Thank you for your interest in Applegarth's Headteacher opportunity
Dear Applicant,
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our exciting Headteacher opportunity at Applegarth School. I am proud to be Chair of Governors of our flourishing community, where our purpose upon establishment in 1909 is unchanged in 115 years: being a model school in North Yorkshire.
Situated in the market town of Northallerton, in the heart of North Yorkshire, Applegarth is a family in which children are confident and take pride in themselves and their peers. Parents/carers, governors, local residents and the whole community are active participants in our school’s development. We aspire to aim high, be happy and celebrate, together.
This is a wonderful opportunity from September 2024 to lead our thriving school through the next phase of its growth and development. Building on the strong progress firmly established over the last few years, we are now looking for a leader to help us improve on these solid foundations and move our school forwards.
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 and online blog 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 our wonderful school and Headteacher opportunity.
Yours faithfully,
The Reverend Claire L Soderman
Chair of Governors
Our friendly school, which is transitioning to one-form entry, is situated in the market town of Northallerton, an area with a rich historical heritage. This is a key aspect of our curriculum for which we have been awarded national accreditation as a Heritage School.
We're not just a school; we're a vibrant community. Our strong relationships with families and the wider community truly set us apart from other schools. We offer wrap-around care provision to support our families. Our grounds include a well-designed nature area, a pond, a bug hotel, hen coop, vegetable and fruit zones, a mud kitchen, climbing apparatus and a sports field. Our community has been augmented by the newly-formed and governor-led nursery provision.
Our Pupils
Our school reflects the growing diversity of our town, with a diverse range of socio-economic backgrounds including a notable military cohort and increasing mobility. Our students are generally confident, respectful, and polite, with a minority presenting challenges that we work tirelessly to address. We're proud of the significant improvements in pupil achievement and progress since 2019.
We actively seek to develop pupils’ character by giving all pupils a voice. An ever-increasing range of pupil responsibilities are offered and are allocated democratically. These roles rotate regularly. All pupils (not just those in the leadership roles) are given the opportunity to contribute to the leadership of the school and develop confidence through public speaking, interviewing candidates for vacancies in school and supporting their peers.
Ofsted recognised (2023):
“Pupils enjoy and remember what they study … Pupils understand the school’s high expectations for their behaviour. Pupils are keen to learn. They are supportive of each other in lessons. A small number of pupils need extra support to help them behave well. They are getting the help they need.”
Our learning
Our curriculum is rooted in our school’s unique context and the local area: drawing on the historic nature of the town and region; the mix of the agricultural and urban; and the stunning geographical features we have on our doorstep. We have designed an ever-evolving, broad, rich and contextually-relevant curriculum which builds on our pupils’ strengths, experiences and backgrounds whilst providing relevant, new experiences to build their knowledge and understanding of the wider world (e.g. religious diversity). Our curriculum affords the opportunity to regularly revisit and deepen learning in a way that incrementally builds on prior knowledge. We ignite a love of learning.
We are passionate about engaging children in after school and sports activities both in school and within the local community. We work relentlessly to create opportunities for pupils to start a love of sport and to nurture their talents in other areas. Our extra-curricular offer is vast, offering over 34 clubs by teaching and external staff. There is a wide range of sports; non-sports (chess, crafts, gardening); academic (maths, Spanish, reading); and alternative clubs (e.g. bushcraft, archery, forest school). Rigorous monitoring (and adaptation) ensures equality of access for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils. The school has been awarded School Games Mark Gold for the last 3 years and received PLATINUM accreditation in 2022. This means that all pupils engage in extracurricular sport (either after school or in Change for Life) and we aim for every child to take part in intra and interschool sports (including inclusive sports such as Boccia).
Further information on our individual curriculum subjects can be found here.
Ofsted recognised (2023):
“Pupils develop their character and confidence as they take on responsibilities, such as becoming a pupil ambassador or joining the school council. They also have many opportunities to read and perform in front of audiences.”
Wellbeing
Applegarth emphasises strong and enduring relationships, placing the wellbeing of every member of the school community at the heart of what we do. We foster a supportive and inclusive environment that values emotional welfare alongside academic achievement. The school aims to celebrate unique qualities while promoting respect and care for the diverse world around them to nurturing student wellbeing. Our positive Behaviour Management system has been further developed and refined to empower all staff. This continues to have a positive impact for most pupils which is supported by data.
The school has robust
pastoral systems with an out-of-class learning mentor.
This allows us to provide drawing, talking, Lego therapy and a range of other interventions in house.
Our staff are highly caring, and psychometric tests have verified this. Linked closely, staff wellbeing is important to us. We encourage open communication to address issues positively and proactively across the staff, pupil and parent communities.
Our Staff
Our leadership team comprises the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, SENCO, KS1 Lead, and EYFS Lead, with leadership responsibilities distributed. Our distributed leadership approach ensures that staff are empowered to develop their leadership skills, fostering a positive environment for growth. Our highly-skilled staff are heavily invested in their own CPD, with several middle leaders undertaking NPQ qualifications. CPD for all staff is carefully targeted and evaluated on an ongoing basis by the Headteacher and Deputy Head, who have been instrumental in the last few years in raising standards.
We have committed, long-standing and loyal staff along with a growing number of newly-appointed teachers and leaders, so it really is an exciting time to join our team. There is good morale and a friendly, professional approach amongst our staff. We have developed a high accountability/low threat environment in which staff at all levels can demonstrate their positive impact on outcomes.
Ofsted highlighted (2023):
“Leaders support staff well. The school is outward looking and seeks opportunities to help staff develop.”
Further information on our staff can be found here, along with our staff structure.
Our Governing Body
Our Governors are an area of strength for us as they provide extensive scrutiny, with careful questioning and challenge. Governor monitoring is systematic and methodical – getting to the crux of school improvement priorities to ensure effective yet supportive governance. There is an un-occupied vacancy and the potential for movement in the future as terms expire; the new Headteacher will need to ensure our Governance opportunities are promoted and remains a strength.
Please click here for our Governor Pen Portraits.
Ofsted recognised (2023):
“Governors know the school well. They support and challenge school leaders to continually develop the school.”
Due to the nature of our vision and values, it was important to us that we consulted our pupils, staff, governors, families, local residents and stakeholders when forming these.
VISION
We are a supportive, safe and aspirational school with a proud heritage and ambitious vision to build a thriving and inclusive community.
Our vision for Applegarth is that:
Our learners will be confident and aspirational individuals, who have high expectations of themselves and are courageous risk-takers, ready for the next step in their lives.
High standards will be achieved through a rich, contextually-relevant and exciting curriculum that provides memorable experiences through inspirational teaching, high-quality educational visits and input from experts.
Pupils from all backgrounds, contexts and starting points will achieve exemplary academic progress and personal development, where talents are quickly identified and effectively nurtured.
Our school community will be able to celebrate their own unique qualities whilst showing respect and care for the diverse and ever-changing world around them.
We will be proud to say that we have fulfilled the purpose of being the model school at the heart of our town and county.
VALUES
The following values will help us to achieve our vision:
Our staff are professional, accountable and have expert knowledge through comprehensive high-quality self-learning and professional development.
We are an outward-looking school which develops strong links with partners in the local community and further afield.
Our pupils confidently articulate what it means to be a good citizen and proactively contribute to their locality and wider world.
We enable strong and enduring relationships by placing the wellbeing of every member of our school community at the heart of what we do.
The Applegarth family is ready, respectful, and safe.
We've achieved a VERY strong 'Good' rating in our 2023 Ofsted report.
Ofsted recognised (2023):
“Applegarth Primary School is the hub of the local community. Pupils are safe and happy. They are proud of their school”.
From phonics and reading to forest school adventures, we excel in various areas, including:
- The “broad and ambitious” curriculum, including the resources for SEND.
- From the opening of our new EYFS provision, we have provided extensive staff CPD, leadership training and financial investment which has led to increased progress and attainment (both in terms of GLD and the proportion of children on track in phonics by the end of Reception).
- The “high expectations” for pupil’s behaviour and their supportiveness towards each other.
- Our Forest School provision which is led by trained members of staff. Knowledge and Understanding of the World and Physical Development outcomes are consistently high (which could be partly attributed to this).
While we celebrate our strengths, we're also focused on continuous improvement, particularly in task design, pedagogy, and behaviour management.
Pupil Achievement, Attainment and progress
2023
Our 2023 attainment data can be found here, along with our attendance data.
Budget position
Our financial data can be found here. Whilst we face a forecasted deficit due to contextual challenges and the PAN reducing to 30, we're proactive in managing our finances and planning for the future. This will be an area the new Headteacher will need to closely monitor.
Short term priorities
Securing a stable budget is high in our priority, as is ensuring the leadership of the school remains robust with the transition of Headteacher, coupled with the maternity leave of the Deputy Head. We're also committed to refining our vision and values to ensure they are concise and remain relevant.
Mid-term priorities
As we look ahead, we want to further embed our feedback policy, along with OPAL and anti-bullying efforts to ensure maximum impact on pupil behaviour and progress. Further developing SEND leadership at all levels to further enhance impact on outcomes for SEND pupils is also an ongoing priority. Our ambitions include becoming a Little Wandle lead school.
Long term priorities
The incoming Headteacher will need to ensure our results continue to improve, navigate ongoing budget constraints, manage challenging behaviour, and develop our relationships with parents further. Our new Headteacher will keep abreast of current education priorities and ensure our school continues to thrive.
Relationships with parents
Our families are actively engaged in school life. Our engagement with parents/carers is imperative and we maintain communication via weekly newsletters, blogs, information evenings and an active PTA who organise regular events within the school. Family surveys are very positive with families identifying strength in teaching and leadership as key factors in the school’s success. They also recognise the significant improvement of the school since the last inspection.
Ofsted recognised (2023):
“Parents are very positive about Applegarth Primary.”
Relationship with LA
We collaborate closely with our Local Authority and local school networks in Northallerton and the surrounding area to enhance our educational offerings.
Wider Community links
The school is deeply integrated into the wider community, fostering high engagement and communication through various events, performances, charity work, and partnerships. The school has contributed to national and regional projects including the Growing Up in North Yorkshire survey which fed into the updated visions and values, PSHE and RSE curriculum and personal development agenda.
The school has a strong track record for partnership working and supporting other institutions. We work collaboratively with local primary schools in The Beacon Partnership and Swaledale alliance; this provides opportunities for schools to share resources, benefit from the growing strengths of each school, and provide shared events and experiences for children. We are also a Schools North East partner school which gives us access to high-quality networking and training opportunities at the regional level too.
Moreover, our staff lead in areas of expertise. Our English subject leader is the lead moderator for the county. Our ECT mentor was the joint ECT lead for Red Kite Teaching School Alliance last year. We have system leaders in Science and Computing; our Computing Lead runs CPD for the Swaledale Alliance and has provided school-to-school support on ICT and computing.
As a result, our school is at the forefront of new research and developments for early career teachers.
Northallerton
Lying in the centre of a large rural area, Northallerton was established as a market town in 1200 by Royal Charter, and there is still a market in the town today. Northallerton is a thriving town with good facilities, especially for sports and cultural activities and is the major retail centre for the local area, with close proximity to the Yorkshire Dale and coastal resorts, it is an ideal base to explore the nearby moors, historical cities and picturesque villages. Northallerton benefits from easy connectivity to the A1M, M62, A19, A64 providing convenient connectivity to vibrant cities such as Durham, Teesside, Darlington, Newcastle, York, Leeds, and a little over two hours commute on the main train line to London.
North Yorkshire is England's largest county and one of the most rural. The area comprises the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and the Pennines - 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 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 surf sport 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 Thirsk, Pickering and Helmsley, traditional seaside towns, the Spa town of Harrogate and the ancient city of York. 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 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.
For further information on our beautiful county, please visit:
Learn more about our Headteacher opportunity
Post: Headteacher
Number on Roll: 268
Commencing: September 2024
Salary: L13 – L18 (£63,430 - £ 71,729)
Contract Term: Permanent
If you are a leader who is ambitious, inspirational and committed to excellence, then this appointment will present you with a unique opportunity to lead our wonderful school.
About You:
We are looking for an inspirational and experienced Headteacher or an ambitious Head of School/Deputy Headteacher with a proven track record of driving outcomes for all pupils. The ideal candidate will possess unwavering and principled expectations and a commitment to building upon the school's current trajectory: strengthening further our successes yet reflecting and adapting to the diverse needs of our community and responding positively to challenges. The successful candidate will inspire staff and pupils, support parents and strategically ensure Applegarth continues to benefit our local community as a Heritage school.
We can Offer You:
- A well-resourced school, with a dedicated outdoor learning area within the school grounds and access to an offsite facility.
- A school which has stable staffing, a strong community ethos and colleagues who are proud to work for a school which puts the whole child and parental engagement at its very heart.
- Ambitious and highly supportive staff and governors who are driven to provide excellent education for pupils.
- Freedom to utilise your expertise to shape the future of the school as a model North Yorkshire school.
For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please call Sarah on 07816 251271 or email sarah.hunter@northyorks.gov.uk. Sarah has been engaged to support us with recruitment to this exciting opportunity.
Key dates
Visits - we strongly recommend that you visit us so we can share with you why we are so proud of Applegarth, allowing you the opportunity to see what we have to offer. If you would like the opportunity to visit, please email Sarah.
Dates when we can accommodate visits are detailed below - if these are not possible for you please contact Sarah, as we may be able to offer alternatives.
Tuesday 9th April 4.00pm - 5.00pm
Wednesday 10th April 10.00 - 11.00am
Thursday 11th April 10.00am - 11.00am
Application closing date: Midnight, Sunday 14th April
Shortlisting: Friday 19th April
Interviews: Thursday 25th and Friday 26th April
When applying please take into account the following supporting documents:
Job Description
Person Specification
Application guidance - Information in Support of your Application
Every post advertised is supported by a full person specification mapped to our talent blueprint. The specification lists all the essential skills, experience and qualifications which are necessary for the job and the criteria against which you will be assessed, both through your application form and at interview.
Your application form 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.
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
The information that you state on this application form will be used by the school and the Council to consider you for a job vacancy. To find out about how we use your personal data for the purposes of recruitment please see our Privacy Notice at www.northyorks.gov.uk/working-us.
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 current or 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 policy 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.
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 here.