APPLICATION PACK FOR HEADTEACHER OF Meryfield Community Primary School

Contents Letter from our Chair of Governors P3 Our School P4 & P5 Birds Eye View P6 Headteacher P7 & P8 Job Description P9 Key Responsibilities P10& P11 Person Specification P12 Application Process P13

Letter from the Chair Dear Candidate, I am writing on behalf of the Governors at Meryfield Community Primary School, Borehamwood to thank you for your interest in the headship vacancy from September 2017. This vacancy arises due to the retirement of our existing Headteacher after eleven highly successful years, which has seen the school expand to two forms of entry which are fully subscribed. The school enjoys a strong reputation in the local community. We are a highly inclusive school and celebrate a rich cultural diversity with families from a wide range of backgrounds. The school was inspected on July 19th 2016 and was judged to be good with many outstanding features. The inspector found Meryfield to be a happy school with a love of learning, and described the children’s behaviour as “excellent”. We are seeking an inspirational Headteacher who shares our belief in children’s potential;, has a passion for learning; a clear vision for raising standards and the ability to lead the school along its continuing journey of success and achievement. The new Headteacher will be supported by a non-teaching deputy, a full-time, non-teaching SENCo-Inclusion Manager, a full-time Personal Assistant to the SLT and a full-time Office Manager. We also have a part-time school councillor. The teachers are hard working, enthusiastic, motivated and willing to try new and creative ideas. They are assisted by a strong team of support staff who have a keen focus upon learning. Our total staff is over sixty, which enables some flexibility in meeting changing needs and allows for strong teams to grow. Governors are aware of the fast changing educational landscape and look forward to working with the new headteacher in building a positive and exciting approach to the challenges which lie ahead of us. I realise that there are many demands upon your time, but hope that you will be able to read our Ofsted report, look at the school website at http://www.meryfield.herts.sch.uk/welcome/ and, most importantly, visit the school, we will be delighted to meet you, to show you around and answer any questions that you may have. Please phone the school office to arrange a visit. We will do our best to be available at times that are most convenient for you. The closing date for applications is Friday 3rd March 2017 at midday. We will be short listing on Tuesday 7th March and interviews are planned for Wednesday 22nd March. If you decide to proceed with an application, you are welcome to include a supporting letter which you can use to describe the reasons that you have decided to apply. We will be contacting candidates by letter immediately after the short listing meeting. If you would like to discuss the vacancy with me directly, my phone number can be requested from the school office. I hope that you will decide to apply and look forward to receiving your application.   Yours Sincerely. John Cooper, Chair to the Governing Body. School Office – 0208 953 2106

Our School "Meryfield Primary School promotes a “love of learning” and that “pupils enjoy coming to school, learn well and their behaviour is exemplary.” The staff ‘work in a spirit of partnership with parents’ and that Meryfield has a ‘strong, caring and supportive ethos’…….” Extract from Ofsted Report July 2016

Our School “Pupils develop positive attitudes towards learning. This is due to the calm, nurturing ‘whole-child’ approach that the school adopts towards ensuring that their needs are fully met. Pupils develop a self-assurance and resilience in their time at Meryfield Primary School.” 

Birds Eye View…

Headteacher A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an inspiring and committed Headteacher with vision to lead Meryfield Primary School along its continuing journey of success and achievement. Our children have a real love of learning and the school has a strong reputation in the local community and is fully subscribed, having completed an expansion to 2FE in 2015. We are an inclusive and caring school, celebrating a rich cultural diversity with families from a wide range of backgrounds; a love of learning; with motivated and enthusiastic children and a positive attitude throughout the school. Our new Headteacher will be leading an enthusiastic and hard working team, who are open to new and creative ideas and who believe in the potential of every child in their care. The vacancy is due to the retirement of our existing Headteacher after eleven dedicated and highly successful years. Our ideal candidate will bring; A wide ranging and successful record of leadership roles. A commitment to inclusivity and a passion for raising standards. A rigorous approach in identifying pupil achievement gaps and an imaginative approach to the instigation of interventions to address these gaps. A desire to maintain and progressively build upon the schools existing caring and nurturing ethos, with the welfare of the children and staff at the heart of everything that we do. An ability to support, motivate and inspire staff and to communicate a clear vision and direction for the school. A willingness to be a visible, positive and approachable presence around the school, fostering a collegiate spirit throughout the community. A resilient and clear headed approach which allows for sound and consistent judgment when challenges arise. The energy and creativity to drive innovation at the same time as maintaining existing practices that are working effectively. We can offer; A happy, welcoming and positive school with well behaved children, who are ready and willing to learn. A dedicated, talented and hard working staff who work well as a team and who believe in the potential of their children to succeed. A commitment to your continued professional development. A strong leadership supporting team including a deputy without a class teaching commitment, a full time SEN Co-inclusion manager, a full time Personal Assistant to the SLT, a full time office manager and a school counsellor. An extensive and very able classroom based support staff that has a significant positive impact upon learning and achievement in every age group. A well established “Learn Direct” scheme, providing a route to qualified teaching status for graduates. This substantially supports the schools year on year recruitment needs. Engagement with an active, committed and supportive set of governors. Excellent teaching resources throughout all areas of the curriculum. Spacious and well maintained grounds, including a wild life area with a pond, which is currently in development. An exceptionally well maintained and attractive building which includes two halls, a dining room, a library and a touch-down space. Our school was judged as “good” with “outstanding” features by Ofsted in July 2016. Please visit our school website at; http://www.meryfield.herts.sch.uk/welcome/, read our Ofsted letter and come and visit the school. We will be delighted to meet you, to show you around and to answer any questions that you may have.

Headteacher We welcome the opportunity to show you around our fantastic school , meet our lovely children and great team. We will be delighted to meet you, to show you around and to answer any questions that you may have, please contact our school office on 0208 953 2106. Please visit our school website at; http://www.meryfield.herts.sch.uk/welcome/, and read our Ofsted letter too. Key dates for your diary: The closing date for applications is noon 3rd March 2017 Shortlisting is on 7th March 2017 Interviews will take place on 22nd March 2017 Meryfield Community Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Job Description Role: Headteacher Start: 1st September 2017 Pay range: L17 + London Fringe & 8% uplift = £63,807 – L23 + London Fringe & 8% uplift = £73,501 Overall responsibility for providing leadership for the school to secure its success and continuous improvement, ensuring high quality education for all its pupils and high standards of teaching and learning in line with statutory requirements. This Job description reflects the national standards of excellence for Head Teachers 2015. The appointment is subject to the current conditions of employment of Headteachers, contained in the Schools Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document, the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and all other current education, employment and health and safety legislation.

Key Responsibilities Qualities and knowledge 1. Hold and articulate clear values and moral purpose, focused on providing a world-class education for the pupils they serve. 2.Demonstrate optimistic personal behaviour, positive relationships and attitudes towards their pupils and staff, and towards parents, governors and members of the local community. 3. Lead by example - with empathy, integrity, creativity, resilience, and clarity - drawing on their own scholarship, expertise and skills, and that of those around them. 4.Sustain wide, current knowledge and understanding of education and school systems locally, nationally and globally, and pursue continuous professional development. 5. Work with financial astuteness, within a clear set of principles centred on the school’s vision, ably translating local and national policy into the school’s context. 6. Clearly communicate the school’s vision and drive the strategic leadership, empowering all pupils and staff to excel. Pupils and staff 1. Have high expectations for all pupils, overcoming disadvantage and advancing equality, instilling a strong sense of accountability in staff for the impact of their work on pupils’ outcomes. 2. Secure excellent teaching through an analytical understanding of how pupils learn and of the core features of successful classroom practice and curriculum design, leading to rich curriculum opportunities and pupils’ well-being. 3. Establish an educational culture of ‘open classrooms’ as a basis for sharing best practice within and between schools, drawing on and conducting relevant research and robust data analysis. 4. Maintain an ethos within which all staff are motivated and encouraged to develop their own skills and subject knowledge, and to support each other. 5. Identify and foster emerging talents, coaching current and aspiring leaders in a climate where excellence is the standard, leading to clear succession planning. 6. Ensure all staff are accountable for their professional conduct and practice.

Key Responsibilities Systems and process 1. Ensure that the school’s systems, organisation and processes are efficient and fit for purpose, upholding the principles of transparency and integrity. 2. Provide a safe, calm and well-ordered environment for all pupils and staff, focused on safeguarding pupils and maintaining their exemplary behaviour in school and in the wider society. 3. Establish rigorous, fair and transparent systems and measures for managing the performance of all staff, addressing any under-performance, supporting staff to improve and valuing excellent practice. 4. Actively support the governing body to fulfil its role and deliver its functions effectively – in particular its functions to set school strategy and hold the headteacher to account for pupil, staff and financial performance. 5. Exercise strategic, curriculum-led financial planning to ensure the appropriate distribution of budgets and resources, in the best interests of pupils’ achievements and the school’s sustainability. 6. Distribute leadership throughout the organisation, forging teams of colleagues who have distinct roles and responsibilities and hold each other to account for their decision making. The self-improving school system 1. Maintain an outward-facing school which works with other schools and organisations - in a climate of mutual challenge - to champion best practice and secure excellent achievements for all pupils. 2. Sustain effective relationships with fellow professionals and the wider community to improve academic and social outcomes for all pupils. 3. Challenge current educational practices in the best interests of achieving excellence, harnessing the findings of well evidenced research to ensure continuing high standards. 4. To provide high quality training and sustained professional development for all staff. 5. To encourage innovative approaches to school improvement, leadership and governance, confident of the vital contribution of internal and external accountability. 6. Inspire and influence others - within and beyond schools - to believe in the fundamental importance of education in young people’s lives and to promote the value of education.

Essential or desirable Person Specification Criteria Essential or desirable Determination from   Application Interview References EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS Has a degree & Qualified Teacher Status E  Is currently on the Leadership Scale There is evidence of recent, relevant personal professional development Holds NPQH D EXPERIENCE Has at least 5 years’ experience of successful class teaching Has at least 5 years successful experience of a range of leadership roles Is currently a highly regarded Head, Deputy, Assistant Head or holds another equivalent leadership role, in a similar type of school Has experience of school development planning, implementation and monitoring of impacts Has experience of effectively using pupil achievement data to identify gaps and trends and to inform decision making Has experience of and a good working knowledge and understanding of all primary phases Has experience of management process, including financial, HR and premises management LEADERSHIP – MANAGEMENT Is able to lead, motivate, support & challenge with a clear focus on raising standards Is able to communicate a positive and inspiring vision for the values, ethos and strategic direction of the school Has a strategic approach, able to focus on the “big picture” rather than the practical details Has a strong analytical ability, able to analyse data and to use findings to inform future planning Has experience of leading whole school initiatives and effectively managing change There is evidence of a firm commitment to career and professional development for the whole school, teams and groups PERSONAL SKILLS   Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate, to inspire trust E  Has strong presentation skills with the ability to engage others and to listen Is a sound decision maker with good judgment on when to make a change or to maintain an existing position Has good delegation skills with an ability to manage workload and to select priorities Has good organisational skills and efficient time management Has experience of supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable children and children with SEND Has experience of working with children, families and staff from a wide range of home and social backgrounds Has good written communication skills Has experience of working successfully with governors, parent groups, external agencies and other groups SAFEGUARDING Has experience of using or training staff in Child Protection policy and procedures Displays commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people Up to date knowledge and application of relevant legislation and guidance for working with and the protection of children and young people Works in partnership with relevant agencies to protect children and young people PERSONAL QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES Is approachable and welcoming Is able to communicate a vision that engages and inspires others Demonstrates a commitment to inclusive values and practice and shares this with staff Is able to demonstrate good humour, empathy, tolerance and compassion Is enthusiastic and energetic Has a robust personality that shows resilience in demanding situations

Application and selection process Important Information for Applicants This vacancy is for a Headteacher to start 1st September 2017 The salary will be Leadership scale L17 + London Fringe & 8% uplift = £63,807 – L23 + London Fringe & 8% uplift = £73,501 Job Description This tells you the main responsibilities of the post and explains what we are looking for. It tells you about the personal and professional qualities you need for this post. These criteria will be used to make the appointment. Please be aware that the job description contains the full range of responsibilities of the role. Person Specification This specification sets out the criteria which will be used to shortlist candidates for interview and during the interview process. Applying If you decide to apply for this post would you please complete the attached application form. Please include the following in your letter of application which should be no longer than 2 sides of A4. A clear, succinct statement of your educational philosophy and practice Demonstrate how this relates to the post of Headteacher at our school Please return your completed application to las.governors@hertsforlearning.co.uk For application queries please contact our SPLASH Team on 01438 843465 Visits to the school are warmly welcomed. For further information and to visit the school please contact the School Office on 0208 953 2106