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Head of Primary

Head of Primary

Chichester Free School

West Sussex

  • Expired
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Apply by:
8 May 2014

Job overview

Head of Primary, West Sussex

Nurture Challenge Inspire

An exciting opportunity for you to design and lead outstanding learning and achievement for children in our new School. The Governors are seeking an exceptional leader with the energy and vision to become the first Head of Primary at Chichester Free School from September 2014.

The Governors are looking for strong academic leadership but also experience of working in a school committed to our values and ideals, where the co-curricular life of the school is as vital as the rigour of the taught curriculum. The Head of Primary will be an outstanding educator with demonstrated leadership skills and experience in the areas of leading teams, evaluating performance and being part of a highly successful establishment. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills together with an ability to develop quality relationships with all stakeholders are important elements of the role.

This post would equally suit either a practitioner wishing to take their first step into senior leadership or someone with more experience at senior level.

The key priorities for the new Head of Primary in their first 12-24 months will be to:

  • Work with the Principal and other members of the Senior team to craft the practical fulfilment of the Chichester Free School culture and ethos
  • Build strong cohesion, consensus and the Chichester Free School ethos throughout the Primary phase
  • Review and develop the Chichester Free School Primary Curriculum
  • Establish creative and innovative practice amongst all teachers and learners
  • Build pupil numbers as proposed in our strategic planning
  • Recruit high calibre staff
  • Put in place rigorous programmes of monitoring and evaluation of the Schools' teaching and learning with reference to the success criteria as outlined in the School's plans
  • Make effective use of data through appropriate forms of collection and manipulation in order to ensure strategic decisions achieve our key deliverables,
  • Grow already well-established links with the Secondary phase of the School
  • Engage with parents, stakeholders and the community

Chichester Free School opened in September 2013 with classes in Years 7 and 8 as well as in the Primary phase. At the heart of our vision is a school which nurtures children to achieve great things, challenges them to apply their learning in our extended day activities and inspires them to engage in a rigorous, academic curriculum creatively.

You will:

  • Be an outstanding practitioner who inspires your pupils and colleagues
  • Be creative in leading delivery of a rigorous, academic curriculum
  • Believe that every child can and will succeed
  • Be flexible, collaborative and resilient
  • Have the highest ambitions for your pupils, the school and yourself

We will offer you:

  • A unique opportunity to be a founding senior member of staff and help build the school
  • A happy and supportive working environment with high expectations and standards
  • An opportunity to pioneer an exciting new curriculum and ethos
  • A network of outstanding practitioners to collaborate with and learn from

Potential candidates can call Karie Wright with any questions on 01243 850544 or email karie@chichesterfreeschool.org.uk. More details can be found at www.chichesterfreeschool.org.uk.

Apply by Noon, Thursday 8 May 2014
Interviews w/c 12 or 19 May

Chichester Free School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In accordance with our Child Protection Policy we are unable to process applications without a fully completed application form. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as 'spent' must be declared when applying. The applicant may post such a declaration in an envelope marked 'Private & confidential for the Principal'. The successful applicant must obtain List 99 clearance and DBS clearance at enhanced level.

About Chichester Free School

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+44 1243 792690

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ABOUT CFS

Chichester Free School (CFS) is a state-funded, all-through school, established in response to real demand within the local area for a greater variety of schools. It is part of Sussex Learning Trust, with the key objective to establish, maintain, manage and develop a broad and balanced education. The Trust is absolutely committed to providing young people with the best possible chance to succeed.

CFS is now entering its second decade and is fully established in our state-of-the-art facilities on the Carmelite Convent Site on the Hunston Road in the south of Chichester. Our PAN is 60 in primary, and 120 in Secondary, but in most year groups we are oversubscribed with waiting lists.

As a Free School, we are the same as any other academy; we are both held and hold ourselves to the same exacting and rigorous standards as all state-funded schools. We follow the national curriculum, and are proud of our ambitious, inclusive and varied curriculum offer. Our pupils engage with SATs and GCSE assessments. Since 2013, CFS has achieved two ‘Good’ Ofsted Inspections. As a school we are now striving for excellence in all areas, and to achieve above average outcomes in both phases.

CFS is a member of Sussex Learning Trust, a family of like minded schools that put children at the forefront of everything we do. For more information on the Trust, please see the link here.

CFS is open to pupils of all abilities. We do not have a catchment area, thus ensuring the School is fair and inclusive. We take part in the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) admissions process for our Reception and Year 7 intake and so parents apply for places for their child in the same way as any other local state school for those year groups.  However, we manage our own in year admissions for all other year groups and applications should be made directly to CFS.

At CFS we strive for excellence in all that we do. Whilst proud of being a relatively small school in our Secondary phase where every child is truly known as an individual, our ambition is uncompromising. We aim for all pupils to achieve their full potential, and exceptional progress sits proudly as our most important pupil outcome measure. We are a school where the happiness and safety of our pupils and staff is just as important as academic achievement.

WE BELIEVE IN NUTURING, CHALLENGING AND INSPIRING ALL OF OUR LEARNERS.

We aim to nurture, challenge and inspire in everything we do at CFS, in and outside the classroom. Our practice is rooted in engaging and inspiring lessons, where academic rigour is achieved by building on pupils’ prior learning. We encourage our pupils to show resilience in lessons, challenge them to achieve the best that they can and inspire them through creative approaches which fire a desire to learn. Our intention is to ensure pupils make outstanding progress and that our inclusive and adaptive curriculum removes any potential barriers to learning and prepares our young people for the outside world.  For more information about the intent, implementation and impact of our curriculum please do have a look at our curriculum page here.

WE BELIEVE IN AN ALL-THROUGH EDUCATION.

We provide a seamless education from ages four to 16. We aim to inspire curiosity and engage learners in common approaches throughout Primary and Secondary. Sharing practice across both phases is common place, and this approach allows us to reduce the negative effects often associated with transition.

WE BELIEVE IN A VARIED CURRICULUM.

Throughout the School we maintain rigorous standards of the core subjects, whilst also providing a varied, high quality and broad curriculum. As evidenced by our state of the art facilities, we are committed to STEM and creative subjects. Our creative, inclusive and flexible offer for all pupils is never compromised, despite the ever increasing emphasis on accountability results.

WE BELIEVE IN COMMUNITY AND FAMILY.

Our House system permeates school life on a daily basis, providing all stakeholders with an engaging sense of community and healthy competition.

WE BELIEVE THAT A STRONG EDUCATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS.

We know that personal skills such as respect, good speaking and listening skills, common sense, a resilient and hardworking attitude, and ambition are key skills for young people. Our curriculum focuses on these qualities and ensures that every child is ready and equipped for their future. We also work hard to provide experiences that ensure pupils leave us as truly global citizens, with the outlook, empathy, respect and motivation to thrive.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE QUALITY OF OUR TEACHERS IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOL.

We recruit proven individuals who we regard as being absolutely the best people to teach. Through a robust process of performance management, our staff receive guidance and support to ensure they continue to do their very best. We hope all staff will feel honoured to be part of CFS.

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Applications closed