This is a exciting and rewarding Headship in which you will be able to lead our school on to the next stage of its journey and develop what that journey might look like. You must exhibit confidence and be an empathetic, engaging communicator who has a clear focus on continuing to build a healthy workplace culture to benefit the wellbeing of staff and pupils.

While we have many strengths, we know that we must improve too. We need to continue to build a school-wide love of reading and improve outcomes in writing and mathematics across our school. Further, we need to maintain and build on the quality of teaching and our expectations of the capabilities of our children as well as developing our staff team to ensure they reach their full potential.

We are always looking for ways to improve. We want your skills as an impassioned leader to make a difference, to enhance teaching and learning across the curriculum, to enrich the personal and social development of our children and to join with everyone - staff, governors and pupils – to promote our ethos and further develop the vision for our school.

Our new leader will:

• Be a committed leader with excellent interpersonal skills who can motivate and manage all stakeholders, effectively shaping and delivering the strategic plan.
• Demonstrate superb leadership skills with ability to challenge robustly and constructively.
• Be someone who recognises the importance of maintaining the school’s existing values while instilling their own leadership and identity.
• Be an outstanding teaching practitioner able to set and achieve ambitious goals and continually seek to raise standards and promote our vision, values and aims in a way that is relevant and inspiring to all.
• Be able to provide excellent and robust staff management.
• Have progressive IT skills and a deep understanding of the significance and importance of consistent data monitoring.
• Consider and shape how we can adapt our practices innovatively to promote and enhance the wellbeing of our staff team.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the needs of young people in terms of their social, physical and emotional development alongside educational needs, and ensure that the school provides a rounded provision to nurture them.
• Show practical knowledge and experience in raising standards.
• Be a strategic thinker able to plan long, medium and short term.
• Be able to review our financial resources and look at how we invest in our school.
• Have a continuing drive to reflect, learn and strive for positive development, for themselves, their staff team, the children and our school as a whole.
• Be someone who is capable of and confident in making difficult decisions and ask challenging questions in order to seek the best possible outcome for our school as a whole.

This is an excellent opportunity to provide strategic leadership and direction while building on high expectations.

Boroughbridge school has a warm and welcoming feel. The children are well behaved, polite and genuinely care for each other and their school community. They are motivated leaners and have a great sense of pride in their work and the school.

Our school is in centre of Boroughbridge town, with good local amenities. There is a vibrant high street with a wide range of unique high street shops a good range of hostelries, coffee shops, and services, including a gym/spa. Local services include a good doctors’ surgery, a dentist, pharmacy, vet (previous home to Julian, Yorkshire Vet), optician and a local Library run by volunteers. The town also benefiits from a sports club including a football club, cricket pitch and tennis courts.

The school it at the heart of this interesting historical town which features The Devils Arrows - stone monuments, Battle of Boroughbridge, Roman Settlements and the nearby Roman museum – mosaic. There are many beautiful local walks, along the river and through to local places such as Newby Hall.. We are close to Fountains Abbey and Sutton Bank, with some of the ‘finest views in England’. There is some great local fishing and many cycling routes.

Boroughbridge has a strong community spirit with effective support for all ages – such as Boroughbridge Community Care, Boroughbridge Lions, Brighter Boroughbridge, an active Chamber of Trade and a strong Church. Our school is active and supports town events such as singing at Christmas, taking part in church tree festival, attending Remembrance Day.

The proximity of the A1 and other main roadways means that travel from Boroughbridge is easy - to Harrogate, York and Leeds, to the Northeast and further afield. It is an equal distance to the delightful  North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales. There are many new housing developments, some have already been built, some currently being built and further plans approved for more housing. This will lead to an increased role at school. There have already been incoming pupils to all year groups across the school.

Our community benefits from a good secondary school - Boroughbridge High School.

Ofsted recognised – “Relationships across the school are good. Pupils demonstrate positive work habits. Well-established routines during the morning session ensure that pupils start the day ready to learn. Pupils are confident learners. They remain on task and respond well to high expectations that work will be completed within the lesson. If pupils find the learning too challenging, they are encouraged to seek help within the lesson and join one of the adult-led groups” - Ofsted 2017

Features and Benefits of our Schools:

• Boroughbridge has extensive grounds which are well used, varied – from sports fields to nature area and copse – used for Forest Schools, reflection and science studies
• Our Breakfast Club is run by the school and starts from 7.45am until 8.55am, Monday to Friday in the main school hall
• Our school offers a variety of after school activities run by sporting partnerships and school staff
• Before and after school care and holiday care is run on site by a private agency
• Our building has a dining hall and gym, and many rooms suitable for small group work
• Beautiful gardens are in the centre of quad.
• Curriculum is planned around first-hand experiences such as trips and visitors, to engage and enthuse pupils
• The curriculum is well resourced. Residential trips are planned within the curriculum
• NY music attend for instrument teaching

Our Pupils are the heart of our school; they are well mannered and confident, keen to learn and engaged in class. They treat each other with respect and their behaviour is good. Children’s attitudes to school and learning are good, they enjoy coming to school and show great interest in the learning activities provided for them.  The large playground facilitates smooth playtimes and lunch breaks. Games are encouraged and fields are used extensively. Pupils are welcoming to new starters across all year groups, we have had a recent influx from the new building developments.

The school fosters a welcoming, caring, stimulating and secure environment in which the children are encouraged to develop as learners. The Boroughbridge Community of staff, governors, pupils and their families is committed to providing a nurturing and inspiring environment where everyone is safe, respected, supported and challenged. Nurturing the children within this environment enables them to develop to their potential and broaden their horizons. The Headteacher will be expected to lead by example. The ethos is reflected in the relationships between staff, children, parents and governors of the school.

Child wellbeing:

The emotional wellbeing of the children at the school has always been a high priority and children are encouraged to talk in class and to their peers about their mental health, for example through class circle time. Mental health has continued to be of key importance during the Covid pandemic and activities, such as mindfulness, have been shared with the children. Internet safety is also a key factor and regular information is shared with children and parents on how to stay safe on the internet.

Ofsted recognised – “Pupils are accepting of each other’s differences because leaders ensure that they are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils enjoy a range of different cultural and spiritual activities, with speakers from different religions providing first-hand information. Displays around the school recognise the value of world religions and celebrate diversity” – “Ofsted 2017

Ofsted recognised – “Pupils are listened to and as a result are involved in decision making. The school council has received training on ‘speaking up’ and councillors talk enthusiastically about how they have raised money to buy more playground equipment” – Ofsted 2017

Our staff are our greatest resource and are incredibly committed, loyal, positive and hardworking. They always have the best interests of the pupils at heart and are determined to find something at which every child can shine. Staff get to know the children in the school very well and use this information to personalise opportunities for learning.

Ofsted recognised – “Relationships between staff and pupils are strong. Pupils feel safe and well cared for because teachers are sensitive and responsive to their needs” - Ofsted 2017

General Teaching Assistants are distributed according to needs of children and work across school. All teachers lead on areas across the school with a clear plan of delegation. All of our new members of staff are keen to work together and become one strong team.

Ofsted recognised – “Leaders work alongside teachers to help them develop their practice and support them in implementing new ideas. As a result, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good” Ofsted 2017

Senior Leadership team:

• Headteacher (non-teaching)
• Assistant Headteacher
• KS2 Leader

Classes:

• Nursery
• x6 classes
• x7 full time equivalent teachers
• X7 teachers
• X2 Higher level teaching assistants
• X7 full time equivalent General Teaching Assistants

We have a strong and supportive staff team:

• Newly appointed School Office Manager who is studying to become School Business Manager and part time Office administrator
• Caretaker, purchase cleaning contract from NYCC

The Governing Board’s Role and Support

Our Board of Governors actively support their school and take their link responsibilities seriously. During Covid, they have continued to do so virtually, with a focus on staff well-being.

All school governors are engaged, positive and proactive in ensuring the school continues to thrive and develop.

As a full governing body, they meet regularly, always striving to ensure our children receive the best education possible, in a safe and supportive environment.

Governors seek and consider a range of feedback from the whole school community to ensure that they fully understand the differing perspectives of all stakeholders on how the school is performing.

Read more about our Governing Body.

Ofsted recognised – “Governors receive detailed headteacher’s reports, which keep them well informed about the work of the school. Members of the governing body visit the school themselves to find out if what they are being told is happening in practice. Governors are aware where they have gaps in their own skills because they are committed to reviewing their performance regularly. They act on advice given” - Ofsted 2017

Our School Vision, Ethos and values are at the heart of everything we do. They underpin our teaching and learning, and provide an environment which prepares our pupils to be confident, caring and happy citizens.

Everyone at Boroughbridge Primary School believes in making a difference together and through caring and nurturing we make our school a happy, safe place to learn. A place where we:

Ethos and values:

• Provide a positive, stimulating and creative learning environment within a safe, happy and secure community;
• Foster links with families to ensure continuity of care;
• Nurture life skills for the future;
• Value achievement and celebrate every success;
• Encourage high expectations in all aspects of learning;
• Ensure equality and opportunity for all;
• Promote an awareness and acceptance of diversity;
• Support effort, perseverance and pride

Our Vision:

• The vision for our school is to create a safe, nurturing environment which enables each child and develops a lifelong love of learning. We will encourage all our children to reach their maximum potential, independently through inclusion and first hand discovery learning.
• We believe we are all individuals with different views, needs and aspirations therefore all areas of the curriculum should be valued.
• Children learn best when they are happy and following their own interests, therefore we will ensure that they are given the opportunity to share the planning of our creative curriculum.
• We recognise that teamwork between staff, parents and children, working together with respect has the greatest impact on our children’s learning.
• We believe everyone has a place in the life of the school and our school is the heart of the community. We can make a real difference to every child in our school.

To read more of our school vision please click here.

Ofsted Inspection – Graded Good

Ofsted recognised – “The school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is good. Positive relationships between staff and pupils ensure that pupils are confident to speak to adults if they require support. As a result, pupils feel safe in school and grow in confidence” - Ofsted 2017

Our School’s current strengths:

• Reading – improved attitude towards reading
• Early adoption of new phonics- well-resourced and training
• Pupils are well nurtured and cared for
• School has strong relationships and engagement with Early help team and agencies
• SEND – liaise well with parents. Strong curriculum approach, which options for further development
• All staff are supported with training and personal development. Time has been allocated for subject leaders to fulfil their role

Current areas identified for improvement and Considerations:

• Improve pupil outcomes through improving the quality of teaching
• Improve personal development and well being for all
• Improve leadership across the school, through training and support
• Aim to increase number on roll – and become the school of choice

Current levels of pupil achievement, attainment and progress:

• On entry, increasing numbers on entry below national average
• Pupils make good progress especially in Early Years

To read more on our whole school data from 2019 please click here.

Budgetary Position

The governors and leaders are currently working with the Local Authority to arrange a plan which is supportive of the school. This shows over the next 3 years it will improve. Plans include reference to the increased housing in the locality and the available space within school.

Boroughbridge is at the heart of its community. Our children are encouraged to think of others and give back to their community. For example we have formal links with several local organisations including the Boroughbridge Lions. Our children attend town events such as singing at Christmas shopping events. We have strong links with our local library. We have wonderful performances that the children get to deliver to the parents and community.

The needs of our children always come first and we work closely with parents and carers, building positive relationships that help contribute to the work we do.

Many parents and residents continue to support the school, it is in this way that all are able to feel they are active participants in the functioning and development of the School; which can only have positive implications for the children. We communicate via the website, newsletters, email and Class Dojo.

Our Friends of Boroughbridge School (FOBS) is currently being reformed after COVID. The Friends of Boroughbridge Primary School are an enthusiastic committee of parents and staff working hard on behalf of the School.

The Friends raise funds to support ongoing financial commitments of the School and organise social events for the school community. They have previously raised amounts as much as £5,000 enabling us to provide new reading resources and help to continue to improve the children's learning environment. They aim to have fun as well as enabling staff and parents to get to know each other better and so building a close school community.

The Friends of Boroughbridge Primary School committee organise numerous events throughout the school calendar such as school discos, Chocolate Bingo and school fairs and much more! Delicious food and refreshments are always provided and the events are always fully supported by the wider community.

Collaborations:

• Training from HARTS, Yorkshire Endeavour, good sports links with local schools with Boroughbridge used as the event Centre due to excellent facilities
• NYCC: English Hub, Maths Hub, subject leader, HT, and Governor training
• Harrogate and Rural Teaching Alliance

Local Authority and School Improvement

We have strong relationships with our contacts at the LA and are able to access support. Staff are also made aware of training opportunities through the LA, and our leaders and designated safeguarding lead attend LA organised meetings/training/networking sessions.

York is a cathedral city with Roman origins at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has long-standing buildings and structures, such as York Minster, York Castle and York city walls. It was a county corporate, outside of the county's council and the ridings. The City of York unitary authority area includes the city, the town of Haxby, and surrounding villages and rural areas. The City of York Council is responsible for providing all local services and facilities throughout the district.

The city was founded by the Romans as Eboracum in 71 AD. It became the capital of the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, and later of the kingdoms of Deira, Northumbria and Jórvík. In the Middle Ages, York grew as a major wool-trading centre and became the capital of the northern ecclesiastical province of the Church of England, a role it has retained.^[6] In the 19th century, York became a major hub of the railway network and a confectionery manufacturing centre, a status it maintained well into the 20th century. During the Second World War, York was bombed as part of the Baedeker Blitz; although less affected by bombing than other northern cities, several historic buildings were gutted and restoration efforts continued into the 1960s.^[7]

Harrogate is a spa town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters and RHS Harlow Carr gardens. 13 miles (21 km) away from the town centre is the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Nidderdale AONB. Harrogate grew out of two smaller settlements, High Harrogate and Low Harrogate, in the 17th century. For three consecutive years (2013–2015), polls voted the town as "the happiest place to live" in Britain.^[2][3][4]

Harrogate railway station and Harrogate bus station in the town centre provide transport connections. Leeds Bradford Airport is 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Harrogate. The main roads through the town are the A61, connecting Harrogate to Leeds and Ripon, and the A59, connecting the town to York and Skipton. Harrogate is also connected to Wetherby and the A1(M) by the A661, while the A658 from Bradford forms a bypass around the south of the town. Harrogate had a population of 73,576 at the 2011 UK census;^[5][6] the built-up area comprising Harrogate and nearby Knaresborough had a population of 89,060,^[5] while the figure for the much wider Borough of Harrogate, comprising Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, as well as a number of smaller settlements and a large rural area, was 157,869.^[7]

Harrogate is an attractive town offering a wide choice of restaurants whose cuisines are drawn from all over the world, a lovely theatre putting on a varied programme, the Royal Hall and International Conference Centre which are venues for a varied range of musical events, a well-established RHS garden, and several art galleries.

The Town also hosts its own Spring and Autumn Flower Shows, Harrogate International Festival attracting high class performers in plays and music, and there is also a Crime Writing Festival, a Children’s Festival and a History Festival. Cycling also helped to promote the town, and Yorkshire in general, when the Tour de France spent its first 3 days in the county, based in the town in 2014, and an annual Tour de Yorkshire followed on from the enthusiasm from this event.

North Yorkshire

The geology of North Yorkshire is closely reflected in its landscape. Within the county are the North York Moors and most of the Yorkshire Dales; two of eleven areas of countryside within England and Wales to be officially designated as national parks. Between the North York Moors in the east and the Pennine Hills in the west lie the Vales of Mowbray and York. The Tees Lowlands lie to the north of the North York Moors and the Vale of Pickering lies to the south. Its eastern border is the North sea coast. The highest point is Whernside, on the Cumbrian border, at 736 metres (2,415 ft).^[9]

The two major rivers in the county are the River Swale and the River Ure. The Swale and the Ure form the River Ouse which flows through York and into the Humber Estuary. The River Tees forms part of the border between North Yorkshire and County Durham and flows from upper Teesdale through Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough and to the coast. The River Wharfe forms much of the southern border and also flows into the Ouse within the county.

North Yorkshire is England's largest county and one of the most rural. The area comprises the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, 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. 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 and with a 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.