Head of School Academic

Academy21 is an Inspired Online School and part of the Inspired Education Group. Inspired is a leading global premium schools’ group, offering excellence in kindergarten to Year 13 education to over 80,000 students. Our international network of 0ver 110 schools, across 23 countries on 5 continents, delivers proven best practice from every corner of the globe - to ensure learning is world class. Using state of the art digital technology, Inspired Schools Online operates two established divisions – Academy21 (A21), our B2B alternative provision for secondary aged students serving other educational providers, schools, local authorities, and other public bodies and Kings InterHigh, a non-selective fee paying online secondary school established in 2005. 

Academy21 is a Department for Education accredited online alternative provision, recognised for the quality of its education and support for young people. Our most recent report on the Ofsted website can be viewed here. The school makes a positive impact on the lives of students, as one parent shared: ‘My child has been off school for over a year due to extreme anxiety and not being able to attend school. Academy21 has given my child another chance at education where she is thriving and enjoying school again. I cannot thank them enough.’  

Academy21 supports thousands of vulnerable students every year who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to attend a physical secondary school. In any year we partner with over 1000 schools and local authority services to help them realise the best possible outcomes for young people who may be unable to attend school regularly due to medical or complex mental health issues to attendance or behavioural needs. Academy 21’s mission is to build confidence, skills and provides a fresh start for many young people. 

Through our live, interactive lessons and innovative technologies that boost the learning experience support thousands of students each year on a short or long term basis. Alongside live lessons, students get 24/7 access to lesson recordings to deepen their understanding, all delivered by our team of fully qualified, expert teachers. 

ROLE SUMMARY:

We have an exciting opportunity for an aspirational, driven and forward-thinking leader to become Head of School: Academic at Academy21, an Inspired Online School and part of Inspired Education Group. This role is remote where you will be working from home on a full-time, permanent basis. In return, you will receive a highly competitive salary, work in one of the most innovative education companies and enjoy first-class professional development and opportunities. 

About the role: 

• Joint responsibility, with the Executive Head of Academy21, for the quality of the student experience, student outcomes and school development. 
• Joint responsibility, with the Executive Head, for the retention of clients and growing enrolment of students through the coherence and quality of service. 
• Accountable to the Executive Head for ensuring the success of the whole school, in both academic and non-academic terms. 
• Work alongside the Head of School Operations to ensure the smooth running of the school 
• Directly line-manage a range of leaders as directed by the Executive Head. This is a role that offers transformative impact in one of the fastest growing sector in education. 
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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the vision, ethos and policies of the school, and of the Inspired Group, and promote the highest levels of achievement and engagement and maintain a culture of high expectations 
• Develop appropriate mechanisms and approaches for regular monitoring and review that quality assures the Academy21 service. 
• Provide inspirational and credible leadership and be a leading ambassador for online learning, working through opportunities to develop Academy21’s prominence in the sector and leading educational responses to client communications and the development of the school-client-parent relationship 
• Collaborate with other leaders including the Head of Education Operations to upkeep effective systems and processes to ensure high standards of customer service are maintained. 
• Maintain effective systems to support student welfare, including acting as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Safeguarding of Children, ensuring the school promotes a safe environment for pupils and has effective systems and policies in place that are compliant with the regulatory frameworks and legal requirements. 
• Promote excellence in teaching and learning by leading staff professional development, curriculum development, use of assessment and the line management of the subject leadership team to ensure a school-wide focus on student engagement and development. 
• Support the Executive Head in ensuring that the school is at all times managed within the overall legal and regulatory framework and that policies are effectively implemented. 
• Develop strong, positive relationships with other Inspired colleagues and support other staff in participating collaboratively in Inspired professional networks. 
• Undertake any other duties reasonably deemed appropriate to the role. 
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THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

• QTS or equivalent, other qualifications relevant to the role are desirable. 
• Excellent knowledge of school systems and processes, with a high degree of technical competence in running schools and school sections. 
• Good knowledge of the current and future online learning landscape. 
• Experience leading or leading within schools at a senior level, for example as a headteacher, principal or deputy/vice. 
• Excellent project management skills 
• Observable evidence of success in delivering organisation-wide contexts 
• Capability to work effectively in dynamic and changing environment 
• Excellent leadership, and people development, skills 
• Motivated to achieve excellence for self and others 
• Experience of working with a diverse range of students, and knowledge of our full range of student requirements 
• A flexible, highly energetic approach 
• Excellent knowledge of safeguarding and child protection in relation to school systems and processes 
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills that showcase a dynamic and supportive stance to all stakeholders 
• Capability of leading teachers, role modelling best practices and with a reputation for delivering high quality improvements 
• Attention to detail, confidence in handling data, and accuracy in work 
• Strategic and long term thinking that underpins approaches and processes that drive excellence 
• Aspirational for the future success and growth of Inspired Online Schools, with an understanding of how operational efficiency will contribute to this. 

This job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder will be expected to carry out any other reasonable tasks as directed by the Executive Team. 

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Inspired Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.