Head of Junior School

The school seeks to appoint Head of Junior School to take up post in January 2025.

THE ROLE

The Head of Junior School is responsible for the leadership and management of the Junior School. The Head’s vision, inspiration and management will create a dynamic academic environment in which pupils’ wellbeing and achievements are paramount.

The Head will work closely with the Principal and the Governing Board to create and deliver the strategic vision for the whole school.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION:

1 QUALIFICATION

-Bachelor’s degree and relevant teaching qualification.

-Master’s Degree desirable but not essential.

2 LANGUAGES          

-Fluent in English and knowledge of Chinese helpful

3 Working Experience, Competencies & Aptitudes

The candidate should have:

-A background in UK prep school education (preferably recently) as well as overseas.

-Some understanding of the Early Years is desirable.

-Proven experience of, and success in, middle and senior leadership prior to Headship.

-An understanding of international education.

-A person willing to be ‘hands on’ and to lead with passion.

-A genuine interest in education and child development and its application in an international setting.

-The ability to reflect and with a real interest in continuous improvement.

-Articulate and confident in front-facing activities.

-Dynamic, engaging and a sense of humor.

4 Key Responsibilities

·        To work closely with the Principal to shape and deliver a vision for the school which builds on its current strengths, sets a clear direction for the future and promotes its five core values of: Achievement, Community, Liberalism, Creativity and Possibility.

·        To ensure all relevant policies and procedures are in place, reviewed and actively promoted in the Junior School.

·        To work with the Principal to ensure that budgets for the Junior School are properly administered and to ensure the provision of a wide-range of resources to support the delivery of the curriculum.

·        To collaborate with the Principal to create and deliver a Whole School Development Plan, with a focus on the Junior School.

·        To steer the delivery of a forward-thinking, innovative curriculum in the Junior School, which supports and enables pupils to transition to the senior school with confidence and success.

·        To ensure a stimulating and motivational culture with a strong sense of school identity and community, aligned with the school’s values.

·        To ensure the effective delivery of an excellent wellbeing programme for the pupils in the Junior School, which takes into account the context of the school and which ensures that those pupils develop into happy, caring, resilient and compassionate young people.

·        To be a visible and inspirational leader for pupils, staff and parents and teach a reduced timetable modelling the highest standards of teaching for staff.

·        To provide ample opportunities for open communications with parents: to ensure quality parent engagement.

·        With the Principal, to contribute to the ongoing development of the school, building on its already significant strengths, and ensuring that the standards of SPGS in London are upheld.

·        To work with the Principal and the Director of Marketing & Admissions, to promote the school to prospective parents and the local community.

·        To use their in-depth knowledge of high-quality academic and creative prep education to further develop the curriculum and its effective delivery in the Junior School.

·        To provide leadership and management, in conjunction with the Junior School SLT, to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the Junior School.

·        To appoint, lead and manage the Junior School staff and to commit to a programme of development for staff so that they are fully supported and able to further their own learning and skills.

·        To ensure the successful induction of all new staff and their probationary period, providing additional support when required.

·        To lead a professional development performance management programme for staff in the Junior School which enables staff to develop their skills, knowledge and expertise.

·        To lead the school in its aim to provide the highest standards of behaviour so that all pupils can learn and thrive.

·        To create an environment in which pupils achieve to the best of their ability and one where they feel safe.

·        To ensure that the physical resources of the junior school are utilised as effectively as possible.

·        To ensure the attainment of pupils in the Junior School and to create an environment in which additional support or challenge enables all pupils to achieve their potential.

·        To lead and actively engage with rigorous and robust reporting systems to keep parents fully informed of their children’s progress.

·        To ensure policies and practices are established and maintained to support the physical, emotional and social development of every student.

·        To maintain and develop excellent partnerships with parents to provide the optimum opportunities for pupils.

·        To form positive relationships with all teaching and non-teaching staff throughout the school.

·        To define, implement and monitor targets for improvement of the school and personal targets, as agreed with the Principal.