About the School

Part of Orchard Community Trust, Kemball School is a day special school for pupils aged between 3 and 19 years of age with cognitive and learning difficulties (PMLD, SLD & MLD some of whom have complex medical/physical needs). The school has a happy atmosphere and is welcoming and friendly.  The current number on roll is 221.

The school is committed to equality of opportunity.

In line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance which outlines that schools should carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates.  I can confirm that the online check will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates only as part of the process of assessing your suitability to work with children.

Job Purpose

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic Special Educational Needs Support Assistant to join our hard working and committed team.  Our pupils have severe learning difficulties and are taught using a highly differentiated, individualised curriculum.  Experience of working within a special school, catering for pupils with cognition and learning needs is essential.  This should include supporting pupils with communication difficulties, hearing and visual impairments, behavioural needs, complex physical/medical needs and sensory processing disorders. Candidates must also have a willingness to further their own professional development by attending relevant courses and implementing new initiatives. 

The successful candidate will have experience of working in an education and/or care setting and hold NVQ Level 3 in Teaching & Learning or equivalent and have knowledge of policies and procedures relevant to child protection and health and safety. A full job description and person specification is available on our website. 

Key Duties/Responsibilities

Key duties: 

1. Provide learning activities for individuals and groups of pupils under the professional direction and supervision of a qualified teacher, differentiating and adapting learning programmes to suit the needs of allocated pupils with SEN  
2. Plan and evaluate specialist learning activities with the teacher, writing reports and records as required  
3. Work with pupils on therapy or care programmes, designed and supervised by a therapist/care professional  
4. Monitor, assess, record and report on development, progress and attainment, as agreed with the teacher, drawing any problems which cannot be resolved to the attention of the teacher  
5. Select and adapt appropriate resources/methods to facilitate agreed learning activities  
6. Be involved in planning, organising and implementing individual development plans for pupils (such as Individual educational plans), including attendance at, and contribution to, reviews  

Special Education Needs Support Assistants in this role may also undertake some or all of the following: 

1. Be part of the induction of pupils into specialist units, main stream classes or schools for pupils with special educational needs  
2. Monitor pupils’ conduct and behaviour throughout the learning process and intervene to resolve complex, difficult or very challenging issues  
3. Supervise individuals and groups of pupils throughout the day, including supervision in the classroom, playground and dining areas  
4. Work with pupils not working to normal timetable  
5. Establish and maintain relationships with families and carers and other adults, e.g. speech therapists  
6. Advise and assist pupils in the proper use and deployment of complex personal and learning aides and equipment  
7. Escort and supervise pupils on educational and out of school activities and reporting issues to the teacher as appropriate 
8. Be responsible for the preparation, maintenance and control of stocks of materials and resources  
9. Administer medication in accordance with an agreed plan under direction of healthcare practitioner and following appropriate training 
10. Any other duties appropriate to the post. 

Grade:                           Level 5          

Salary:                           £24,294 to £26,421 full time, full year (pending pay rise)

                                       £18,666 to £20,299 actual salary, 32.5 hours per week, term time only (pending pay rise) 

Hours of Work:             Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 8.45am to 3.35pm

                                       Wednesday 8.45am to 4.05pm

                                       Friday 8.25am to 3.35pm

                                       32.5 hours per week, term time only

Closing Date:                3 March 2025, by 12pm

Application forms and information packs can be obtained by emailing kemball@kemballschool.co.uk

or calling  01782 883120

Completed application forms should be emailed to kemball@kemballschool.co.uk

or alternatively posted to:

Kemball School
Beaconsfield Drive
Blurton
Stoke on Trent
ST3 3JD

Deputy Headteacher

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Title: Deputy Headteacher

Post Responsible to: Headteacher

Salary Scale: Leadership L5- L9

Location: Abbey Hulton Primary School              

Job Purpose:

As a valued senior leader, the purpose of the Deputy Headteacher is to support the headteacher in raising standards in education. To support class-based staff in the delivery of CPD centred around teaching and learning principles. This is a strategic school improvement role and a great opportunity for a future aspiring headteacher.  During the working week there will be time to undertake class cover.

Key Responsibilities:

The core purpose of the Deputy Headteacher is to support the Headteacher in providing the vision and leadership for the school, ensuring it is effectively led and managed. The Deputy Headteacher will promote a culture of excellence, equality and high expectations for all. Working with the Headteacher, Governors, Staff and Orchard Community Trust, the Deputy Headteacher will have a key role in the evaluation of the school’s performance to identify the priorities for raising standards and improving curriculums.

As a senior leader of the school, you will play a key role in:

• Formulating the aims and objectives of the school
• Establishing policies for achieving these aims and objectives
• Managing staff and resources
• Monitoring progress towards the achievement of the school’s aims and objectives
• Providing support and guidance to staff (inclusive of CPD).

If the Headteacher is absent, the Deputy Headteacher will deputise, as directed by the Governing Board.

The Deputy Headteacher will also be expected to fulfil the professional responsibilities of a Headteacher, as set out in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD).

Qualities:

The Deputy Headteacher will:

• Uphold public trust in school leadership and maintain high standards of ethics, behaviour and professional conduct
• Build positive and respectful relationships across the school and local community
• Serve in the best interests of the school’s pupils
• Effectively communicate the school’s vision and inspire others

Duties and Responsibilities:

School Culture and Behaviour

The Deputy Headteacher will demonstrate support to:

• Create a culture where pupils experience a positive, inclusive and enriching school life
• Uphold educational standards that help to prepare pupils from all backgrounds for their next phase of education and life
• Ensure a culture of staff professionalism
• Encourage high standards of pupil behaviour and insisting on consistent and fair approaches to managing behaviour, in line with the school’s behaviour policy

Teaching, Curriculum and Assessment

The Deputy Headteacher will demonstrate support to:

• Establish and sustain high-quality teaching across all subjects and phases, based on evidence
• Ensure teaching is underpinned by subject expertise
• Effectively use formative and summative assessment to inform strategy and decisions
• Ensure the teaching of a broad, structured and coherent curriculum in line with National Curriculum
• Establish curriculum leadership, including subject leaders with relevant expertise and access to professional networks and communities
• Use valid, reliable and proportionate approaches to assessing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum
• Having ambitious expectation for all pupils, regardless of vulnerability, effectively holding staff to account for pupil outcomes

Additional and Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disabilities

The Deputy Headteacher will demonstrate support to:

• Promote a culture of the importance of inclusion
• Have ambitious expectations for all pupils with SEN and disabilities
• Work effectively with parents, carers and professionals to identify additional needs and provide support and adaptation where appropriate

Organisational Management and School Improvement

The Deputy Headteacher will demonstrate support to:

• Establish and oversee systems, processes and policies so the school can operate effectively
• Ensure staff and pupils’ safety and welfare
• Manage staff well and professionally
• Ensure rigorous approaches to identifying, managing and mitigating risk
• Identify problems and barriers to school effectiveness, and help to develop strategies for school improvement that are realistic, timely and suited to the school’s context

Professional Development

The Deputy Headteacher will demonstrate support to:

• Ensure staff have access to appropriate, high standard professional development opportunities
• Keep up to date with developments in education
• Seek training and continuing professional development to meet needs of all staff
• Support the Headteacher in identifying emerging talent
• Contribute to Orchard Community Trust vision and importance of high quality CPD

Governance, Accountability and working in partnership.

The Deputy Headteacher will demonstrate support to:

• Support the Headteacher’s overall leadership, development and management of the quality of education for all pupils
• Ensure that staff understand their professional responsibilities and are held to account
• Ensure the school effectively and efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties
• Work successfully with other schools and organisations
• Maintain working relationships with fellow professionals and colleagues to improve educational outcomes for all pupils
• Play an active part in the opportunities presented through subject/leadership development sessions through Orchard Community Trust

Specific Responsibilities includes:

As Deputy Headteacher you will hold a key strategic leadership position overseeing the quality of Education including:

• Monitoring and evaluation of the curriculum and teaching and learning
• Ensuring CPD is well planned and targeted to the School Development Plan and the needs of individual members of staff
• Leading on pupil progress, liaising with senior leaders
• Line management of identified staff
• Performance and appraisal management for identified staff
• Hold responsibility for specific core subject areas as directed by the Headteacher

DEPUTY HEADTEACHER: PERSON SPECIFICATION

Minimum Essential Requirements – Evidenced by A: application form b: essential c: Interview

Knowledge and Experience	A Application	B Essential	C Interview
Qualified Teacher Status / GTC Registered	✓	✓
Degree	✓	✓
Successful leadership and management experience in a school	✓	✓
Successful track record on leading whole school improvements/initiatives	✓	✓
Involvement in school self-evaluation and development planning		✓	✓
Demonstrable experience of successful line management and staff development	✓	✓	✓
Experience of teaching across different age groups	✓	✓
Experience of effective collaborations with other organisations and partners	✓		✓
Skills and Abilities
Data analysis skills, and the ability to use data to set targets and identify weaknesses	✓	✓	✓
Understanding of high-quality teaching based on evidence, and the ability to model this for others and support others to improve	✓	✓	✓
Effective communication and interpersonal skills			✓
Ability to communicate a vision and inspire others			✓
Ability to build effective working relationships	✓	✓	✓
A thorough knowledge and understanding of the primary curriculum from EYFS to Year 6	✓		✓
Personal Style
Commitment to uphold the 7 principles of public life at all times	✓	✓
A commitment to getting the best outcomes for all pupils and promoting the ethos and values of the school		✓	✓
Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively	✓	✓	✓
Commitment to safeguarding, equality and inclusion ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways that exploit the position	✓	✓	✓
Commitment to maintaining confidentiality at all times	✓	✓	✓
Sense of humour			✓

Application and Selection Process

The job information pack and application form can be downloaded from Orchard Community Trust or can be requested from info@orchardct.org.uk

References

We request references for all candidates who are invited to an interview. Requests will be made at the time candidates are invited to the interview. Your first referee should be your current or last employer.

Offer of Employment

We will make a verbal offer of employment by telephone either on the day or the following day of the interview and this will be confirmed in writing. Any offer is made subject to:

• Satisfactory references
• Suitable DBS check
• Proof of identity and qualifications

Closing Date:                    Friday 28^th February 2025

Interview Date:               Wednesday 5^th March 2025

Start Date:                        Monday 1^st September 2025  –  or earlier if possible.

Please return your completed application form via email to admin@abbeyhultonprimary.org.uk or posted to:

Proud members of Orchard Community Trust.

Orchard Community Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance which outlines that schools should carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates. The school confirms that online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates only as part of the process of assessing your suitability to work with children.