St James Senior Girls Schools - Deputy Head

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in working with us at St James Senior Girls’ School.

Our warm and diverse community is one of mutual respect and trust, with dedicated, expert teaching staff and compassionate pastoral care. We support our pupils to become their very best selves through genuinely open-minded enquiry and collaboration, underpinned by a belief in the limitless potential of the human spirit.

Academic outcomes and behaviour are excellent, and pupils take seriously our school motto which challenges them to speak the truth, live generously and aim for the best.

Built around a courtyard, there is a tangible sense of calm and purpose as you enter our Kensington Olympia school, and this is embedded in school routines through a short period of reflection at the start and end of every lesson and opportunities for mindfulness and meditation for all staff and pupils.

St James has its own salary scale. We value our team, and all staff benefit from regular professional development opportunities, a mentor, confidential life and career coaching as well as free refreshments and lunches whilst on site.

I am very happy to discuss any aspect of the position should you wish to do so and look forward to receiving your application.

Emma Bell
Headteacher

About St James Schools

St James Schools welcomes open minds and open hearts.

Founded in 1975 by philosophically-inclined parents, our three independent day schools offer a distinctive approach to education which provides for the intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of every child; they aim to provide an environment in which a child can discover all that is best within their own nature.

We actively support our pupils’ emotional wellbeing, focusing on mindfulness and fostering a positive school atmosphere built on mutual respect, trust and kindness.

Our schools enjoy enviable locations in London and Surrey: our Nursery, Preparatory School and Senior Girls’ School are close to Hammersmith and High Street Kensington, while St James Senior Boys’ School occupies a stunning 33-acre site in Ashford, in leafy Surrey, with transport services from London.

About St James Senior Girls' School

Located down a quiet road in the shadows of Olympia, the main gate leads into an attractive gated courtyard. The Victorian building opened as a school in 1874 and was rebuilt in 1936; today, they are well equipped for a modern learning environment.

Speak the Truth; Live Generously; Aim for the Best

The philosophy and ethos of St James leads us to being a naturally caring and inclusive school where every member of staff will be involved in supporting and caring for our pupils.

We maintain the highest standards of pastoral care, and key staff throughout our pupils’ journeys are on-hand to always care for, inspire, and ensure the safety of pupils during their time with us.

Pupil voice is incredibly important, and we value the ideas, energy, and leadership of our pupils in all areas of school life. With a vibrant School Council, Vertical House system, Prefects, Peer Mentors and the Wellbeing Committee who lead on pastoral issues our pupils embody the school values.

Practical philosophy, personal development, and wellbeing have been woven into the pupil experience at St James for many years, and today, our school is highly regarded in these areas.

Our warm and supportive environment enables pupils to build firm foundations on which they can build academic success and pupil outcomes are excellent. The vast majority of our leavers take up places at the world’s leading universities, with a strong tradition of Oxbridge success.

The Pause

The School engages in a ‘Pause’ at the beginning and end of every lesson and periods such as Assembly. The Pause is a short period of quiet reflection and stillness, a connection with something peaceful and unchanging in today’s busy world. Pausing allows us all to refocus and prepare for what is to come next. It brings everyone back to a stillness and allows a moment of calm before moving on. The Pause is something unique to St James, and the staff and children all value it greatly.

The role

Deputy Headteacher (Senior Girls' School) (AQ2481)

Apply now

JOB DESCRIPTION

The successful post-holder for this exciting and challenging role will:

enjoy considerable autonomy working to ambitious targets with the full support of the Head;
be committed to the benefits of St James Senior Girls’ educational ethos, as well as single-sex girls’ education;
be attuned to risk and risk mitigation and will be a dynamic, self-motivated leader;
have the tenacity to drive ongoing performance and measurable success, as well as emotional intelligence, self-awareness and compassion;
demonstrate positivity, creativity, integrity and the ability to inspire and lead others.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This is in addition to the roles and responsibilities of a classroom teacher. The postholder will be expected to teach approximately 0.3 of a teaching timetable.

Whole School Leadership

Support, deputise for, and assist the Head by providing dynamic leadership and management in support of the School’s vision and values in everyday work and practice;
Represent the school at internal and external meetings and events as required by the Head;
Maintain and update assigned School policies to ensure compliance with the letter and spirit of the relevant regulations in writing and in practice;
Keep up to date with innovation and evidence-based best practice in education and share with the Head and staff as appropriate to ensure high standards and continuous whole school development;
Contribute to rigorous and on-going whole School self-evaluation and take responsibility for leading specific areas/initiatives;
Lead the school in the preparation for and management of Inspections;
Work closely with the leadership team at St James Prep School and St James Senior Boys’ School as required to implement shared priorities.

Pupil Progress and Outcomes

Lead on the implementation of the school’s development plan in all matters relating to teaching and learning, pupil outcomes and progress;
Oversee the progress of each pupil in the school; including monitoring of interventions, both pastoral and academic for each pupil and to report on their impact regularly to the Head;
Responsibility for whole school monitoring and development of assessment, recording, reporting and target setting;
Responsibility for accurate and effective methods of reporting of pupil progress and outcomes;
Responsibility for analysis of admissions data, baseline-testing and value-added data (collecting, collating, analysing and disseminating) and advising the Head as part of the Admissions Panel and on Scholarship awards.

Quality Assurance and Development

Oversee the annual teaching quality assurance process and plan pre-term staff meetings, INSET and oversee staff development with the Assistant Head, Staff, Co Curriculum and Operations;
Organise and undertake regular learning walks, work scrutiny and departmental reviews to build on existing success to drive standards forward;

Health and Safety and Safeguarding

Oversee and promote the highest standards of behaviour and conduct across the school;
Lead the whole school approach to behaviour, sanctions and rewards across the school;
Be a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and part of the Safeguarding team;
Represent the Head on the Health and Safety Committee and, in conjunction with the Bursar, identify and advise the Head on key areas of risk management;

The postholder may also be required to undertake such other comparable duties as the Head requires from time to time.

Line Management Responsibilities

Recruitment of teaching staff in consultation with the Head
Effective deployment of teaching and supply staff on a daily basis and in planning curriculum and timetables each academic year
Line Management and Performance Review of Heads of Department
Line Management of Examinations Officer and delegated responsibility for public examinations

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Criteria marked essential are qualities without which the applicant could not be appointed. Criteria marked desirable are extra qualities which can be used to choose between applicants who meet all of the essential criteria.

Qualifications – assessed by the production of the applicant’s certificates

Good Honours Degree (essential)
PGCE or equivalent (essential)
Any other related qualifications, e.g. leadership qualification (desirable)

Experience – assessed by contents of the application form, interview and professional references

Appropriate number of years’ teaching experience (essential)
Excellent examination results achieved by pupils (essential)
Positive working relationship with colleagues (essential)
Previous Senior Management Experience, e.g. Director of Studies, Head of Sixth Form (essential)
Experience of leading on and evaluating whole school initiatives and change management (essential)
Designated Safeguarding Lead training (desirable)
Experience of leading on Management Information Systems and Reporting Information (desirable)

Skills – assessed by contents of the application form and interview

Effective time management (essential)
Excellent organisational skills (essential)
Ability to motivate staff and young people (essential)

Apply now

Terms of appointment

A competitive remuneration package is available.
Salary will be reviewed annually.
Fee remission of 50% is available for children of the Deputy Head.
School meals and mobile phone allowance are provided.
The appointment is subject to two terms’ notice.
The School will be supportive, whenever possible, of external professional activities such as examining, committee membership and professional body activities, as agreed with the Head.
Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Full details are given on the application form.
Final round candidates will be asked to undertake identity and qualiﬁcation checks which conform to the School’s Safeguarding Policy. They must also agree to references being taken up at that stage and checks made with past employers.
The successful applicant will be required to complete a self-disclosure medical questionnaire.
The appointment is subject to satisfactory references, clearance from the DBS, proof of identity and qualiﬁcations and a medical report.

You can view our Safeguarding policy here, our Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure policy here, and our privacy policy here.

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to St James Schools. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to public advertisements.

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact our advising consultant at Anderson Quigley: Hayley Mintern at hayley.mintern@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7596 954 387 or Phil Gifford at phil.gifford@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7743 936 121.

The closing date for applications is noon on March 3, 2024.

Applications should consist of:

A completed application form.
A covering letter setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the criteria outlined in the person criteria.

Please include details of two referees in either your application 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.

Appointment of the Deputy Headteacher