We are seeking to recruit a highly motivated, high profile, strategic thinker with strong interpersonal skills to join our Senior Leadership Team as Deputy Headteacher. You will relish the challenges and rewards that such a position offers and will be a visionary, student centred individual who has the ability to lead by example. You will be joining a strong, supportive SLT in a leading secondary school, providing excellent opportunities for CPD and progression. You will either already be an established Deputy Head or an Assistant Headteacher, looking to progress to the next step on your career ladder. You will be fully supported in this role: The Headteacher was previously a curriculum Deputy Headteacher and a number of the school’s senior team have experience of curriculum leadership at middle and senior level. You will also have significant support from the Curriculum Deputy Headteacher group in York, which is a well-established network.

Our new Deputy Headteacher will share our commitment to high standards and will have the ability and ambition to help lead the school in the next stage of its development. We are focused on developing outstanding classroom practice and outcomes, providing excellent pastoral care and engaging students in wider opportunities and experiences that help develop them into well rounded individuals. The post has at its heart the leadership of our Curriculum and Teaching & Learning.

Introduction

Joseph Rowntree is a large, thriving and friendly secondary school, situated in the beautiful environs of New Earswick in York. We have a very large catchment area and have the added benefit of being close to the A1237 ring road. Whilst the majority of our students come from New Earswick, Haxby and Wiggington, we also have students from other areas of York. The school was founded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in 1942. The Foundation is a charity whose vision is for a prosperous and poverty-free UK. Our school values this heritage and recognises the importance of education in reducing poverty, transforming lives and enhancing life chances for all students. Our relationship continues through JRF’s appointment of three governors who play active roles in our school’s governance. Read more about the invaluable work of the foundation here.

Facilities

Our modern building is equipped with up-to-date classroom technology. We have an ongoing investment in new technologies and extensive use is made of Google classroom. We also have a state-of-the-art sports centre and a wonderful performing arts main hall and studio.

We have extensive, attractive grounds, playing fields and an open landscape setting.  Inside the building, we have fantastic facilities, which really help to support and challenge our learners. The layout comprises a ‘main street’, with departments branching off, each located in their own cluster. A large hall is used for assemblies and productions, amongst other things.

As well as the main school facilities, we also have the Wiltshire Centre (Enhanced Resource Provision) based on the ground floor of the school near reception, which provides highly specialised support and individual teaching and learning for students of mainstream ability who have significant and complex autism.

The Wiltshire resource base for pupils with SEND is at the heart of the school. There are effective systems to support pupils with SEND. Their progress is carefully checked. Such systems help pupils with SEND to achieve well. OFSTED 2022

Our Curriculum is broad and balanced and delivered in an engaging manner, which inspires students to realise their full potential and achieve the best possible outcomes. We implement systems that recognise and reward excellence and encourage all to strive to do their best.

CEIAG

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance is one of our key strengths. Students take part in a wide-ranging Careers Education package, which includes looking at different options and taking part in activities which helps them to understand their own strengths and qualities. Read more about our careers provision here.

Our Students

Our students are enthusiastic, well behaved and many are involved in the wide variety of extra-curricular activities on offer.

We offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities/clubs –

• Full range of sports clubs and teams, (a number of students are part of academy programmes in local sports clubs)
• LGBTQ+ club
• Educational visits to the Yorkshire coast and beyond including visits to the Belgium battlefields and sports visits to European countries
• Theatre visits and well established and wide-ranging performing arts productions and clubs
• Science competitions, work experience in Y10 and Y12
• Duke Of Edinburgh Award Scheme

It is our intention that students develop into mature and confident learners who get involved in all elements of life at our school and strive to make the most of their abilities.  We want to enable students to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute to society as members of a caring and diverse community.  With this in mind, we focus on delivering the best possible learning experience, which caters for the needs of all learners and where individual talents are nurtured and allowed to flourish.

The wider personal development of pupils is a strength. Careers education enables pupils to make informed choices about their future in education, training or work. The personal, social and health education (PSHE) programme teaches pupils, among other things, about keeping healthy and safe. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Assemblies, tutor time and external trips all contribute to the high-quality delivery of the PSHE programme. Pupils who attend the popular school-based LGBTQ+ group, ‘Skittles’, are well supported by the school community.  OFSTED 2022

Integral to this focus on achievement and creativity are very strong guidance and pastoral care systems, which ensure that all students are valued and supported.  In 2020, the school showed its commitment in supporting the emotional well-being of students by developing a counselling service. This service is an onsite response for those students needing the additional expertise that counselling brings to the overall pastoral support system.

There are a minority of students who find engaging with their education challenging; they are well supported by the pastoral team and wider services in York. The majority of our students are White British, and we have a small but growing number of EAL students. 18% of our students are from a disadvantaged background.

Our dedicated, highly qualified staff are collaborative, caring and fully supportive of one another and our students’ best interests are at the heart of everything they do.

A high calibre staff team :

• 88 teachers (79.4 FTE) and 77 support staff (56.1 FTE).
• SLT structure (see organisation chart) - Head, Curriculum DHT, Pastoral DHT, AHT KS5, AHT KS4, AHT KS3 and a School Business Manager. 2 x associate AHTs in post until July 2024.
• Line management of departments - shared between Head, Curriculum DHT and AHTs. Specific subject oversight for 2023-24 for the Curriculum Deputy will be agreed after appointment.
• Middle Leadership - Faculty and Departmental structure. Subject specialist staff in all departmental areas. Experienced and talented middle leaders. Pastoral team for each year group comprising a Progress Leader (teacher) and Pastoral Manager (non- teacher).
• SENDCO - supported by Assistant SENDCO (non-teaching) and Head of ERP (non- teaching). Line management of a team of TAs comprising 2 x HLTAs, 3 x TA3s and 22 x TA2s, supporting a significant cohort of SEN students with EHCPs.
• A dedicated team of office administration staff, premises team, in house ICT support and departmental technicians.

Staff relationships are strong - Leaders ‘are mindful of staff well-being and consider staff workload. They give teachers the time to be able to give their best to pupils. Leaders provide teachers with a programme of training and professional development that is well suited to their needs and to those of the school. This training is valued by teachers who are trusted as professionals by school leaders’ OFSTED 2022

The Governing Body‘s Role and Support

The Governing Body has a wealth of expertise and experience and provides strategic direction, support and challenge. The Chair of Governors works in IT so is especially keen on encouraging the use of Technology to best effect in the classroom.

Key Strategic Aims and Priorities

The Governing Body have 9 strategic aims and priorities:

• develop great teaching and learning
• drive forward pupil progress further to above average
• look after and motivate our staff team
• strengthen parent/ carer and community engagement
• build productive relationships between teaching colleagues, SLT and the Governing Body
• agree direction on future structural options
• secure financial stability – a “surplus with a purpose”
• support great pastoral care, behaviour and standards
• secure sixth form growth, collaboration and sustainability

Read more about our Governing Body here.

Leaders, governors and staff have high expectations for what pupils and students should achieve  OFSTED 2022

‘We are committed to tolerance, inclusion, and respect for each other. We are ‘The Right School to Grow in’ because we:

Respect all members of our community

Overcome obstacles to success

Work together collaboratively

Nurture talent

Teach and learn through inspiration

Recognise excellence

Embrace diversity

Encourage wellbeing

‘Teachers care about pupils and help them to do their best. Relationships in school are strong between staff and pupils.’  and ‘Pupils told inspectors that they feel safe and happy’ OFSTED 2022

There is a strong ethos of support and sharing good practice between members of staff. Read more about our ethos and values here

Our last OFSTED inspection in October 2022, saw us awarded a ‘Good’ rating.

Leaders have an ambitious vision for providing pupils with a high-quality education. They are mindful of staff well-being and consider staff workload. They give teachers the time to be able to give their best to pupils. Leaders provide teachers with a programme of training and professional development that is well suited to their needs and to those of the school. This training is valued by teachers who are trusted as professionals by school leaders. Teachers check pupils’ understanding of the curriculum. They use these checks to pinpoint any gaps in learning so that they can close these promptly. Teachers have strong, and in some cases excellent, subject knowledge. They are enthusiastic about their subjects and explain new learning clearly. Their teaching helps pupils to remember important ideas and information.  OFSTED 2022

We believe that the current strengths of our school are:

• Broad and balanced curriculum with a wide range of options at KS4 and KS5
• CEIAG
• Sixth Form provision
• Good outcomes that are improving
• EBacc entry and outcomes
• Strong pastoral support
• Budgetary position

We continue to develop the following aspects of our school:

• Attendance of all students, particularly disadvantaged students
• Progress and outcomes for disadvantaged students

Our School Improvement plan incorporates the following:

• Leadership and management – further develop quality of leadership at all levels in the school
• Quality of education – Further development of curriculum to meet the need of all our students; embed disciplinary literacy across the school
• Behaviour and attitudes – improve attendance of disadvantaged students, further development of positive behaviour for learning
• Personal development – increase participation of disadvantaged students in extra-curricular programmes and cultural capital opportunities

More OFSTED data and performance tables can be found here and here.

Local Authority and School Improvement

We are one of two maintained Secondary schools in York and work closely with colleagues from the Local Authority including support through pastoral and curriculum based networks.

Collaborative Partnerships

These are wide ranging and strong: York Secondary Schools work closely together from Headship level to middle leader level. Colleagues benefit from established  Subject Leader networks and collaborative pastoral work across the city. We have some shared sixth form provision with Huntington School

Parents and Carers

Strong and positive feedback from parents/ carers. We have regular communication with parents and carers through our WEDUC App, newsletters and The Rowntree Reporter (see website for examples here.) Parents/ carers strongly support extra-curricular activities.

Wider community

We enjoy a close relationship with the local community, in particular with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and specifically the Hartrigg Oaks retirement village.   We have always played a full and active part in the York education community and are happy to work in collaboration with others and share best practice.  Our school draws from a number of primary schools and specifically Headlands, Ralph Butterfield, Wigginton, New Earswick, Yearsley Grove and Haxby Road academies. We have established links with local performing arts groups, sports clubs, and are involved in supporting local charities particularly at Christmas time.

Within the county of North Yorkshire are the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Pennines and a stunning coastline around Scarborough and Whitby. There are ruined castles and abbeys, serene gardens, unique breweries, thrilling rides and industrial heritage. Something for everyone!

For outdoor enthusiasts North Yorkshire has plenty to offer. From the hard gritstone of Almscliff and Brimham Rocks to the limestone of Malham, Gordale and Kilnsey, climbing venues are in abundance. Within 2 hours’ drive, the Yorkshire Dales is a premier area for caving, while for mountain biking there are the bridleways of the Dales and North York Moors as well as the renowned trail centre at Dalby Forest.  Further afield, the Lake District and the fells, crags and coast of Northumberland are all easily accessible for days and weekends away.

There are a small number of sailing clubs on reservoirs around the county and fantastic, if chilly, surf sport venues, outdoor swimming 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 Knaresborough, Ripon, Malton, Helmsley, Northallerton and Skipton, the traditional seaside towns of Whitby and Scarborough, as well as the ancient city of York.

Internationally acclaimed for its rich heritage and historic architecture, York is a beautiful, thriving city with low unemployment and highly performing tourism, cultural and entertainment industries.  York’s streets are busy with visitors from all over the world and it is the most visited city outside London.  It marries a rich history with cutting edge technology, recently gaining UNESCO status as a City of Media Arts.

York isn’t just a great place to visit: it’s a great place to live. York has a vibrant atmosphere, great shopping and eating yet is small enough to retain a friendly sense of community.

There are a variety of residential options, ranging from within the city centre to the handsome surrounding villages. There are restaurants, leisure activities and opportunities to cater for all tastes and interests.

Travelling further afield we have convenient connectivity, with close proximity to metropolitan cities of Leeds and Newcastle and a journey time of under two hours by rail from York to London. We border the Lake District, Lancashire, County Durham, and Yorkshire and Humber regions with all they have to offer.