Ref: SCH-PAT-0065

Start date: To be agreed

Salary:  Leadership 18b-24b (£64,143 - £74,295). Starting point will be determined by the experience of the successful candidate

Halfpenny Lane Junior, Infant & Nursery School in Pontefract is a vibrant and forward thinking 3-11, oversubscribed two-form entry school and is one of the largest primary schools in the Wakefield Local Authority. The school converted to academy status in 2013 when it joined Pontefract Academies Trust. A fantastic opportunity is available for a new Headteacher with the ambition, creativity and skill set to build on the school’s many strengths and provide the strategic leadership that will take it to the next level.

The school is in a strong place with firm foundations as evidenced by the 'good' Ofsted inspection of 2019. Year 6 SATs combined outcomes that academic year of 84% placed the school in the top 10 highest attaining primary schools in the LA. The school’s greatest strength is the committed and talented staff and their excellent relationships with pupils. There is a determination across the staff to improve further with a realistic ambition to be recognised as ‘outstanding’. The new Headteacher must be able to harness that motivation and energy, providing the operational and strategic leadership that will ensure practice is consistently of the highest quality and drive further improvement.

Pontefract Academies Trust is a cross phase Multi Academy Trust comprising of eight schools; six primary schools and two 11-16 secondary schools all located within a tight geographic hub within Pontefract. It is a thriving trust which has been on a sustained journey of improvement in recent years and is ambitious to improve further, having a positive impact on more lives. Alongside trust wide priorities, there is a recognition that each school is individual, with different priorities, and needs to respond to the needs of its local community to provide the best possible opportunity for its young people. However, being part of a Multi Academy Trust means each school can benefit from shared resources and systems that allow collaboration for the benefit of the children and young people. Your professional development will also be a key priority and you will have the support of a network of highly skilled and experienced senior leaders alongside the opportunities that will inevitable present themselves from being part of a developing trust. All the Headteachers work closely together and so the new Headteacher will also have an important role to play in shaping the future of the trust, while having the support of experienced colleagues and excellent opportunities for personal development.

If you are an experienced senior leader with a successful track record of sustained improvement, this is an outstanding opportunity to lead the future development of Halfpenny Lane J, I and N School and to join a thriving and supportive trust. The ethos of the school and the Trust is simple – to ensure every pupil makes outstanding progress and are given the chance in life they deserve. The new Headteacher must share that commitment and be passionate about making a difference to pupil’s lives by providing the highest quality of education. You must be achievement focussed and whilst displaying compassion, you will work with colleagues to identify innovative ways to continually improve performance along with school leaders to ensure successful outcomes are reached. The new Headteacher’s positive, can-do spirit will engage and inspire pupils, staff and parents/carers. Above all else, you must like children and young people, and aspire to make them outstanding citizens.

Completed application forms, including a covering letter that fully addresses the competencies outlined in the role description and person specification, should be submitted online via Face-Ed before the closing date of Friday 11th February 2022. Interviews are scheduled to take place week commencing 14th February 2022; however, this is subject to change.

We are an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from everyone. Pontefract Academies Trust is wholly committed to ensuring children and young people are fully supported and safe. We are dedicated to safeguarding all children and young people whilst promoting their welfare. Any offer of employment will be subject to receipt of a satisfactory DBS Enhanced Disclosure and pre-employment checks. Shortlisted applicants will also be asked to provide a self-declaration form.