Salary Range £90,000 - £125,000 dependent upon skills and experience
Full Time Permanent (teaching terms and conditions) – 222 working days
Following the retirement of the current post holder, we are looking to recruit a strong dynamic, innovative, passionate person to provide inspirational leadership and direction to the College, further strengthening our culture of inclusivity and success. As Principal, you will have the opportunity to lead an enthusiastic and energetic senior team and committed and motivated staff who care deeply about the success and wellbeing of the students and the continued success of the College.
The College is one of the largest, most successful and inclusive 16-19 providers of general academic sixth form education in the country with approximately 3,250 students. We offer approximately 50 Advanced Level or equivalent Level 3, plus some Level 2 courses and our Additional Studies Programmes offers all students over 80 options that provide enrichment, skills and employability opportunities to ensure they receive a comprehensive rounded experience at the College. We place strong importance on the personal development and progression of each individual student and the College provides a bridge between the worlds of school and of higher education or employment. Our aim is to give students the skills, experiences, opportunities, qualifications and guidance needed to progress and successfully make the transition to the adult world.
The ethos and atmosphere in the College is very positive and vibrant with a strong sense of community. Staff are motivated, committed and valued. They share the vision, values and ethos of the College. As Principal you will be responsible for developing and shaping the future of this community and ensuring we continue with our excellent work.
The appointee will take up post Mid August 2024
Person Specification
Education Qualifications and Training
- Educated to Degree level
- PGCE and qualified teacher status i.e. QTS or QTLS
- Leadership/management qualification, ideally (NPQSL/NPQH/SFCA qualification)
- Recent and Relevant Professional Development
Experience
- A good level of experience with at least 3 years’ recent senior management experience in a college or school
- Significant experience of A level curriculum, ideally in a post-16 environment
- A demonstrable track record of strategic and innovative thinking and translating this into effective outputs
- Proven experience of creating, developing and sustaining effective teams
- Highly developed negotiating, influencing and persuading skills
- Recent successful experience of working with governing bodies and external agencies
- Experience of successful financial management including responsibility for managing and setting significant budgets.
- An experienced practitioner with a proven understanding of teaching and learning and the changing demands of the curriculum for the 16-19 age range
- Experience of driving curriculum and educational provision that is demanding and inclusive
- Experience of analysing and using data to establish benchmarks and set challenging targets for improvement
- Experience and knowledge of student pastoral care, welfare and safeguarding including emotional and social development.
Personal Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
- A high level of personal and professional integrity
- Understanding of and commitment to the promotion of equality, diversity, inclusion safeguarding and the health and wellbeing of students.
- A commitment to the College’s pastoral programme and ability to support the work of senior tutors, tutors and specialist staff, demonstrating that students’ needs and aspirations are always at the heart of the decision-making process
- A strong commitment to additionality, enrichment and personal development aspects of 16-19 education.
- Ability to articulate a clear vision for the College, develop coherent strategies to support this vision, create consensus and lead whole College implementation
- Ability to lead, manage, motivate and inspire staff to achieve the highest levels of performance
- Demonstrable ability to improve the quality of learning and teaching including by the effective use of new technologies.
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate, consult and negotiate effectively with Governors, individually and collectively and with a wide range of other individuals, professional bodies and organisations
- Incisive thinking, educational vision, the ability to inspire, motivate and enthuse others
- Highly effective written and oral communication and presentation skills
- Knowledge of the principles of good governance with an ability to actively work with Governors in their roles in setting strategy and holding the senior managers to account for student, staff & financial performance
- Knowledge of current developments in post-16 education, including funding, organisation, curriculum and governance.
- Resilience and ability to deal with pressure.
The post will carry a salary in a range starting at £90,000 per annum and will involve ‘on-site’ working of 222 days, in particular a number of days in the mid/late August period following the release of A level and GCSE results
Teaching staff are also eligible to join the national Teacher’s Pensions Scheme, which the College continues to offer.
Salary sacrifice scheme for cycle to work is available to all College staff.
A relocation package is available if the appointee lives outside the area and meets the criteria – please refer to separate attachment.
Please refer to the ‘About’ tab for additional relevant information with regard to the College and the 2017 OFSTED Inspection report. Within the ‘Courses’ section are details of each departmental curriculum area and course information sheets and within the ‘Documents’ section are the College prospectus and examination results, amongst other materials.
To Apply
To apply we ask that you complete a College application form (please see link at top left of this page) and submit to humanresources@colchsfc.ac.uk (unaccompanied CV’s and third-party application forms will not be accepted). If you would prefer a word document version of the application form please e-mail humanresources@colchsfc.ac.uk
Please include a Personal Statement (of not more than 600 words please) in which you should highlight the leadership contributions you would envisage making to enable an outstanding Sixth Form College to further improve.
Shortlisting is expected to take place in early December and successful candidates will be invited to attend for interview in January 2024. It is anticipated that interviews will take place over two days and accommodation expenses will be met for candidates where appropriate.