This is a groundbreaking time in the history of Haberdashers’, from September 2023, a newly appointed Executive Principal will oversee the longer-term strategic direction of the schools, working closely with the two Heads and senior leadership teams to share a joint vision. Collaboration and innovation will underpin the 2030 Habs Elstree Joint Strategy.
This is a key strategic role that will make an important contribution to the schools’ strategic development. This individual must be adept at forging strong and dynamic collaborative relationships. As a member of the Joint Schools’ Executive team, you will be invested in the schools’ pedagogy and committed to the highest standards of learning.
Our horizons are wide; we are a diverse community that nurtures a global perspective and a deep sense of responsibility for the world in which our pupils will lead and succeed. Our broad curriculum and co-curricular provision prepare pupils for success, wherever their passion may take them.
Our vision for 2023 and beyond is to work together, offering the best of single-sex education in a co-educational environment. We will provide an unmatched comprehensive program of co-curriculum activities with a focus on developing life skills.
This is an exciting time in the history of Habs. We are looking for an individual who shares our sense of energy and drive and possesses a willingness to adapt and embrace change. The Director of Innovation will play a pivotal role in forming a major part of the 2030 Habs Elstree Joint Strategy through the ‘Haberdashers’ Elstree Innovation Centre’. This new hub will develop ambitious, imaginative, and relevant research-informed projects to promote outstanding teaching and learning within the Elstree schools and to connect to other schools and higher education institutions nationally and around the world.
The development of leadership potential and humanity are goals to which we all aspire. I hope you will share our sense of this energy and drive.
The Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools (Habs Girls and Habs Boys) are part of the Haberdashers’ Company and, as such, form part of a wider family of schools in both the independent and state sectors across England and Wales. Between them, these schools operate across the grammar, academy and independent sectors, educating children at primary, prep and secondary ages, with both boarding and day provision. There is active sharing of best practices at multiple levels between all four main ‘hubs’. The Company is a recognised voice on the national educational stage. More directly, the Haberdashers’ Company is highly engaged in the work of the Elstree Schools in various ways, including deputations, providing Governors, charitable funding, and cross-hub events in music, sport and other co-curricular activities. Ongoing work aims to deliver “The Haberdashers’ Advantage programme”, leveraging the extensive Haberdashers’ community across all the schools to benefit students with mentoring, admissions advice, charitable support, character development opportunities and cross-hub experiences.
Today the Schools educates approximately 1,250 girls and 1,450 boys from the age of 4 to 18, including over 500 in the Sixth Form. Admission to the Schools is through competitive selective assessment. In 2022, both schools were rated “Excellent” in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
The schools occupy a superb 100 acres of green belt countryside, all within easy reach of North London. There has been an extensive, ongoing programme of development since the schools moved to the present site in 1961 and 1974 respectively, including state-of-the-art teaching facilities, sports facilities, performance spaces and Forest School for our youngest students. The schools operate an extensive coach network for use by students and staff, ranging from Harpenden in the north, St John’s Wood in the south, Hertford in the east and Rickmansworth in the west.
One of the distinctive features of the schools is their co-location, offering a unique learning experience – single-sex education for students whilst reaping the benefits of collaboration and joint activities. In the Sixth Form, the schools run The Habs Diploma, a joint enrichment programme to supplement the curriculum. In September 2022, Habs Nexus was introduced, providing co-educational teaching across the subject range at A Level: every student undertakes at least one subject in a co-educational class.
The schools’ outstanding results at all levels reflect the hard work and commitment of their students and the staff who support them. The majority of students go on to study at leading universities and medical schools, including Oxbridge and Ivy League universities in the USA each year. However, education at Habs is about more than just academic success. The students are bright, articulate, open, interested and extremely rewarding to teach. They have a great sense of humour and are both highly motivated and well-mannered.
Pastoral care is exceptional, designed to help students make decisions and care about others within the framework of a very diverse community. A programme of PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education lessons) covers important issues of self-development and allows pupils to reflect on their responsibilities to each other and the wider community. Cocurricular activities abound, with many pupils assuming responsibility for the running and organisation of events and societies. Music, drama and sport are strong, as are Model United Nations, the European Youth Parliament and debating. There is also a thriving Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and Joint CCF, along with a strong and active Community Service programme. The students regularly reach the finals of national competitions, such as Olympiads, robotics, chess, bridge and debating. There is also a remarkable commitment to partnership and charity work, reflecting the rich and harmonious ethnic and religious diversity of the school. A Church of England School by tradition, other religious communities flourish with voluntary assemblies for the many different faith groups represented in the school.
The teaching staff members are united by a caring approach, passion for their subjects and the aspiration to be dynamic, modern and reflective practitioners. The schools fully support the continuing professional development of their staff. Alongside external INSET courses, a full and varied in-house programme is offered. A well-established performance-related pay programme is closely linked to the professional development programme. The schools support staff in gaining relevant qualifications such as ISQAM, QTS, PhD, as resources allow. In recent years the schools have successfully launched their own, bespoke Graduate Teacher Training Programme and become the North London Hub for the National Modern Languages SCITT.
The schools award several scholarships on entry, but the majority of funding goes into providing bursaries for cases of financial need. A highly successful joint Development Foundation exists to broaden participation in the school’s life and encourage philanthropic giving.
For more detailed information about the schools and their history, you can visit the school websites: www.habsboys.org.uk and www.habsgirls.org.uk.
The schools offer their own generous salary scale. The salary for the successful candidate will depend on their qualifications and experience and will be discussed at the interview.
Currently, the schools offer a wide range of benefits to teaching staff, including:
Safeguarding
Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS record check.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to public advertisements.
The closing date for applications is noon, Monday 18 September 2023.
Applications should include:
Please include details of two referees in either your CV or cover letter. Note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent, and only should you be successful in the recruitment process.
If you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Hayley Mintern.
The recruitment timetable is set out below. Please inform Anderson Quigley if any dates are problematic, we will do our best to accommodate flexibility.
Closing Date: Monday 18 September
Preliminary Interviews: 18 – 22 September
Informal Sessions with Habs for the shortlisted candidates: Late September
Panel Interviews: Monday 9 October