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Springwater School's Headteacher Opportunity

Thank you for your interest in Springwater School's Headteacher Opportunity

Dear Applicant,

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our exciting Headteacher opportunity which has arisen due to the early retirement of our long-serving Headteacher, Sarah Edwards. I am proud to be Chair of Governors at Springwater School which provides a nurturing and inclusive environment to our diverse community of pupils aged 2-19, all of whom have a range of learning difficulties.

Situated on the outskirts of the beautiful spa town of Harrogate, this is a unique opportunity to lead our school as we embark on an exciting period of change as we build additional resource and expand by an additional 45 places commencing September 2025, and also look to academise.

We want your skills as an inspiring, reflective and principled leader to lead us through the next stage of our journey; to enhance our curriculum and pedagogy and enrich further the personal development of our young people. This ensures everyone across our school community – pupils, staff and governors - achieve their potential.

It is important to all at Springwater that our new Headteacher has a friendly, outgoing personality with a positive outlook, respect for difference; and is committed to enabling learners to aim high, all whilst strategically leading the school through an exciting period of change.

We have gathered lots of useful information to help you understand Springwater, its culture and our students. We hope the position will be one in which you can develop your career whilst making a difference to the lives of our children and young people, families and staff.

To discuss the role informally, please call Sarah Hunter on 07816 251271  or email sarah.hunter@north.yorks.gov.uk. To get a feel for our school, we would also encourage applicants to have a look at the school website as well as arranging a visit by appointment. Such a visit is not part of the selection process, and whether applicants have visited will not influence the outcome.

On behalf of the governing body, thank you again for your interest in Springwater School and we look forward to receiving your application.

With best wishes,

Shelagh Morris OBE
Chair of Governors

Learn more about Springwater School's Headteacher opportunity

School: Springwater School
Post: Headteacher
Number on Roll: 112
Commencing: September 2024
Salary: L21-L27 ( £77,195 - £88,530). Relocation assistance is negotiable
Contract Term: Permanent

Our Opportunity:

This is an exciting opportunity to build on the strengths of our school and to continue the journey of our happy, vibrant and special community. There are few schools in the country which offer the variety of opportunity as this one. Through this appointment you will be able to lead this unique and highly regarded school on to the next stage of its remarkable journey, working closely with North Yorkshire Council to develop and expand provision. You must exhibit confidence, empathy, and a clear focus on building a healthy workplace culture to benefit the wellbeing of the staff and pupils.

It is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Headteacher or Deputy Head, to strategically lead us through a key period of change with both academisation and expansion, whilst maintaining the culture and ethos of the school. With a meticulous eye for detail, you must be able to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders to support the diverse needs of pupils with SEND, their progress and attainment and provide effective leadership and management of our talented staff community including the further development of our specialist curriculum.

About You:

We are looking for a new leader who is passionate and committed to preparing SEND pupils for adulthood to participate as autonomous adults who can make a positive contribution to society. We need a leader who can lead and inspire teachers to be aspirational for themselves and their pupils; someone who is able to communicate commitment and passion to staff, parents, pupils, partners, outside agencies and stakeholders, someone who leads the way to possibilities; all through a period of significant change.

You will be able to demonstrate:

  • Clear, strategic, and visionary leadership to enable all staff and students to achieve, including those who communicate through behaviour, symbols, signs or alternative and augmentative communication
  • A passionate champion of equality and diversity in relation to accessing personalised and relevant curriculum for our pupils
  • A track record of achievement as an enabler; someone able to delegate, ensure staff are accountable, capable of demonstrating how they would manage staff wellbeing whilst everyone’s role is growing, and numbers and complexity of students needs is increasing, in a challenging financial environment
  • A track record working closely with communities, including their families; ensuring the SEND code of practice and relevant legislation and statutory duties are upheld and delivered
  • An understanding of the broader context around neurodiversity and additional needs and have awareness of the types of support available and experience working with a wide network of stakeholders in delivering tailored support
  • The key competencies we have identified on our person specification

We can Offer You:

  • A positive work environment with very involved and supportive Governors, and a talented staffing team including experienced SLT, teaching and support staff, as well as a Business manager and HR Manager
  • Professional and specialist support from a significant network of professional stakeholders; including other SEN Heads, back-office team, support with funding, professional leadership training, curriculum collaboration and sharing of best practice
  • A vibrant and nurturing community with significant ambition for all to be the very best they can be
  • Opportunities for progression as our future plans are implemented

For an informal, confidential conversation about the role please call Sarah Hunter 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 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 Sarah to arrange.

Dates and timings 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.

Wednesday 13th March - afternoon
Friday 15th March - afternoon
Friday 22nd March - 11am

Application closing date: Sunday, 7th April 2024, 23:59
Shortlisting: Tuesday 9th April 2024
Interview: Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th April 2024

Safeguarding

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.