Head of Primary
Description
Purpose of Role
As a Senior Leader, you are critical in supporting the Head of School in establishing both a School of Choice and an Employer of Choice. You report to your Head of School and work in active, positive collaboration with your Senior Leadership Team. You are accountable for delivering on the desired outcomes in each of the components listed below, and the ongoing development of the school and learning improvement.
ISP Principles
Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.
Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.
Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.
Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.
Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Safeguarding and Wellbeing. You are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the students and adults in your area of responsibility. This includes all activities, operations and policies to ensure students and adults are kept safe both physically and mentally, removing barriers and personalising learning. You model and foster an open culture and inclusive atmosphere where everyone cares for one another and focuses on learning and getting better. You work in collaboration with your teams to gather, learn from, and act on feedback to inform your decisions in creating an inclusive learning environment. You are crucial in supporting your Head of School to ensure a safe, open, caring, collaborative and inclusive space exists for everyone to grow and develop.
Culture Building. You model your shared ideas that are underpinned by ISP’s principles and learning approach. You nurture and drive a learning-focused atmosphere in your area of responsibility. You notice, support, and provide opportunities for staff to develop professionally and personally. You acknowledge and celebrate individual successes and achievements. In collaboration with other Senior Leaders in your school, you actively support, encourage and inspire your school community, contributing to a positive school atmosphere.
Leadership and Development. You understand your own strengths and areas for development, knowing when to take action and when to seek advice, support or mentor. You lead with vision, empathy and integrity. You actively connect, collaborate and engage with your teams and the wider school community to continually innovate and improve. You establish and monitor systems and procedures to support staff learning and motivation. You recruit, develop and retain talent. Your support for your middle leaders empowers them to effectively build and lead high-impact and collaborative teams. Your coaching and mentoring develop self-directed middle leaders and learners, who in turn are able to do the same for their own teams.
Learning and Embedding Quality. You support your Head of School, collaborate with your peers and empower your teams to focus on the quality of learning in your area of responsibility to ensure movement towards Mastering in the 9 criteria of ISP’s Learning Improvement Process. You model your own continual learning and plan and lead meaningful professional learning opportunities for your staff. You promote dialogue and reflection on learning and improvement. You facilitate and engage in professional and respectful dialogue with teachers, parents and the ISP community about learning and teaching, inspiring a shared commitment to getting better. Your teachers feel confident to have open and honest conversations about the learning of their students, their own learning and how they can get better. You and your leadership team regularly gather, document and analyse evidence of learning and use this to inform your teams’ decision-making process and work with your middle leaders to identify targets and action steps for improving learning for all.
Partnership with ISP. You are committed to working in partnership with ISP, specifically with the Regional Director of Learning and, when required, and other members of your Regional Team. You harness the potential of the ISP network through building and nurturing collaborative relationships with colleagues in other ISP schools. You understand and value ISP’s role as a trusted advisor and resource to support you in your role as a learning leader. You see the school as part of the group and articulate the added value of being an ISP school to your teams. You understand your collective responsibility to the school and ISP, successfully balancing the school’s interests with ISP’s purpose and principles.
Partnership with Parents, Carers and the wider community. You support and provide opportunities for your school community to build positive relationships. You foster a culture of partnership based on effective, regular direct communication and two-way feedback between teachers and parents. Together with your teaching teams, you help parents and carers understand the school’s shared ideas about learners and learning in ways that help them to engage confidently when talking about what their child is getting better at, what their next steps are, and how they will be supported at home. Accessible and available to parents and carers, you ensure their individual needs are understood and that they feel informed and involved as valued members of the school’s learning community. You represent your school to the wider community, third-party vendors, regulatory bodies and others, and you excel in forging and developing beneficial connections.
Communication and Admissions. You are a clear and compelling storyteller, articulating the vision and story of your division and ISP in a way that inspires parents, students and colleagues. You have a clear understanding of the learning in your area of responsibility and can effectively communicate the ways in which your school is improving the learning of the students and teachers. You contribute to both your school’s and your region’s efforts to share stories of Amazing Learning to support Admissions. You contribute to your Senior Leadership Team’s effort in using parent feedback and NPS data to guide future plans and parent/carer engagement.
ISP Leadership Competencies
You consistently demonstrate and role-model the ISP Leadership Competencies in all that you do.
- Collaboration. Takes an active part in leading their school or region; is cooperative and a genuine team player, developing positive, supportive relationships with colleagues to solve problems and maximise opportunities.
- Learning & Getting Better. Continually demonstrates personal commitment and passion for learning and getting better using evidence and feedback; supporting others in their continual learning, development and growth.
- Innovation Leadership. Is good at creating an environment where ideas for learning initiatives and services are generated and is able to motivate and inspire others through the process of creation through to completion.
- Outcome driven. Can be counted on to find solutions. Is consistently looking to exceed goals and is focused on KPIs.
- Resilience. Can deal with setbacks and challenges calmly and effectively.
- Community Focus. Is committed to meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of our students and their families.
- Integrity & Ethical Management. Has the ability to work ethically and with integrity; helps others feel valued; upholds and models the ISP Vision, Purpose and Principles.
- Leading & Inspiring Others. Supports, encourages and inspires students, colleagues and teams so that they give their best.
- Understanding People. Is a very good judge of talent, can objectively articulate the strengths and motivations of people inside or outside the organisation.
- Influencing & Communication. Consistently informs, influences and inspires students, parents and colleagues through timely and effective communication.
- Agile. Responds and adapts to changing circumstances; manages and solves problems by providing solutions in a climate of ambiguity.
- Strategic, Commercial & Financial Awareness. Has the ability to apply understanding of the business and industry to improve effectiveness and profitability.
- Planning & Decision Making. Makes decisions on the best course of action and then plans, organises, prioritises and balances resources to achieve the desired outcome.
- Diversity & Equity. Has the sensitivity, awareness and skill to understand the values, behaviours, attitudes and practices across cultures that supports all children and adults to learn and work effectively.
ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles
ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.
ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.