Job Description
Post Title: Trust Senior Leader
Reporting To: Chief Executive Officer
Post Grading: LD Range
This job description is not a comprehensive definition of the post. Discussions will take place between the CEO and the Trust Senior Leader concerned on a regular basis to clarify individual responsibilities within the general framework and character of the post identified below.
Purpose of role
A Trust Senior Leader is responsible for supporting the CEO in overseeing the day to day operations of the at least two schools within the Trust. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer is responsible for Deputising for the CEO which includes the day to day leadership of the Trust, attending and chairing meetings on behalf of the CEO and having oversight of the Trusts Corporate Services.
The Trust Senior Leader is responsible for effectively leading, managing and inspiring those that work and learn within the Trust schools, ensuring all children and employees in the Trust achieve their full potential in an inclusive and safe environment.
At the Cornerstone Academy Trust we have a strong vision and four core principles, to lead, empower, achieve and drive, that as a member of the Executive Leadership Team you will be expected to demonstrate these principles in your working practices. You will be expected to support and contribute to the governance arrangements for the Trust to ensure they are fit for purpose.
The Senior Leader has accountabilities in the following key areas:
- Principle contact for parents, staff and children on a day to day basis
- Lead and manage staff on a day to day basis in delivering the Trust strategy
- Performance management of school and section leaders
- Maintain and develop the ethos and culture of the Trust and its schools
- Ensure health, wellbeing and behaviour of pupils is effectively managed
- Overseeing the staff and student voice processes and ensuring good parental engagement and feedback
- Working with the Leadership Team, the broader staff teams and the Trust Board ensure the development and review of key policies
- Report to the CEO
- Safeguarding
- You shall perform particular duties in accordance with any directions which may be reasonably given to you by the CEO from time to time
- You shall carry out the professional duties of Head of Schools under the reasonable direction of the CEO and the Deputy CEO
Leadership
- Support the CEO in developing positive and successful working relationships with and between all staff providing and sustaining high staff morale and motivation
- Lead proactively in supporting all staff to be able to respond positively and creatively to local and national initiatives
- Actively support all staff in achieving the priorities and targets which the Trust sets for itself and the Trust schools
- Provide staff with support and guidance in implementing the curriculum
- Lead groups of staff in developmental activities, delegate appropriately and evaluate outcomes
- Support the CEO and Deputy CEO in the implementation of the school's performance management policy
- Lead on the performance management of school and section leaders and be involved in the performance management processes of staff
- Lead and oversee the recruitment of staff to the Trust
- Ensure a good induction and probation process is implemented for all new members of staff
- Work with the leadership teams across the schools in the observations of professional practice of the teachers within the schools
- Coordinate and manage the work of the school leaders, section leaders, teachers and support staff within the Trust and its schools
- Provide feedback to colleagues in a way which recognises good practice and supports their progress against professional and performance management objectives resulting in a tangible impact on students learning
- Establish a staff professional development plan to develop staff within their roles to achieve the strategic goals of the Trust and to implement the individual schools’ curriculum plans
- Work with and support the Deputy CEO on the review and implementation of the Trust’s performance management policy and process
- Support and work with the Deputy CEO to monitor and review the overall educational progress of students within all phases
- Meet regularly, at times to be agreed, with the CEO and/or Deputy CEO as a member of the core leadership team responsible for the overall management of the school
- Take such part as may be required of you in the review, development and management of activities relating to the curriculum, organisation, pastoral functions and extended services of the Trust and its schools
Strategic Direction and Development of the Schools
In cooperation with and under the direction of the CEO:
- Supporting the CEO in the strategic development and operation of the Trust
- Ensure Ofsted readiness including support in the development of both the Trust and individual schools Self Evaluation Forms
- Support the CEO in ensuring a high quality of teaching, learning and standards across the Trust. Set high professional standards for staff that work within and across the Trust and ensure the education vision is understood and embraced
- To actively develop and support the practices, vision, ethos and policies of the school and promote high levels of student performance and achievement
- To actively support the creation and implementation of the school development plan within national and local contexts and to take sole responsibility for appropriately delegated aspects of it
Communication and Relationships
- To provide the CEO and the Leadership Team with an overview of major school issues through a wide ranging awareness and contact with staff, children, parents and school partners
- To be the principal school contact for parents, working to forge strong links between the school and home and undertaking an active role in promoting liaison between parents, school staff, the wider community and statutory teams and agencies as appropriate
- Acting as a focal point for the organisation and management of liaison activities which ensure curriculum and organisational continuity across the Trust; you will lead teaching staff and support staff to ensure the efficient and smooth operation of each school
- Promoting the general progress and well-being of all students
- Providing guidance and advice to students on educational and social matters including information about sources of more expert advice on specific questions
- Produce high quality records and reports relevant to the role to be delivered to the CEO and Trust Board in a timely fashion
- Being aware of and complying with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, and reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Being aware of and supporting diversity and ensuring all students have equal access to opportunities to learn, develop and to be successful
- Working with the Leadership Team, you have a duty to challenge decisions perceived not to be in the best interests of enhancing achievement, performance and learning opportunities for the Trust
Management – Effective Employment of Staff and Resources
- To manage the Trust and its schools effectively in the absence of the CEO and the Deputy CEO
- To support the CEO in the appointment, deployment and development of staff to make most effective use of their skills, expertise and experience and to ensure that all staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities
- To support the CEO in the management and organisation of relevant groupings of students to ensure effective teaching and learning takes place and that students’ personal development needs are met
- To work with the Trustees, CEO and the Trust Business Manager in establishing priorities for expenditure and monitoring the effectiveness of spending and usage of resources with a view to achieving value for money
- To lead groups of staff in developmental activities, delegate appropriately and evaluate outcomes and to do so by monitoring the quality and continuity of curriculum and any therapeutic provision made for students
- To advise the CEO on the establishment and make-up of classroom staff teams and to monitor their effectiveness
- To manage staffing issues on a day to day basis in liaison with the Deputy CEO, including the deployment and oversight of classroom support staff, lunchtime assistants and voluntary workers
- To provide leadership oversight for the management and organisation of the staff professional development programme, including the establishment and monitoring of the schools’ Performance Management programme
- Work with the Head of Curriculum to give support to ensure the to the development of the Personal and Social Education and Life Skills Curriculum for all students within the Trust
- To be responsible for the oversight on the development of an extensive extra-curricular programme, which engages students of all abilities and interests
- To chair where necessary regular internal school meetings
Performance Management
- Participating in arrangements made for the performance management process at the Trust including the reviewing of your own performance and that of other staff
- Monitoring and reviewing the work of other teachers and non-teaching staff within your phase with the expressed intention of improving their performance and achievement and that of their students
- Reviewing from time to time your own methods of teaching and programmes of work
- Participating in arrangements for your further training and professional development as a teacher
Discipline, Health and Safety
- Maintaining good order and discipline among the students and safeguarding their health and safety both when they are authorised to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere
Staff Meetings
- Participating and, where appropriate, leading in meetings at the school which relate to the curriculum for the school or the administration or organisation of the school, including pastoral arrangements
Cover
- Supervising and, so far as practicable, teaching any student whose teacher is not available to teach them due to unforeseen circumstances over an academic year