It couldn’t be a more exciting time to join Parkside School. Parkside School has just joined Wellspring Academy Trust which was recently awarded the title of Multi Academy Trust of the year. In addition, the school has appointed a new Principal for September who is keen to build a new, dynamic leadership team. As such, we are at the start of an exciting journey in this new partnership and we are looking for a like-minded, talented leader to join us on this journey. Wellspring Academy Trust is known for its inclusive practice and these values are matched by Parkside School. ‘We make a difference’ If you have the same philosophy, this may be the job for you.

Details of Wellspring Academy Trust can be found at: https://wellspringacademytrust.co.uk/

Parkside School is recruiting a Senior Vice Principal. As the sole ‘deputy’ in the school, you will be working alongside the new Principal on the next stage of its improvement journey.

We are advertising this post now whilst candidates may have the capacity to think and to visit the school. This first advertisement will close during the summer but will re-open again for a few weeks in September. The successful candidate will then have time to prepare for a January 2025 start.

It is likely that the successful candidate will already have significant senior leadership experience in school.  This post would be an excellent opportunity for someone who aspires to be a Principal in the future and, over time, you will be supported on that journey. 

The building blocks are in place for September with a new school day, curriculum offer and timetable structure, a new coaching model and a new uniform. The successful applicant will be leading one of two key areas of the school. Whilst these will include taking forward some aspect of these developments, the specific areas of responsibility will be determined upon appointment. In the first instance we are looking for the right person. Someone who holds the same values of the school and Trust but also has experience and a track record in some aspect of school improvement.

There is much to do, but you will not be working in isolation. The successful applicant will be working closely with the new Principal, the Trust wide school improvement team and will have the opportunity to visit and work with other schools to witness effective practice, using that experience to develop others at Parkside School.

Interested candidates should ensure that they have the same inclusive values as the Trust and school which will underpin whatever area of the school in which they take responsibility. You will need to lead the vision and practice across the school and as such the post holder will lead/coordinate a range of CPD for staff in this area.

Our vision for Parkside School is that Parkside School should visibly and substantively impact on the community it is embedded within. This impact should be important, meaningful and considerable. This means young people from Parkside should develop into well-rounded young people who know how to keep themselves safe. We want students to have a personal and specific hope for the future which they can articulate, believe in and share with others; students who can empathise, critique, protect, love, inspire, make, design, explore and understand; students who are willing to try things they have never done before, do things they don’t want to do and be willing to reinvent themselves to become the best that they can be.

To take Parkside forward, we will need to be courageous. We will need to try new things, be open to change and have the courage to put ourselves out of our comfort zones in order to grow.

We encourage any applicant to come and visit the school or to book an informal phone conversation about this role with Steve Tighe, Head Teacher. Please contact the school on s.tighe@wellspringacademies.org.uk to arrange a suitable time.

If you are as excited by this challenge as we are and you think this might be the role for you, please apply by completing an application form, having taken note of the attachments, by Monday 15th July before the post will be advertised again briefly in September. In your application, please make clear your area of expertise in which you feel you could lead at Parkside School.

Interviews for successfully shortlisted candidates will be undertaken in September 2024.

The School has adopted the principles of Safer Recruitment and will safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to do the same.  Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal records check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.  Parkside School is an Equal Opportunities Employer