The Sky’s the Limit

Assistant Principal

Candidate Brochure

KEY FACTS

Type of School Community Primary School

Location Bovingdon near Hemel

Hempstead, Hertfordshire

Denomination None

Age Range 3 to 11 Years

Co-Educational or Single Sex Co-educational

Number of Children 446

Average Class Size 30

Number of Teaching Staff 21

% of Children with SEN 7.8%

% of English as an

Additional Language

7%

% of Children on Free School

Meals

8.9%

OUR SCHOOL

The Principal and Local Advisory Body of Bovingdon Primary Academy aim to provide the

children with a good quality education and pride ourselves on a team ethos, promoting

the highest standards of learning and achievement for all of our students.

As a team we ensure we are all working to the same goal, to promote a lifelong love for

learning. Everything we do is centred around the children and their right to be

encouraged, to achieve, to find their talents, to enjoy learning and to succeed in

whatever they choose. We strive to create an environment that allows children to

explore the depths of education and that this carries on throughout their school life in

adulthood.

ASPIRE ACADEMIES TRUST

“TOGETHER WE’RE STRONGER”

At the Aspire Academies Trust, we like to do things a bit differently. We’re not afraid of a

challenge. We like to think laterally and be creative. We reach right into our Academies

and support everyone involved in driving them forward.

It is our belief that when schools work together, share their ideas and draw on each

other’s strengths, they can achieve so much more. There is a rich pool of talent in

our Academies, from teachers, pupils and their parents alike. It’s our job to nurture this

talent through partnership and collaboration. By doing so, we capture great ideas and

make innovative improvements.

OUR ETHOS AND VALUES

“The Sky's the Limit”

Bovingdon Primary Academy aims to:

Instil these core values for life: respect, enthusiasm,

courtesy, dedication and pride, by positive example.

Ensure high academic achievement through

outstanding teaching which builds confidence,

independence and initiative.

Provide an innovative and creative curriculum,

developed and delivered with high expectations for

progress.

Encourage a strong sense of belonging and

involvement ensuring everyone is heard.

Actively engage with the wider community in

developing life skills to enhance, enrich and reinforce

learning.

5 Key Themes

Values, Achievement, Innovation,

Belonging & Community

OUR ENVIRONMENT

Bovingdon Primary consists of three buildings set in extensive grounds,

comprising of a woodland area, school garden and pond; this promotes

a healthy attitude to nature which we, as a community, value. We use

part of our school grounds to house chickens, and the children are then

taught how to care for them; this ensures outside learning.

As well as teaching the importance of nature, we also ensure that

children engage in team work and exercise. We have a Multi Use Games

Area, access to a playing field and two playgrounds which really help

our children to explore a range of sporting activities and have fun!

We are proud of our positive learning environment and interactive

displays; we ensure children feel inspired by surroundings that are both

enriching and conducive to learning. Our classrooms are well equipped

with modern technology, such as interactive TVs/whiteboards,

computers, laptops and iPads. For the Early Years Foundation Stage we

have a range of controllable toys – these help develop early skills

involving technology and therefore inspire wider learning.

Bovingdon Primary Academy is a two form entry school comprising a

nursery, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

The Children would like someone who …

Is kind, firm but fair Makes learning fun Listens to what we have to say Includes everyone Is clear and good at explaining Has a good sense of humour Will play with us at break times

The Staff would like someone who …

Is willing to get involved with the whole school community Is proactive and uses their initiative Is enthusiastic, friendly, approachable and has a good sense

of humour Is willing to work as part of a team Is happy to be flexible and adaptable Is caring with the children and supportive to colleagues

The Parents would like someone who …

Manages behaviour well Nurtures the children socially Is aware of disabilities and other vulnerabilities and includes

everyone Encourages the children to join in and achieve Makes the children want to come to school everyday

Job Description

Assistant Principal

Purpose of the role

Supporting the Principal in the full range of school leadership and management

responsibilities, deputising in their absence and providing support across the Trust as required.

Strategic Direction & Development

Working with the Principal to contribute to a strategic view for the school in its community

and analyse a plan for its future needs and further development within the local, national

and international context.

Leading on change across the school to ensure innovative practice, impacting on school

improvement.

Demonstrating and role modelling a variety of positive leadership styles to engage the

school team in ongoing change and continual improvement.

Acting as a “sounding board” and “critical friend” to the Principal, always demonstrating

high standards of personal integrity, loyalty, discretion and professionalism and publicly

supporting all decisions of the Principal and Local Advisory Body.

Working across the Trust to share innovative practice, secure school improvement and

support new schools joining us.

Teaching & Learning

Provide a broad and balanced curriculum which includes Religious Education, Personal,

Health and Social Education and Citizenship, that fully meets the requirements of the

National Curriculum and its assessment, and which is relevant to the needs and abilities of

all pupils.

Ensuring good outcomes for all children, including children with special educational needs

and disadvantaged children.

Providing an example of excellence as a leading classroom practitioner and inspiring and

motivating other staff.

Working with the Principal to secure and sustain high expectations and excellent practice

in teaching and learning throughout the school, monitor and evaluate the quality of

teaching and standards of pupil’s achievement and use benchmarks and set targets for

improvement.

Lead, motivate, support, challenge and develop all staff to ensure continual improvement

and professional development.

Plan and lead appropriate school assemblies and acts of collective worship.

Share effective classroom practices

Resources

Work with the Principal to review and lead on the delivery of the effective

redeployment of people and resources to meet with the school’s plans and financial

context.

Support the internal organisation, management and control of the school on a day-to-

day basis in accordance with the policies of the Local Advisory Body and all

applicable legislation.

Ensure the resources are used effectively and efficiently to achieve the school’s

educational priorities and goals.

Performance reviewer for staff as per Performance Management structure.

Accountability

Supporting the Principal in accounting for the efficiency and effectiveness of the school

to all relevant stakeholders. Work with the Principal to:

Ensure the school’s accountability to a wide range of groups (e.g. governors, parents

and The Trust)

Ensure the provision of high quality education which pupils enjoy

Use robust systems for school self-evaluation

Work in partnership with the Local Advisory Body by providing relevant information

Specific Duties

Deputise for the Principal in their absence

Leading and managing SEND

To provide high quality extra-curricular activity within the school

Secure assessment and attainment tracking to inform teaching and learning

To work across the Trust, as required, to secure school improvement and share

innovative practice and support new schools joining us

Undertake such reasonable activities as the Executive Principal, Principal and Local

Advisory Body may require.

Safeguarding

To be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children.

To comply with responsibilities under the Data Protection Act (1998) for the security,

accuracy and significance of personal data held on paper or electronic systems

Job Context

The post holder will be required to operate within and meet:

the Teachers Standards.

the Trust’s policies.

This job description is not exhaustive; the post holder may be required to undertake such

other duties, commensurate with the post, as may from time to time be assigned by the

Executive Principal, Principal or the Local Advisory Body. This document will be reviewed

at least annually, as part of the performance management programme.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

As a leader of the school, you must be passionate about providing the

very best opportunities for all of our children and staff.

You will need to accept responsibility for the achievement of the goals

you take on, and you will need to think strategically about the relationship

between your personal goals and the goals of the school.

You will need to embrace new initiatives and contribute your ideas about

the way forward, keeping the school moving with or ahead of the times,

whilst maintaining excellent standards of education.

You must be prepared to devote energy to the job, whilst making sure

that you retain enough energy for your own life outside of school – you

must be creative and constructive about how you do this.

You must be prepared to take risks, to explore new avenues; to face

frustrations and disappointments and to build your strength from them.

You must demonstrate that you love teaching, that you are very good at

it and that you can inspire the confidence of colleagues and parents.

You must be able to work productively, constructively and supportively

with the Leadership Team and take every opportunity to widen your

knowledge of all aspects of whole school leadership and management.

As a member of the Leadership Team you will be expected to take

responsibility for the following areas of school development:

Leader of a curriculum area planning, management and organisation.

Leader of monitoring and evaluation.

Leader of key initiatives.

Line Manager for a key stage.

Act as key coach and mentor to advise and guide staff and develop staff

and student expertise.

Essential Desirable

Qualifications Qualified Teacher status

Evidence of involvement in INSET as a

participant and as a provider

Experience in a leadership and management

role in school

Be a proven outstanding practitioner

Good Honours degree

NCSL training

Experience The Assistant Principal should have experience

of:

ability to demonstrate vision and strategic

leadership of a core subject area/key

stage

excellent interpersonal, communication

and organizational skills

minimum five years post qualification full

time teaching

tracking progress and raising the

achievement of all pupil groups

strategic responsibilities in school

leadership and management

working with governors

leading the development of a core

curriculum area;

participating in a team approach to

management, including change

management.

In addition, the Assistant Principal might have

experience of:

working with children from a variety of

background

the process of school development and

improvement planning

successful staff recruitment, appointment and

induction

working in more than one school within the

primary age range

Knowledge and

Understanding

The Assistant Principal should have knowledge

and understanding of:

the role of the leadership team within the

school

the New Ofsted Inspection Framework

and the process and place of self-

evaluation

planning for the delivery of a broad and

balanced curriculum which meets the

needs of all learners

staff development and Performance

Management

monitoring and assessment across a key

stage

using data to set targets for improvement

and monitoring progress

In addition, the Assistant Principal might also have

knowledge and understanding of:

current theories of teaching and learning

developed as a result of brain-based research

the principles of community education and

parental involvement

whole school issues and their implications for

financial management

Skills The Assistant Principal will be able to:

use vision, initiative and leadership in

making change, to enhance and raise

standards

support the work of colleagues and

promote staff development

involve staff, parents and governors in the

process of establishing a clear and shared

set of aims, objectives and values for the

school

use ICT with confidence and enthusiasm

In addition, the Assistant Principal might be able to:

show evidence of his or her active involvement

in a PTA or Parents’ Association, or a wider

community issue

School Ethos A belief in pupil-centred, active learning with

an ability to engage, challenge and have

high expectations of children

Ability to provide a caring, co-operative

atmosphere for children and to create a

challenging, disciplined and effective learning

environment

Ability to make decisions based on the wider needs

of the school

Visits to Bovingdon Primary Academy are warmly welcomed.

Please contact Terri Abramian by email tabramian@bovingdonacademy.org.uk to

make an appointment or call 01442 406545.

Application forms can be downloaded from our website

www.bovingdonacademy.org.uk/24/vacancies and should also be emailed

to tabramian@bovingdonacademy.org.uk.

Bovingdon Primary Academy is part of the Aspire Academies Trust which was

formed in September 2014, unifying Hammond, Bovingdon and The Grove

Academies in Hertfordshire, along with a well-respected Teaching School. This

collaborative group enjoys the benefits of shared knowledge and good practice.

The Aspire Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding children and young

people. Our interviews will always include relevant questions relating to child

protection and/or safeguarding. The successful applicant will be required to

undertake vetting checks including a DBS check.

High Street, Bovingdon

Herts, HP3 0HL

T: 01442 406545

F: 01442 406548

admin@bovingdonacademy.org.uk

Part of the Aspire Academies Trust