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East Midlands Academy Trust

Recruitment Pack

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Contents Welcome Message

About the Trust The Advertisement

Appointment Process

Job Description Person Specification

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Welcome Message Thank you for taking the time to read the pack and hopefully consider applying to join us at Northampton International Academy, part of the East Midlands Academy Trust. It is an amazing time to join our vibrant and dynamic community of schools.

As you will have already seen, we have a clear strategy for school improvement that has been shown to be credible, inclusive and sustainable.

We are a community based Multi Academy Trust and care about the impact we have in the areas our schools live. The vitality and diversity of the people we encounter within each school means we cannot just drop a template of “how to run a successful school” onto the seven schools in our MAT.

Northampton International Academy is a unique place – opened in September 2016 and soon to grow to more than 2,300 pupils, making us one of the largest free schools in the country.

We welcome any applicant to come and see what we do, and I would be happy to talk prior to making a formal application. We all make thousands of choices every day, but few are as important as where you go to share your knowledge, passion, tenacity and integrity. If you believe in and have what it takes to make our vision a reality, “every child deserves to be the best they can be…”. I look forward to your application.

Joshua Coleman David Todd

Chief Executive Chair of Local Advisory Board

East Midlands Academy Trust

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About the Trust Background

East Midlands Academy Trust was incorporated in September 2012. East Midlands Academy Trust is a Multi Academy Trust based in the centre of Northampton. Since incorporation, the MAT now includes five primary academies, one secondary academy and one all-through 4-19 Free School. Initial Development East Midlands Academy Trust’s key ambition is straightforward to create excellent academies. The first two academies to join were Orchard Academy and Shepherdswell Academy in Milton Keynes. In 2014, East Midlands Academy Trust sponsored Castle Academy, Hardingstone Academy and Stimpson Avenue Academy in Northampton.

In 2015, East Midlands Academy Trust sponsored its first Secondary School, Prince William School (PWS). PWS is located in Oundle, North East Northamptonshire. In January 2015, East Midlands Academy Trust was successful in winning a DfE competition to open an all-through 2,220-place Free School, Northampton International Academy (NIA), in the centre of Northampton.

What makes us unique?

• Our strong moral purpose

• Commitment to high expectations and aspirations

• Strategic partnership

with HR and Legal experts

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Vision, Values and Purpose

‘Every child deserves to be the best they can be’ We are driven by a strong moral purpose that every child has the right to outstanding teaching and leadership. It is our passion to work with our children, their parents and carers and our staff to create world-class schools that demonstrate integrity of purpose through high aspiration for every child. We set high expectations for our leaders and teachers to support and stretch every child to ensure they make excellent progress and build the skills, knowledge and attributes that will prepare them well for secondary school and beyond.

Our Vision

• To provide excellent practice which inspires and develops young people and children

Our Mission

• To be the first-choice education provider in our communities

Our Values

• Inclusion, innovation, inspiration, integrity, impact

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Plans for the future

We have a strategy for sustainable growth within the region. By 2025, we aim to be one of the medium to large MATs in the region, with a mix of:

• Primary schools • Secondary Schools • All through schools • A University Technical College • A further Education College • Sen schools • An alternative education • Our own recruitment agency • A teacher training facility • A fundraising/commercial income function

We also aim, by 2025 to have a clearly articulated heuristic curriculum, to rank within the top 10% nationally in all indicators and to have a clearly articulated career pathway, including pay and conditions for colleagues.

Northampton International Academy NIA is a local school with global vision. It strives to be the school of choice in Northampton, a school that provides a world class education for pupils, a place where children and adults thrive and actively take part in building a community based on high aspirations. NIA works with pupils to raise aspirations by harnessing their passion, promoting engagement, and striving for excellence in everything they do. The outward facing approach prepares the community for success in the modern world and the ethos prepares pupils for life in modern Britain. The school’s culture strongly supports the promotion of values such as tolerance, respect, democracy and the rule of law.

The all-through nature of NIA is now practical reality with all phases of the academy settled into the state of art permanent facilities. The school continues to be heavily oversubscribed in year 7.

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The Advertisement Headteacher - Northampton International Academy

Scale/Salary: £72,306 - £103,334 (L24 – L38)

Start date: September 2020

Contract type: Full Time

Contract term: Permanent

Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer

Closing date: 17:00 on Friday 27 March 2020

Interviews: Week commencing 20 April 2020

Northampton International Academy (NIA) is an all-through free school for pupils aged 4 to 19 situated in the centre of Northampton, with an eventual capacity of 2,220 pupils compromising 420 primary, 1500 secondary and 300 post-16 pupils. Having opened our doors in September 2016, the academy has expanded annually and will reach full capacity by 2022.

We are looking for an exceptional, committed Headteacher with a proven record in educational leadership to share our ambition and strategic vision to build upon the Ofsted ’good’ rating (July 2019). You will guide our academy in its next stage of development and continue the journey of shaping NIA into a centre of excellence. Your effective leadership will bring people together and ultimately make NIA a high performing member of our Trust. Your energy and enthusiasm will inspire, challenge and empower all members of the school in achieving the vision, and fostering an environment in which learning thrives. This is a rare chance to lead one of the biggest schools and we are looking for a leader who will maximise the opportunities in order to create a unique educational experience.

It is an exciting challenge, for which we require an exceptional professional. Already a senior leader, you will be able to demonstrate an impressive record of success and a high level of tenacity and initiative. East Midlands Academy Trust is looking for a Headteacher who will: • Be an outstanding leader, who is able to articulate the vision for the academy and who will inspire and

empower others to share in achieving it • Have a clear vision and determination to build and achieve excellence • Inspire and motivate children and staff, ensuring all are valued and supported to be the best they can

be • Be passionate about making a difference for every child • Maintain and develop the excellent relationships between the staff, governors, parents and the wider

community • Work closely with the Trust and its academies

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In return, we are able to offer • A ‘good’ school which has a wide range of high-quality provision within and beyond the curriculum • Well behaved students who are highly motivated • You will be supported by a dedicated and committed team of staff, including a strong leadership team • A school that is respected in the community • Support from cross Trust systems and school improvement leaders • Stable, effective, established systems for a wide range of processes

We welcome enquiries and are happy to arrange informal, confidential discussions or visits to the academy. Should you be interested, please contact our advising consultants at Veredus, Nataliya Starik-Bludova on 020 7932 4265 or Cameron Winstanley on 07936 333 130. If you are interested in this vacancy, we would like to hear from you. In order to consider your application in full please download an application form and submit together with a supporting statement setting out why you feel that you are suitable for this role. Please ensure this statement contains evidence of measurable impact of your leadership and achievements.

• The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 27th March 2020

• Interviews will be held w/c 20th April 2020 Completed applications to be returned to: www.veredus.co.uk quoting reference number 22039. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and an enhanced DBS check.

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Appointment Process

East Midlands Academy Trust has appointed Veredus, an executive search agency, to advise on this appointment. Applications should be sent via Veredus website - www.veredus.co.uk quoting reference number 22039. To apply for this post, you will need to submit the following documentation to us by no later than 17:00 on Friday, 27 March 2020.

1. A completed Application Form. 2. A Supporting Statement setting out why you feel that you are suitable for this role. Please

ensure this statement contains evidence of measurable impact of your leadership and achievements.

3. An Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. All monitoring will be treated in the strictest confidence, will not be provided to the selection panel and will not affect your application in any way.

Please note CVs will not be accepted. If you would like more information, or to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact our advising consultants at Veredus: Nataliya Starik-Bludova on 020 7932 4265 or Cameron Winstanley on 07936 333 130. All enquires will be treated confidentially.

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All submissions will receive an automated response. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt when submitting your application, please contact us on 020 7932 4236. At Veredus, we take care to protect the privacy of our candidates and clients. To read more about how we collect, store and share your data please read our privacy notice which can be accessed here: https://www.veredus.co.uk/privacy-and-cookies All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and an enhanced DBS check.

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Job Description

Headteacher - Northampton International Academy

Scale/Salary £72,306 - £103,334 L24 – L38

Responsible to CEO

Core Purpose

The core purpose of the Headteacher is to work as part of the EMAT Executive team, providing professional leadership and management of the academy and designated aspects of the Trust’s work, to secure sustainable success and the highest standards of learning and personal developments for its pupils and students.

In summary the post holder will be accountable for:

• Developing, communicating and implementing EMAT's vision to build a highly successful

organisation and achieve outstanding outcomes at NIA. • Leading and managing the growth and development of this exciting, developing Academy. • Overall responsibility for leadership of NIA. • Working in collaboration with all other EMAT Headteachers/Principal to promote EMAT’s vision

and values and collaborate to disseminate highly effective and outstanding practice in the interests of the wider educational community.

• Support the activities of the Trust. Context

This job description should be read in conjunction with the duties of the Headteacher as set out in National Standards of Excellent for Headteachers.

Responsibilities include:

Vision and Impact

• Articulate clear values and moral purpose in the leadership of the academy and focus at all

times on providing and achieving an outstanding education for all students. • Communicate the academy and Trust’s vision in a compelling way to enable NIA to become

Outstanding by inspiring and empowering staff, pupils and students to excel. • Model positive and optimistic relationships and attitudes towards pupils and students, and

engage with parents, governors and members of the local community to continuously improve the academy.

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• Ensure that the education and interests of pupils and students are kept at the centre of all the academy’s activities and their needs at the heart of all decision making.

• Demonstrate political astuteness and entrepreneurial skills in promoting the interests of the

academy. Add value by translating local opportunities and national policy into the Trust and NIA’s context.

• Advise the local advisory body and the Trust on strategic issues, including staffing structures

and the wider community and commercial potential of the learning academy. Making an impact: Improving learning and achievement

• Create an ethos of respect, recognition, celebration and support which promotes equality and

values diversity.

• Develop a culture of high expectations – academic, behaviour, attitudes – that recognises the needs of the individual and of the academy learning community.

• Lead improvement and development on the basis of evidence and knowledge about effective practice across the primary and secondary phase.

• Promote a strong culture of continuous professional learning and development for all staff and

provide outstanding opportunities for personal and professional development. • Achieve and maintain outstanding teaching for all pupils and students through an

understanding of the features of successful classroom practice and curriculum design and how to improve quality of teaching in all phases.

• Demand ambitious standards for all pupils and students, overcoming disadvantage and

advancing equality, instilling a strong sense of accountability in staff for the impact of their work on pupil/students’ outcomes.

• Ensure that NIA’S development is consistent with its mission, values and objectives, continuing

to serve the local community. Leadership

• Be a leader of learning across the all-through academy for pupils, students and staff.

• Promote sharing of outstanding practice between teachers/staff and a culture where less good

practice is challenged and improved. • Create an ethos in which all staff are ambitious, motivated and supported to develop their own

skills and subject knowledge and to support each other. • Build sustainable leadership through identifying emerging talents at all levels, coaching current

and aspiring leaders in a climate where excellence is the standard. • Hold all staff to account for their professional conduct and practice.

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• Ensure that NIA’s systems, organisation and processes are efficient, effective and fit for purpose and uphold the principles of transparency, integrity and probity.

• Provide a safe, calm and well-ordered environment for all pupils, students and staff, with a strong

focus on safeguarding and the development of exemplary behaviour in the academy and in the wider community.

• Establish, implement and maintain rigorous and transparent systems for managing the

performance of all staff within the post holder’s responsibility, addressing under-performance, supporting staff to improve and valuing excellent practice.

• Welcome strong governance from the Trust and the local advisory body and actively support and advise the Trust and the governing body to deliver their functions effectively and ensure strong accountability.

• Exercise strategic, curriculum-led financial planning to ensure the equitable deployment of

budgets and resources, in the best interests of achievement and the academy’s sustainability. • Distribute leadership through the organisation, creating teams of colleagues who have clear

roles and responsibilities and hold each other to account for their decision making. Partnerships and community engagement

• Work collaboratively with other EMAT academies to share good and outstanding practice and

to improve student and pupils’ progress and outcomes. • Lead collaboratively and develop NIA’s capacity to influence and work with other academies to

improve the quality of education at local, regional and system level. • Develop effective relationships with other services to improve academic and social outcomes

for all pupils and students. • Work effectively with the academy’s strategic partners, local businesses, employers and

training providers for the benefit of the academy, its pupils’ opportunities and for the Trust as a whole.

• Inspire and influence the community to achieve strong interest in and recruitment to the school

and promote engagement with the academy for the benefit of pupils, students and members of the community.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• To be aware of and comply with all policies and procedures, including all those relating to

safeguarding, health and safety, security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to the appropriate person.

• To participate in training, other learning activities and performance development as required. • To assist with emergencies that may occur outside normal working hours of the post.

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Health and Safety So far as is reasonably practicable, the post holder must ensure that safe working practices are adopted by all employees, and in premises/work areas for which the post holder is responsible, to maintain a safe working environment for employees and pupils/students.

Safeguarding

East Midlands Academy Trust is committed to the safeguarding of all of its young persons and expects all staff, volunteers and adults to work within the parameters of the policies and procedures as agreed by the trust board to ensure the safety of all young persons within its care.

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post,

each individual task undertaken may not be identified.

Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.

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Person Specification The post holder will be able to demonstrate the relevant:

• Qualifications and experience • Skills and knowledge • Personal attributes

Selection will be on the basis of how well applicants demonstrate their ability to meet the person specification. You should be able to demonstrate you meet the criteria as indicated below at the following stages: A: Application process

B: Selection tests and interview

C: References

A B C

Qualifications and Experience

A degree and teaching qualification x

NPQH (or working towards) x

Professional learning - higher degree / leadership development x

At least five years successful strategic leadership experience with evidence of leadership impact on pupil progress and outcomes

x x

Successful headship and / or senior leadership experience x

Track record in leading and managing the successful implementation of processes and procedures to drive whole school improvement

x x

Experience of leading and managing successful teams and managing change to achieve improved outcomes

x x

Evidence of implementing effective leadership, staff development and team building in order to deliver school improvement

x x

Experience and evidence of working effectively with a governing body and wider educational community

x x x

Experience of building successful alliances with the community and wider education system

x x

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Track record of providing strong safeguarding practice x x x

Evidence of excellent management of human and financial resources at senior level

x x

Skills and Knowledge: Competencies

Demonstrate evidence of outstanding leadership and management of teaching and learning

x x

Inspire, motivate and lead staff, students and parents/carers to achieve ambitious outcomes and excel

x x

Plan strategically with a sense of priority to achieve vision and goals x

Deploy range of leadership styles appropriately to achieve desired outcomes and hold others to account

x

Deal sensitively with people, resolve conflict and challenge underperformance

x

Work constructively with the Trust and the local advisory body to achieve the academy’s and Trust’s ambitions

x

Demonstrate high level strategic thinking and organisational skills x

Model entrepreneurial and innovative approaches to school improvement, leadership and governance

x x

Demonstrate substantial experience / knowledge of education and school systems including policy environment, curriculum innovation leading to improved outcomes for pupils and students

x x

Work collaboratively and in partnership with others – within the academy, the Trust and the wider educational community – to improve outcomes for all children and young people

x

x

Interpret data effectively and use target-setting, data analysis, research findings and curriculum innovation to improve progress and performance

x

Demonstrate excellent oral and written skills x x

Build an open and collaborative culture in which practice is supported, shared and improved

x

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A B C

Personal attributes: able to demonstrate

Strong commitment to working with children and young people – high aspirations for all

x x

Commitment to public service values and the values of the Trust x x

A willingness to embrace and promote EMAT’s vision for its Trust and for its academies

x

Integrity and strong moral purpose to improve life chances all pupils/ students

x

Lead by example with integrity, humility, resilience and clarity x

Optimistic personal behaviour, positive relationships and presence when working with all members of the school community

x

Robust disposition – demonstrating energy, emotional and physical resilience – excellent attendance record

x x

Adaptability to changing circumstances and new ideas – innovative and creative

x x x

Excellent interpersonal skills – able to negotiate, challenge, demonstrate diplomacy and build alliances

x

Effective skills to mentor, coach and support others to become highly effective leaders

x

Strong ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and demonstrate perseverance

x

Analysis and synthesis of complex ideas and communicate effectively in easily understood terms to a variety of audiences

x

Political and financial astuteness, demonstrating insight, using evidence, anticipating trends and calculating risks

x

Strong sense of moral and professional accountability to fulfil the requirements of the post

x

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This job description will be reviewed annually and may be subject to amendment or modification any time after reviewing with the post holder. It is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations of the Trust in relation to the post holder’s professional responsibilities and duties.

Equal Opportunities

It is the policy of EMAT to provide equal opportunities for all individuals; to prohibit discrimination in employment on any basis protected by applicable law, including but not limited to race, colour, religious creed, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, age, medical condition or disability.

EMAT promotes equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment through positive employment policies and practice.

If any special requirements are needed to attend an interview, please inform the trust.

East Midlands Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS Disclosure.