Leadership 12 - 16

Full Time, Permanent

31 December 2024

About us
We are a lively co-educational, multi ethnic academy based in North London. Our students are highly aspirational, engaging, interesting and key learners.
Our school motto is: Inspire to Excel
Our motto is transmitted through staff and governors helping our students to develop their capacity and potential to exceed in their academic and social skills development in an engaging and safe learning environment.
Character education i.e. the qualities of tolerance, optimism, perseverance, respect, integrity, resilience, confidence, community spirit, self-discipline and courtesy prepares our students for life beyond school. We are clear that these qualities are essential for a successful and productive life as an active citizen now and in the future.
Our academy is committed to helping young people develop such qualities as they underpin our belief that the role of a school – together all families and the wider community – is to support the development of well-rounded young adults. The Governors and staff here at Duke’s Aldridge Academy work hard to ensure that our students receive an outstanding educational experience, which will open doors and pathways once they leave the school at 16.
Join Aldridge Education in bringing learning to life and ensuring no one is left behind.
Job Description
Overall Purpose of the Role:
The Assistant Principal will play a vital role as a member of the School’s SLT, strategically leading all aspect of culture, including line managing key staff, as well as being a key contributor the rest of the work of the school. The successful candidate will have the skills to contribute to the development of teaching, learning and assessment at the academy, demonstrating a thorough and current knowledge of theory and practice as well as an understanding of evidence-based research and coaching.
Leadership
The Assistant Principal will:

• Strategically lead the school aspect of culture, behaviour and pastoral care, ensuring that stakeholders are clear on their responsibilities, providing training, support and challenge so that all students thrive. This includes the implementation of routines and the culture aspect of our school improvement model
• Use data effectively to see patterns and trends, using this to inform the work that the school does to improve culture and behaviour
• Drive attendance, attitudes to learning and safeguarding through strong strategic direction, excellent line management, support and challenge, and clear lines of accountability
• Maintain and update the relevant policies under the direction of the principal
• Manage staff and resources within the remit of the role
• Monitor, evaluate and adapt the impact of the strategic and operational work of the academy to ensure the strongest provision for students
• Support the Principal and Vice Principals in the day-to-day management of the academy
• Communicate Aldridge and the Academy’s vision compellingly and support the Principal’s strategic leadership
• Develop an ethos of self-review and improvement, where all members of the academy community have opportunities to contribute and are able to do so without fear of failure in a culture that promotes equality, diversity and respect
• Lead by example, focusing on providing an excellent education for all students.
• Be an excellent role model for staff and students reflecting on own skills and demonstrating a desire to improve and learn; modelling the behaviours and communication that enable all stakeholders to thrive
• Build positive relationships with members of the academy community
• Keep up to date with developments in education
• Seek training and continuing professional development to meet own needs

Managing Staff

• Assist with the selection and recruitment of new teaching staff
• Contribute to and participate in the appraisal process
• Ensure that all new staff members are fully inducted into the school systems, processes and culture
• Create an ethos within which direct reports are empowered, motivated, supported and hold responsibility to develop their skills, knowledge and practice to the highest of standards
• Demonstrate excellent performance against parts one and two of the teacher’s standards: teaching and personal and professional conduct
• Implement strategies and initiatives to share best practice with others in the Academy, developing confidence and skills in others

Specific Responsibilities for Behaviour, Culture and Pastoral Care

• Leading the work of the school to ensure student behaviour, including attitudes to learning, attendance and punctuality and uniform are as strong as they can be at all times for all groups of students, despite their starting points.
• Develop and embed new practice with stakeholders, listening and collaborating with them so that they are invested in the success of the work.
• Lead and manage a team of Heads of Year and related staff to ensure regular tracking of pupil access to the curriculum, high standards of behaviour and positive attitudes to learning.
• Ensure that Heads of Year, and staff are clear about their accountabilities for student safety, behaviour and welfare.
• Disseminate and lead relevant practice, training, coaching and support related to the management of behaviour for learning into the school within an agreed framework.
• Hold responsibility for the implementation and impact of school policies on behaviour and attitudes to learning.
• Work in partnership with key staff to ensure any student in need of additional support is referred in a timely manner.
• Liaise with parents and external agencies to secure appropriate intervention and provision for the wellbeing and achievement of learners.
• To undertake as required other duties and responsibilities relevant to the job or the seniority of the post as directed by the Principal.

Further details about the role including the full job description and person specification can be found in the document link at the bottom of the page.
Operating Norms
We believe that the way we operate at all times and with all partners is of paramount importance.
Our agreed operating norms are as follows:

• We are Aldridge Education
• The standard is excellence
• We champion equality
• We’re in the work together
• We behave with integrity
• We lead by example
• We use time well

Equal Opportunities
To know and adhere to Aldridge Education equal opportunities policy and equalities legislation and implement in relation to job responsibilities in employment and service delivery.
Safeguarding Statement:
Aldridge Education is committed to working together to safeguard and provide help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Following successful application, Aldridge Education will carry out the necessary prohibition checks for all teaching staff, as well as for all candidates undertaking regulated activity.
If you are shortlisted for the position you are applying for, you will be required to complete a Declaration giving details of any relevant criminal offences and other relevant information relating to our safeguarding duty. Further information will be provided on that form.
Given the nature of the Trust’s activities and the regulatory framework it is subject to, any offer of employment will be made conditional upon a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and barred list check carried out by the Trust (where applicable to the role in question). It is an express condition if you are appointed to the role that you join the DBS update service.
If you are shortlisted for the position you are applying for, Aldridge Education will undertake online searches (including social media) in accordance with KCSIE 2024.
This role is considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means standard and enhanced DBS checks will now always show all unspent records, including youth conditional cautions, meaning some previously unrecorded details will now be disclosed.
Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
Benefits
Join the Aldridge Education Family!
Looking for a fulfilling career with great perks? Here's why working for Aldridge Education is the right choice for you:
✨ Aldridge Benefits Scheme – Enjoy exclusive offers and discounts tailored just for you!

Cycle to Work Scheme – Save money and stay fit with our bike-friendly benefits.
• Employee Assistance Programme – Your well-being matters! Access free, confidential support whenever you need it.
• Flexible Working Opportunities – Balance work and life with flexibility that suits you.
Free On-Site Parking – No more hunting for parking, we’ve got your spot covered.
Generous Annual Leave – Start with a great holiday allowance, and it gets even better after 5 years!
Pension Schemes – Secure your future with access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Refer a Friend Scheme – Know someone who would love it here? Earn rewards by bringing them on board!

Our Vision and Values Our Motto
Inspire to Excel
Our Vision
Duke’s Aldridge Academy provides an outstanding education within a vibrant community where the expectation is to excel. For each individual we promote achievement, success, strength of character, tolerance and a love for learning. We provide the support, challenge and breadth of experience which ensure our students become creative, resilient and successful adults.
Our Values
We are a values-driven organisation with a commitment to non-selective, inclusive
schools providing children and young people with an exceptional educational
experience.
We value:

• our students, their potential, their contributions and their aspirations
• the community we serve and its right to locally provided, high quality education
• the cultural diversity and richness of our community within the context of British
  Values
• academic rigour at all stages to create a learning environment that provides challenge,
  engagement and achievement
• respect, fairness, courtesy and the right to equality of opportunity as the entitlement of
  each member of the academy community
• ‘professional integrity’ and transparency
• our staff and their right to professional development and growth

The academy enjoys a rich mix of culturally diverse students drawn from one of London’s most ethnically vibrant wards. This socio-economic profile shields a positive and vital aspect of our academy’s community. The academy’s specialism is for expressive arts (music, media and art).
The outcome of the last Ofsted inspection in October 2019 was that ‘this school continues to be good’. We continue our journey to the goal of outstanding in the next inspection.