Headteacher
Main purpose
Establish and sustain the school’s ethos and strategic direction together with the governing board and through consultation with the school community
Establish and oversee systems, processes and policies so the school can operate effectively Identify problems and barriers to school effectiveness, and develop strategies for school improvement that are realistic, timely and suited to the school’s context
Make sure these school improvement strategies are effectively implemented
Monitor progress towards achieving the school’s aims and objectives
Allocate financial resources appropriately, efficiently and effectively
Qualities
Uphold public trust in school leadership and maintain high standards of ethics, behaviour and professional conduct
Build positive and respectful relationships across the school community
Serve in the best interests of the school’s pupils and staff
Duties and responsibilities
School culture and behaviour
Create a culture where pupils experience a positive and enriching school life Uphold ambitious educational standards to prepare pupils from all backgrounds for their next phase of education and life
Ensure a culture of staff professionalism
Encourage high standards of behaviour from pupils, built on rules and routines that are understood by staff and pupils, and demonstrated by all adults in school
Use consistent and fair approaches to managing behaviour, in line with the school’s behaviour policy
Teaching, curriculum and assessment
Establish and sustain high-quality teaching across all subjects and phases, based on evidence
Ensure teaching is underpinned by subject expertise
Effectively use formative assessment to inform strategy and decisions
Ensure the teaching of a broad, structured and coherent curriculum
Establish curriculum leadership, including subject leaders with relevant expertise and access to professional networks and communities
Use valid, reliable and proportionate approaches to assessing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum
Additional and special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities
Promote a culture and practices that enables all pupils to access the curriculum Have ambitious expectations for all pupils with SEN and disabilities
Make sure the school works effectively with parents, carers and professionals to identify additional needs and provide support and adaptation where appropriate
Make sure the school fulfils statutory duties regarding the SEND Code of Practice.
Managing the school
Ensure staff and pupils’ safety and welfare through effective approaches to safeguarding, as part of a duty of care
Manage staff well with due attention to workload and work-life balance
Ensure rigorous approaches to identifying, managing and mitigating risk
Professional development
Ensure staff have access to appropriate, high-standard professional development opportunities
Keep up to date with developments in education
Ensure training and continuing professional development is effectively planned, delivered and evaluated
Make sure professional development opportunities draw on experts both within, and beyond the school
Seek training and continuing professional development to meet the needs of all staff members
Governance, accountability and working in partnership
Understand and welcome the role of effective governance, including accepting responsibility
Ensure that staff understand their professional responsibilities and are held to account
Ensure the school effectively and efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties
Work successfully with other schools and organisations
Maintain working relationships with fellow professionals and colleagues to improve educational outcomes for all pupils
Other areas of responsibility
Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the Headteacher will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role.