeable Governing Body committed to providing support on all matters including more sensitive or difficult issues and including the wellbeing of all staff members.
- The school is part of a Cluster where the Headteachers meet regularly. This provides a support network for sharing ideas and best practice.
For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please call Helen on 01609 532254 or email. Helen has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this exciting opportunity.
Key dates
Application closing date: Midnight, Tuesday 15th October 2024
Shortlisting: Friday 18th October 2024
Interviews: Thursday 24th and Friday 25th October 2024
Visits
We strongly recommend that you visit us so we can share with you why we are so proud of our school, and you will have the opportunity to see what we have to offer. If you would like the opportunity to visit, please email Helen.
Information About Our School
Our small Voluntary Aided school is set in a picturesque rural location within the renowned Bolton Abbey Estate (opens in a new tab) in the Yorkshire Dales. Its history stems from bequests made by Robert Boyle (opens in a new tab) and Sylvester Petyt (opens in a new tab) either side of the turn of the 18th Century with formal unification occurring in 1870. We enjoy a unique relationship with the Estate, on whose land the school stands, and with the local church at Bolton Priory. The Duchess of Devonshire and the Estate Manager both sit on the Board of Trustees (who are responsible for managing the Foundation trust and school buildings).
The school operates out of two buildings: the original extended school building which houses KS1 and 2 and the purpose built EYFS building which houses Nursery and Reception. An extension to the EYFS building is due to be built in October, and this will allow for secure, sheltered outdoor free flow provision.
The school buildings sit in generous surroundings: we have a spacious playground, a large playing field, a nature garden, a vegetable garden and a woodland area. Teaching and learning is enhanced through our outdoor provision. Children enjoy many varied opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and all children in KS1 & 2 enjoy forest school lessons in the woodland with our forest school trained member of staff.
The school enjoys direct access to the A59 Skipton to Harrogate road. Our catchment area comprises the local villages of Beamsley, Bolton Abbey, Draughton, Halton East, Hazlewood, Storiths and Deerstones. However the school attracts children from the wider areas of Skipton, Addingham, Ilkley, Embsay, Earby, Threshfield, Grassington and Silsden. Most children on roll are from out of the catchment area, representing the changing demographics of the school’s rural setting. The school is very much a destination school with parents making the choice to send their children to the school as they value the educational and personal values that the school promotes.
Most children are driven to school and NYC manage transport to school for eligible children.
Click here for more information about our history (opens in a new tab).
The Boyle and Petyt Primary School provides a happy, secure and stimulating environment where all children are motivated to learn, are valued as individuals and attain high levels of achievement.
AIMS:
- For all children to be happy, enjoy school and develop a love of learning which will stay with them throughout their lives.
- To help all pupils, through hard work, commitment and self-discipline, to achieve the highest standards of which they are capable.
- For all children to develop logical thought and appropriate information skills in a world of rapidly changing technologies.
- For all children to become independent learners with lively, enquiring and creative minds.
- For all children to have high expectations of their learning.
- For all children to enjoy participating in teamwork and collaboration.
- For all children to develop a concern for their immediate environment and the world in which they live.
- For all children to learn to appreciate the interdependence of individuals, groups and nations.
- For all children to take pride in their actions and in all aspects of school life.
We provide a secure and nurturing environment within which staff can work in partnership with parents to achieve these aims.
The Vision Statement and the Aims provide a foundation for the school’s development and improvement. Together they provide the fundamental statement which underpins all school policies.
The school has 79 children on roll from the age of 3 to 11. Children can join Nursery in the term that they turn 3. Children in Nursery and Reception are taught in our fabulous EYFS unit by a fully qualified early years’ teacher who is supported by experienced staff. The EYFS unit was built in 2014 to a bespoke design and it is well resourced to provide an excellent early years’ curriculum. Children in our school integrate well across the years and consequently, their transition from Nursery into full time education is smooth and well-planned.
In KS1, children are taught in a mixed class (Year 1 and 2) by a class teacher, supported by a full time teaching assistant. In KS2, the children are taught in a mixed Year 3 & 4 class and a mixed Year 5 & 6 class. It is anticipated that the successful candidate would share the teaching responsibility in the Year 5 & 6 class.
The children enjoy a broad and balanced curriculum; maths and English is taught in the mornings and in the afternoons, children enjoy geography, history, science, PE, art, DT, PSHE, French, RE and computing. We are fortunate to have a full class set of laptops and a full class set of iPads. In the weeks from September to February, all children from Years 1 to 6 have weekly swimming lessons at Craven Leisure Pool. We are committed to ensuring that all children leave the school as competent and confident swimmers. From February to July, swimming is replaced on the curriculum by forest school lessons which are a highlight of the week for all of our children. The recent creation of a vegetable garden has allowed us to extend our outdoor learning provision.
Teachers enjoy positions of subject leadership and they use their positions to oversee teaching and learning, lead initiatives in school, lead CPD, follow educational developments and make local links.
The performing arts are celebrated and prioritised in our school: all children perform in concerts, plays and other performances across the year. The school boasts an outstanding choir which has won at the Skipton Music Festival for the last three years.
This year, we achieved the Gold Schools Games Mark. This acknowledges our commitment to giving our pupils many and varied PE opportunities across the year. We have joined the Skipton Schools Sports Partnership which allows our children to play a range of sports in association with children from other schools. We also participate in competitions with other schools in our locality such as cross-country, rugby and cricket. Our large playing field means that children can enjoy PE lessons on site and we are able to host our annual Sports Day – a highlight of the school calendar.
Wraparound Care is in place each day: a breakfast club runs from 8am and presently, we offer aftercare each day until 4.30pm or 5.30pm. There are plans to extend this and we are awaiting an imminent update in this regard.
The school values the benefits that educational visits and trips can make to a child’s education and personal development. Teachers are encouraged to use trips to extend the curriculum beyond the school setting and other trips give the children new and exciting personal experiences. Each year, the children in Year 6 go on a residential visit to Liverpool with the children from Threshfield Primary School. This city adventure takes our children beyond their home environment and to a place where they can enjoy new cultural and social experiences.
Ofsted recognised:
Adults’ expectations of pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning are high. As a result, pupils are confident learners…Pupils enjoy the range of lessons and activities they experience.” (Ofsted, 2021)
Our Pupils
Our pupils are FAB: friendly, ambitious and brave! (School motto.)
We aim to have happy, well -balanced children who have enquiring minds, are independent learners who reach their highest achievable standards and, are ready to take their place in the larger world. They are well behaved, polite, tolerant, friendly and mutually supportive. The school rarely has behavioural issues.
Our children participate in a very active school council which operates with democratic elections for pupil members. The council makes decisions on fundraising and school activities.
Our children are grouped into houses: Boyle, Petyt, Devonshire and Beamsley and our Year 6 pupils hold leadership positions of House Captains and Vice Captains. These leaders play active roles in house meetings.
Ofsted recognised:
“Pupils look after each other and care about each other. One pupil said that if they saw that another pupil was distressed, they would ‘rush over to help’. Pupils clearly enjoy school and each other’s company.” (Ofsted, 2021)
Our Staffing Team
Our committed and experienced team of teachers consists of four teachers and the Head teacher. Two teachers are full time and two are part time. The teaching commitment of the Head teacher is approximately 0.3 and the teaching is shared with the Year 5 & 6 teacher.
Teaching and learning is expertly supported by a team of experienced support staff (some full time and some part time). All classes have TA support for maths and English during the morning. EYFS and KS1 have TA support during the afternoons.
We employ two administrators (part time), a caretaker and cleaner (who lives on site) and the clerk to the Governors. To support our curriculum, we employ a specialist music and singing teacher and a specialist French teacher. PE is taught by Kanga Sports personnel.
The school has a SENCO who is also the Deputy DSL. The school also has a teacher in charge of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children and Designated Mental Health Lead.
Click here for further information on our staff(opens in a new tab).
Our Governing Body
The Governors are clear that the Headteacher is responsible for the operation of the school. Governors recognise the intrinsic need to have all parties aligned to the vision and strategic direction of the school whilst being financially astute and desirous of attaining the highest possible standards. They are motivated, supportive, open and helpful.
Minutes of Governing Body meetings show that the Governors are well informed and challenge when needed. They visit the school regularly, are well known to parents and are aware of where improvements need to be made.
Relationships with parents and carers
We benefit from a high level of parental and carer engagement. Their participation in learning is encouraged. A weekly newsletter is sent to all parents/carers and governors via e-mail and posted on the website. News items and events are posted on social media and our school website.
We receive regular feedback via questionnaires and at twice-yearly parent/carer evenings. Governors are visible and open to contact with parents and carers and attend school events, assist with reading, and serve teas and coffees at parent/carer evenings.
Attendance of parents and carers is enthusiastic at sporting events, special assemblies, nativities, plays, leavers concerts, our annual ‘book and a brew’ events, the Skipton Music Festival and the Harvest Show.
The school is very fortunate to have incredible support from the parents association: The Friends of Beamsley School (FOBS). They are an active and valued part of our school community. Their main fundraising event, the annual Harvest Show takes place in Autumn. As well as raising funds, the day is always a huge success and is enjoyed by participants of all ages from both the school and local community. FOBS organise various other fundraising events during the year and the money raised has made a real difference to children’s educational experiences in school. This year, FOBS are paying for all children to attend Beauty and the Beast at Harrogate Theatre, in December.
The teaching and learning in school is significantly enhanced by the support of a team of regular and committed volunteers who come into school to work with children on reading, times tables and in forest school lessons.
Relationship with the local authority
Our relationship with the LA is good; it is strong and mutually supportive. We benefit from regular support from our Senior Education Advisor who provides valuable advice and guidance to us.
Wider networks
The school enjoys enormous benefits from a positive relationship with the Bolton Abbey Estate (Duchy of Devonshire (opens in a new tab)) and the Priory who contribute much to the school. The Rector is a regular visitor to the school and he welcomes us to the Priory for our annual Carol Service. On the final day of the school year, we take all of the children to the Bolton Abbey River for a picnic and a paddle.
We are part of the Upper Wharfedale Schools cluster (formed by Upper Wharfedale Federation (opens in a new tab), Threshfield Primary (opens in a new tab) and Boyle & Petyt). We are also part of the Craven Area Schools Teaching Alliance (opens in a new tab) (CASTLE Alliance).
The school participates in events outside of school including the Skipton Music Festival (opens in a new tab), the annual Skipton Schools Music Concert, the Ilkley Literature Festival and the Ilkley Tennis Trophy Competition. Our children enjoy fundraising and we run different events during the year. All classes fundraise in November to raise funds to maintain our sponsorship of a child at the Jolaurabi School in Kenya. We run a reverse advent calendar in December to support the Skipton Food Bank and we support national fundraising events such as Children in Need and Red Nose Day.
The school is very conscious of ensuring that the children at the school meet other children from different social and cultural backgrounds; our links with Educate the Kids and St Stephens Primary School in Bradford have enriched the children’s experiences and given them new opportunities that will prepare them for the world beyond The Boyle and Petyt Primary School.
Skipton
Skipton (opens in a new tab) is a charming market town in the Craven district of North Yorkshire and is ideally positioned with excellent transport links to many other major UK cities, and close to the junction of the A65 from Leeds to the Lake District and the A59 from York to Liverpool.
Nestled on the edge of the magnificent Yorkshire Dales (opens in a new tab), people travel the length and breadth of the country to visit and it was listed in the 2018 Sunday Times report on “Best Places to Live in Northern England”. With its famous 900-year-old castle, romantic ruined priory and historic cobbled High Street, Skipton is endlessly rich both in history and outstanding natural beauty.
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is England's largest county and one of the most rural. The area comprises the Yorkshire Dales (opens in a new tab) and North York Moors (opens in a new tab), three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a stunning coastline around Scarborough and Whitby. There are ruined castles and abbeys, serene gardens, unique breweries, thrilling rides and industrial heritage. The area hosted the phenomenal Tour de France ‘Grand Depart’ in 2014 and has since created the Tour de Yorkshire, an annual event with global recognition. Our success in supporting these events led to Harrogate hosting the UCI Cycling World Championships in 2019.
North Yorkshire has plenty to offer the outdoor enthusiast. From the hard gritstone of Almscliff and Brimham rocks to the limestone of Malham, Gordale and Kilnsey climbing venues are in abundance. The Yorkshire Dales is the premier area for caving and for mountain biking; there are the bridleways of the Dales and North York Moors as well as the renowned trail centre at Dalby Forest. There are a small number of sailing clubs on reservoirs around the county and fantastic surfsport venues and sea kayaking on the east coast.
While the county is rightly known for its wide open spaces, it also incorporates attractive market towns including Pickering and Helmsley, traditional seaside towns, the Spa town of Harrogate and the ancient city of York - the most visited city outside of London. There are a wide range of shopping, leisure and cultural facilities as well as excellent schools, universities, road and rail links, there really is everything to offer you and your family as a place to work, live and enjoy!
Travelling further afield we have convenient connectivity, with close proximity to metropolitan cities of Leeds and Newcastle, with little over two hours commute on the main train line to London. We border the Lake District, Lancashire, County Durham, and Yorkshire & Humber regions with all they have to offer.
Information About Application and Guidance
When applying please consider the following supporting documents:
Download Person Specification - Headteacher (.docx) [129 KB] (opens in a new tab)
Download Job Description - Headteacher (.docx) [100 KB] (opens in a new tab)
Application guidance, including policy statement on the recruitment of ex-offenders
The supporting information section of your application should clearly evidence your ability to meet the requirements we have outlined in the person specification. This will be used to shortlist applicants for this role and therefore it is imperative that you provide evidence as requested.
References
When completing your application, please provide two employment referees.
Your application plays an important part in your selection. As part of the application process, you may have been asked to demonstrate within this application form how you meet some or all of the criteria or key competencies outlined in the person specification. The supporting information section of your application should clearly evidence your ability to meet these requirements. This will be used to shortlist applicants for this role and therefore it is imperative that you provide evidence as requested. Rather than simply repeating your career history, look at the skills and experience required by the job and provide evidence that you possess them by giving specific and detailed examples which include a focus on outcomes and on your own contribution to the scenario. Try to use different and varied examples wherever possible.
When completing these sections, do not forget the skills and experience you have gained outside full-time work. Outlining your previous work experience or other responsibilities may help you to uncover skills which you have taken for granted and which are clear signs of your ability to do the job.
Should you require the application form in a different format, please contact Resourcing Solutions.
Canvassing
Should your application be for a local authority school, you must not try to influence an elected Council Member, any council employee or a member of the school governing body, to act in your favour, as this will disqualify you. If you are related to a Councillor, a Council employee or a governor you must indicate this in the relevant section of the application form.
Data Protection
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertise vacancies and process applications on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes. Further information on how we process your data can be found by reading our privacy notice.
Rehabilitation of Offenders
The post you are applying for requires you to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records check for work with children, with a barred list check if you work in regulated activity. This check for disclosure of criminal history will include spent convictions, pending prosecutions / current court proceeding and police enquiries.
Should you be shortlisted, you will be asked to disclose full details of your criminal history prior to your interview. This includes any information deemed relevant as part of Keeping Children Safe in Education which may arise in an online search undertaken on shortlisted candidates. This information may be discussed with you at your interview in order to assess job related risks, but we emphasise that your application will be considered on merit and ability and you will not be discriminated against unfairly. Failure to disclose this information will result in any offer of employment being withdrawn.
Please also see the policy statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders below.
Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders (Source www.gov.uk)
- As an organisation assessing applicants’ suitability for positions which are included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order using criminal record checks processed through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), this school complies fully with the DBS code of practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly.
- This school undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a criminal record check on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.
- This school can only ask an individual to provide details of convictions and cautions that it is legally entitled to know about. Where a DBS certificate can legally be requested (where the position is one that is included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 as amended, and where appropriate Policy Act Regulations as amended) this school can only ask an individual about convictions and cautions that are not protected.
- This school is committed to the fair treatment of its staff and potential staff, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependents, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.
- This school has this written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, which is made available to all DBS applicants at the start of the recruitment process.
- This school actively promotes equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. Candidates are selected for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience and criminal record information is only requested from short-listed candidates.
- A disclosure is only requested from the DBS after a thorough risk assessment has indicated that one is both proportionate and relevant to the position concerned. For those positions where a criminal record check is identified as necessary, all application forms, job adverts and recruitment briefs will contain a statement that a DBS certificate will be requested in the event of the individual being offered the position.
- This school ensures that all those who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences.
- This school also ensures that they have received appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex-offenders, e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
- At interview, or in a separate discussion, this school ensures that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position. Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment.
- This school makes every subject of a criminal record check submitted to DBS aware of the existence of the code of practice and makes a copy available on request.
- This school undertakes to discuss any matter revealed on a DBS certificate with the individual seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.
References
When completing your application, please provide two employment referees. One of these must be from your most recent employer.
We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We have a robust child protection and safeguarding policy (.pdf) [924 KB ]. (opens in a new tab). and all staff will receive training relevant to their role at induction and throughout employment at the school. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Please note this post is in regulated activity and exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS criminal records and barred list check for work with children. An online search may be undertaken as part of the recruitment process on information available in the public domain. Candidates should disclose anything that may be relevant in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.