HeadCandidate

Information

Dear Potential Applicant,

I have loved my time at Alderley Edge School for Girls. It is a fantastic

school which is going from strength to strength and would offer a really

exciting opportunity for an ambitious senior leader. The School offers a

through-school experience from the age of two to the age of eighteen,

although over 50% of our cohort join us in Year 7 where we currently

have a waiting list. We are proud of our ecumenical heritage and focus on

girls developing the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve their

academic and personal potential. Our girls leave as young women with

the skills and character to continue to flourish outside of the school gates.

I have a fantastic senior leadership team, two of whom are ISI inspectors.

There is an energy, enthusiasm and positivity about the team that

ensures that strategy is forward-looking and focusing on what is best for

each individual child. We are proud to be at the forefront of technology-

enhanced learning and we are not only an Apple Distinguished School but

also an Apple Regional Training Centre.

We have invested extensively in our buildings since I joined the School

in 2016 and we have enhanced our sporting facilities extensively. Indeed,

we enjoy national success in sport, and this reflects the enthusiasm of my

staff for broadening girls’ education beyond the classroom. We offer a vast

array of GCSE and A level subjects and, in addition, offer three Level 3

qualifications in sixth form alongside the EPQ.

Alderley Edge is a wonderful village and offers the benefits of a beautiful

rural environment in close proximity to Manchester and Chester with

fantastic transport links.

I wish you all the very best in the event that you apply to lead this

wonderful school.

Best wishes,

Mrs Helen Jeys

September 2019

The SchoolAlderley Edge School for Girls (GSA, ISA) aims to bring together the

best of education for girls aged from 2 to 18. It inspires girls to achieve

in academic subjects knowing each girl’s strengths and challenges,

drawing on cutting-edge educational research and the long experience of

educating girls. The approach to education is holistic; valuing academic

curiosity, spiritual development, moral awareness, creativity and the

enjoyment of physical prowess.

The atmosphere is one of robust yet kindly encouragement. Girls are

surrounded by examples of high-achieving women and reminded that

success comes in many forms and in many places.

The size of the whole school, at around 500, ensures careful attention to

each individual while providing a wealth of opportunities. The academic

curriculum is wide, extra-curricular activities are broad-ranging and the

School is outward-looking, making the most of local connections and

contributing to the local community.

It is on the edge of the delightful village of Alderley Edge and draws

on the affluent Cheshire and Greater Manchester area. It is a lovely

environment in which to live, close to beautiful walking countryside as well

as having easy access to Manchester – the regional cultural capital – with

concert halls, theatres and art galleries, as well as an excellent shopping

and restaurant scene!

The School is very well placed to be a beacon girls’ medium-sized school.

The next Head will be taking over a thriving school with an appetite to

be at the forefront of girls’ education. Helen Jeys, the present Head,

is leaving to take up the headship of Manchester High School for Girls

and has moved Alderley Edge School forward in a number of key areas.

The School is on an upward trajectory and offers a wonderful headship

opportunity for a person who wants to lead this exciting school.

HistoryThe present School is the amalgamation of two schools in the village of

Alderley Edge. St Hilary’s School was founded in 1876 and Mount Carmel

Roman Catholic School opened in 1945. Coming together in 1999, a

leading girls’ school was created that had a Christian ecumenical vision for

the future. These religious traditions from the past are the backdrop of the

School today which now welcomes girls from all backgrounds.

Location & FacilitiesLocated on the former premises of the Catholic school, on the

outskirts of Alderley Edge, the present School combines traditional

buildings with modern extensions and redesigns. The overall feel is

light and airy. Impressive recent developments include new sports

facilities, a complete refit of the Nursery and Early Years’ facility and

extensive redecoration. The School has further sports facilities a short

walk from the main campus.

Academic & Pastoral MattersThe last two years have produced the best examination results in the

School’s history. Improvements at the top of the ability level are particularly

noticeable but the value-added scores are very high across the board.

In the Senior School, the curriculum is broad and balanced. Small class

sizes – around 20 – ensure no girl is overlooked and supported learning is

available from specialist staff led by a Learning Enhancement Coordinator.

For the academically able and curious, the School offers HPQs for Year 9

girls and EPQs in the Sixth Form where the range of subjects continues

to be broad. Three Level 3 courses in ICT, Food and Nutrition and Health

and Social Care run alongside A levels. The School is an active participant

in the Junior North West Gifted and Talented programme, hosting events

at the School. Sixth formers move onto an impressive range of higher

education courses – medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and STEM

subjects, as well as humanity and creative arts courses. Many go to

Russell Group universities, a few to Oxbridge; as well as destinations such

as The London College of Fashion.

The Junior School aims to provide a happy and active experience for

the girls, offering lots of hands-on experience. The Juniors are nurtured

in an atmosphere where traditional virtues are valued and the teaching

draws on the most modern techniques. The School draws on the subject

expertise of some senior school staff to enrich specific areas.

Pastoral care is outstanding throughout the School. It is based on the form

structure with Heads of Years overseeing the consistent excellent practice.

A student wellbeing counsellor visits regularly and there is a full-time

nurse. Mindfulness is well embedded throughout the School, ensuring a

proactive approach to pastoral care.

The spiritual life of the School is a key part of its pastoral and holistic

ethos and its approach to the development of each girl. Eucharist and

Holy Communion are held each half term and the School has close links

through its Governors with both Anglican and Catholic churches. The new

Head will be supportive of this aspect of school life.

School StructureThe School caters for girls aged from 2 – 18 and is divided into the

Nursery, Juniors and Seniors. There are approximately 150 in the Junior

School and 350 in the Senior School.

The School provides care from 7.30am to 5:45 pm in

age-appropriate clubs.

Extra-curricularA wide programme of extra-curricular activities runs throughout

the School, including a number of sports, music, dance and drama

opportunities, a Model United Nations group and the Duke of Edinburgh

Award Scheme. Engineering is particularly strong with supportive links

through the locally based Siemens company. Girls are entering for

regional and national competitions in all sorts of fields, often winning

awards. This is a school that punches above its weight.

There are many overseas trips including subject-focused visits

and European exchanges and the School is involved with the

Erasmus Scheme.

School Community The School builds increasingly strong connections with its alumnae

who regularly give career talks over a lunch. Photographs of successful

alumnae are hung in public spaces to reinforce the message that girls who

have attended the School go on to achieve highly in a range of fields.

There is a strong Parents’ Association that organises social and

fundraising events.

The School has built up firm connections with local businesses and the

community. It has an important partnership with Apple, winning Apple

Distinguished School Status, and is now an Apple Regional Training

Centre. This is in recognition of its innovative exploration of technology-

enhanced learning.

Governance & Leadership The Board comprises 12 Governors who have a range of expertise

including finance, business and education. The Full Board meets six

times a year. There are Committees for the curriculum, marketing and

development, buildings and finance. The Head and Bursar attend all

Committee and Board meetings.

Helen Jeys is Head of the all-through School. The SLT consists of the

Senior School Deputy Head, the Senior School Deputy Head (Academic),

the Junior School Deputy Head, Head of Sixth Form, Junior School

Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Junior School Pastoral Coordinator,

the Director of Development and the Bursar. The Bursar is also Clerk to

the Governors and works with the Head to deliver the School’s vision and

strategic development plan.

School FinanceThe School has financed considerable building developments over the

last few years. It has healthy reserves with no loans or school debts.

Scholarships are generally offered at 11+ and 16+ for academic, sporting,

musical, artistic and performing arts excellence. A small number of

bursaries are also available.

Development & Marketing There has been a recent drive to engage in development work to raise

funds for bursaries and engage with alumnae and the local community in

a number of productive ways. The Director of Development also oversees

marketing. There have been successful Bursary Balls and a first capital

appeal to refurbish the library has been recently launched. Considerable

work has gone into building relationships with feeder schools, very

necessary in this highly competitive area.

A strategic development plan, running from 2017-2022, includes:

• Continuing to improve academic standards and results alongside sustaining Apple Distinguished Status

• Continuing to develop proactive approaches to pastoral care

• Promoting the value of single-sex education

• Maintaining a robust financial status

• Focusing on the recruitment and retention of both the best staff and girls

Job Description Strategic Leadership• Work with the School Governors and the Senior Leadership Team

to evolve and articulate the vision for the School and ensure this is translated into plans and objectives which are delivered to sustain continuous improvement and success

• Lead, motivate and work with others to ensure the culture and values to underpin the vision are demonstrated in the everyday work and practice of everyone, throughout the School community

• Promote the School’s aims to build confidence in the girls to leave the School with a belief in themselves, achieving not only academic success but also a well-rounded education with high achievement in a broad range of activities

• Deploy commercial acumen to the business aspects of the School and have a comprehensive understanding of budgets, financial controls and parameters and seek opportunities for the School to grow and enhance its revenue

• Working with the Junior School Leadership Team, develop and articulate a vision for a seamless continuum of education through the School for pupils aged 2 to 18 years

Marketing & Recruitment• Lead the strategy for the recruitment and retention of pupils to grow

pupil numbers (whilst maintaining academic standards) by clearly differentiating the offer and its delivery against strong local competition

• Recruit, select, admit and retain pupils, seeking to maintain and develop the reputation of the School for its academic performance, its achievements in extra-curricular activities and for pupils’ personal, moral and spiritual development

• Build relationships with parents and ensure excellent communications between the School and the parent body

• Effectively deploy resources and procedures for the promotion and marketing of the School

• Cultivate strong relationships with feeder schools and the local community

• Work with the Director of Development to agree a strategy for developing and marketing the School through both digital and traditional methods

Leading Teaching & Learning• Build on the academic vision with a continuous focus on developing

pupils’ learning habits to encourage independence, confidence and academic success

• Continue to explore and evolve creative, responsive and effective approaches to learning and teaching alongside the Senior Leadership Team and the wider teaching body

• Further develop, implement and monitor appropriate academic, pastoral, moral and spiritual curricular in accordance with the School’s aims

• Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning and its impact on pupil outcomes and value added; implement appropriate developments to ensure this is of the highest order

• Maintain a consistent and continuous school-wide focus on girls’ achievements using an effective assessment framework, data recording, benchmarks and feedback to monitor progress in each girl’s learning

• Create a culture of challenge and support where all girls can achieve success and become engaged in their learning

• Demonstrate and articulate high expectations and set challenging targets for the whole School community

• Sustain and enhance the School’s academic achievements in public examinations and provide high-quality advice and encouragement for pupils’ higher education and future careers

• Recruit and lead well-qualified and committed teaching staff, deploying them skillfully and maintaining their morale and discipline

• Ensure that the highest standards of professional performance are met and that teachers are encouraged to enrich the girls’ experience through inspirational teaching and a commitment to extra-curricular activity

Developing Self & Working with Others• Ensure effective planning, allocation and evaluation of team and

individual work and performance

• Listen to, respect and take into account the views of others

• Maintain and develop effective strategies and practices for staff induction, professional development, leadership experience and performance reviews

• Take the lead by embracing the School’s performance development process for the Head and participating in his/her own development training

• Articulate and maintain a culture of high expectation for self and others

• Through regular contact, cultivate a particularly close understanding with the Chair of Governors, establishing mutual confidence

• Develop and maintain contacts with other Heads and the Heads’ Associations

Managing the School• Ensure an organisational structure is in place which supports the values

and goals of the School and enables effective, efficient operations

• Produce and implement clear, effective improvement plans to ensure the continuous development of the School

• Ensure effective strategies, policies and practices are in place to manage the financial, human and physical resources of the School, to successfully deliver the School’s aims and ensure compliance with all regulatory and statutory requirements

• Liaise with the Bursar and exhibit a keen awareness of budget planning and efficient financial management to ensure that the School has appropriate resources for all of its activities

• Ensure that the range, quality and use of all available resources, including technology, is continuously monitored and reviewed to improve the quality of education

• Ensure that the School’s safeguarding policies are understood and implemented effectively by all staff and that the pastoral care for girls is of the highest quality through a focus on the wellbeing of every child

• Ensure that the School complies with all statutory and regulatory requirements in cooperation with the Governors

• Contribute to the briefing and updating of Governors on the ISSRs and the School’s readiness for inspection

Underpinning the Community• Ensure that the School’s long tradition of charitable work and its part in

the community are continued and strengthened

• Promote the development of a forward-looking and supportive environment and develop a strong sense of community

• Attend events and occasions across the whole School and in the local community, acting as a role model for pupils, appreciating their efforts and supporting their extra-curricular activities in clubs, sports and arts

• Create a culture of encouragement, inclusivity and respect for others, whether within or outside the community

• Maintain effective partnerships with parents to support and improve the pupils’ achievements and development

• Promote the academic, spiritual, moral, social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of pupils as a priority within the community, and work collaboratively with relevant agencies where appropriate

Person Specification Qualifications• Good Honours Degree

• Evidence of continuous professional development

Experience• Extensive teaching experience across a wide age range

• Leadership at Head, Deputy or equivalent seniority with whole-school management experience in one or more key areas of responsibility and a clear understanding of leading and managing an all-through school

• Successful track record in leading achievement of high standards in pastoral care and pupil development and achievement

• Experience of aspects of the ‘business’ of a school in a competitive market

Knowledge• In-depth understanding of the key education issues and developments,

from primary through to higher education

• Sound knowledge of the relevant regulatory and inspection frameworks

• Excellent understanding of learning and teaching strategies

• School or non-school business acumen

Skills/Abilities• Inspires and motivates others; able to gain commitment to a vision and

values and shape the ethos of the School

• Excellent communicator with exceptional networking and interpersonal skills

• Strong management skills; committed and able to manage the performance and development of staff

• Able to see the bigger picture whilst grasping the detail

• Sound planning and organisational skills; effective prioritisation, delegation and time management

• Evidence-based approach to decision making; takes action to identify and resolve issues based on sound judgement and analysis

• Management of financial and marketing objectives, including enhancement and development of revenues

Personal Qualities• Inspirational and aspirational

• Intellectually and emotionally intelligent

• Personable and collaborative

• Sets high standards for self and others

• Adaptable and versatile

• Driven, resilient, focused and committed

• Passionate about the development and fulfilment of pupils and staff

• Articulate and credible with gravitas and charisma

• Committed to single-sex and girls’ education

• Encouraging, supportive and compassionate

• Able to guide and develop the spiritual life of the School

Remuneration PackageA competitive salary (reviewed annually effective 1st September) will be

offered commensurate with the status and responsibilities of the role, and

supported by a package to include:

• Teachers’ Pension Scheme (membership is currently subject to review)

• Private medical insurance

• Generous staff fee remission scheme

• Assistance with removal expenses

The Head’s appointment will be subject to one year’s notice (one term

during the first year).

The appointment will of course be subject to all the usual vetting and

barring checks including:

• Full references from previous employers, including your current employer

• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

• Prohibition from teaching or management

• Childcare Disqualification

• Identity, Right to Work in UK and qualifications

• Medical fitness to carry out the duties of the post of Head

Application ProcessInterested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics by email or

telephone to arrange a confidential discussion with:

Camilla Oulton

camillaoulton@rsacademics.com / 07375 852560

or in her absence:

Sarah Evans

sarahevans@rsacademics.com / 07703 603996

Candidates should complete their application form electronically and

email it to RSAcademics together with a short covering letter (addressed

to The Chair of Governors, Mrs Shirley Herring) explaining their motivation

in applying for this post. There is no need to submit a CV.

Please email both documents as PDF files to Alison Hooper, Project

Coordinator at applications@rsacademics.com

The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 18th October 2019

at 10:00am

The appointment process is then as follows:

• All applications will be acknowledged by email. If you have not received acknowledgement that your application has been received within two working days of submitting it, please contact RSAcademics by telephone 01858 383163.

• Selected candidates will be invited to take part in preliminary interviews with Sarah Evans, Senior Advisor in Birmingham on Monday 4th or Tuesday 5th November.

• Longlist interviews will be held at the School on Wednesday 20th or Thursday 21st November.

• Shortlist interviews will be held at the School on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th November.

Founded in 2002 by Russell Speirs, RSAcademics specialises in schools, in the UK and internationally, advising on marketing strategy and research, leadership

consultancy and the search and selection of Heads and senior staff. Comprising a team of top schools marketing professionals and respected former school leaders, RSAcademics provides a high-quality service to schools with rigour, experience and warmth. Please visit www.rsacademics.com for more information.