Assistant Head (Head of Junior School) - Details of Post

AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 7 TO 18 IN THE HEART OF SURREY

Assistant Head – Head of Junior School

(Year 3 - 6)

Information for prospective staff

About Freemen's

was founded. We are proudly co-educational and have been since 1854, which was radical at the time, and we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with our forward-thinking, progressive approach.

We believe that if we can motivate pupils and staff to always give their best, the School will continue to grow and thrive. Community engagement and our impact on the world beyond our walls are at the forefront of everything we do at Freemen’s.

The School was founded in Brixton in 1854 to provide an education for the orphaned children of Freemen of the City of London before moving to the present site, Ashtead Park, in 1926. We have a magnificent site with modern buildings alongside the original Main House set in a stunning 57 acres of parkland. This idyllic setting further supports the wellbeing of our students and staff, as being here, in the park, makes coming to work a pleasure. It looks striking in every season and we are lucky to have a vast array of wildlife living in our woods.

Today, Freemen’s is an independent day and boarding school for students aged 7-18, with a strong ethos of community and service in accordance with the values on which the School

You can expect stellar exam results and academic excellence, but that’s not all. The focus within the School is on every individual finding a path which is appropriate for them, be that in the classroom, on a sports pitch or in one of the many co-curricular activities we encourage our young people to throw themselves into. Our mission is built upon four pillars of the Freemen’s education: pastoral support, House activities, academic achievement, and our varied cocurricular programme (including sport) to ensure every student realises their potential to be able to learn, lead and make a difference. Freemen’s is a place where students are keen to learn and eager to engage in the wider aspects of life at our School.

Teachers at Freemen's embody our principles for excellent classroom practice, offering innovative and forward-thinking approaches, enabling us to be a beacon of learning and teaching. We take risks in the pursuit of excellence by being brave and radical, willing to challenge the status quo. Through our 1-1 iPad programme, we

Our mission is to inspire our people to learn, to lead and to make a difference.

About Freemen's

aim to create discerning users of technology, so that staff and students can thrive in the modern dynamic world. We do all of this, in an environment where staff feel supported, by investing in life-long learning through research-led enquiry and building learning communities. The emphasis in the Junior School is on Kindness, Honesty and Fun and the Senior School picks up that message with a pastoral programme that emphasizes the importance of a strong, supportive community in which every member, staff and student, feels respected, supported and valued. As a result, we are able to support our young people to successfully navigate the tests of life they face every day.

The School is one of four independent schools managed by the City of London Corporation (The City). The City provides financial support in the form of bursaries and scholarships. Other links with the City of London and the Livery Companies are strong, which presents opportunities for staff to attend events at Guildhall and elsewhere in the City, as well as the possibility of gaining the honour of the Freedom of the City of London.

Transport links are good; the School is a mile from Ashtead station with regular services to Epsom and London and south to Leatherhead and Guildford. The M25 junction 9 is a seven-minute drive from the School.

Our Junior School

Freemen’s Junior School (Year 3- Year 6) boasts a wonderful sense of community, set amongst a beautiful patch of Surrey parkland, with a diverse and welcoming cohort of students; expert, trailblazing teaching staff; an active and engaged parent body and a wealth of friends and supporters in the local area, the City of London and as part of our burgeoning alumni community.

Our founding ethos was all about community and that remains at the forefront of our thinking almost 170 years later. City of London Freemen’s School was set up to look after the orphaned children of Freemen of the City. The school was founded in Brixton in 1854 to educate boys and girls - we have always been co-educational, it is an essential part of our character, even before that was commonplace. As well as committing right from our foundation to a charitable, co-ed, broad education, we have also continuously admitted boarders alongside our day pupils and they remain an integral part of what makes Freemen’s the community it is.

Freemen’s Junior School is looking for a positive, dynamic, inspirational and forward-thinking Head of Junior School (Years 3-6) , to take this successful School into its next phase of development.

Happy children learn. It’s no surprise to us that the most popular word that comes to pupils’ minds when describing the Junior School is ‘fun’. Fun is one of the three core values we discuss, repeat and reinforce in the Junior School.

Kindness is the priority – if everybody (adults and children alike) is kind to everybody else then the School functions harmoniously.

Kindness, Honesty, Fun

Honesty is important. On occasion truths have to be shared between parents, children and staff, but because they are shared in an environment of kindness, all is well.

Finally, fun is to be had at all times (provided it’s enjoyed in a kind and honest way). And there’s a lot of fun to be had in the Junior School.

The purpose-built Junior School is warm and comfortable and provides a safe base for your child, as they explore the wider campus and its impressive swimming pool, sports facility and music department, as well as the all-important play areas. Importantly, as they discover Freemen’s, your child will come into contact with older, experienced pupils, who will become important role models to them.

We are passionate about co-education, and have been since our foundation. Our classes have approximately 20 pupils and come from a broad range of feeder schools and backgrounds. We mix up classes every year so that new pupils are made to feel part of the group straight away. When new children arrive they are each given a buddy, a child in their class who knows the school well to help them settle.

We provide all children with an education full of depth and breadth, so they have the secure foundations to progress up into the Lower Senior School (Key stage 3). There are no exams to progress up into the Senior School, meaning students can focus on thriving in a welcoming, flexible and secure learning environment.

Job Description

The outline of responsibilities and duties may change, depending on the experience and attributes of the successful candidate.

This job description outlines the main duties of the post; some of the responsibilities may be adjusted according to qualifications and experience of the successful applicant.

• The Head of Junior School is required to promote the School’s aims and policies and to play an active leadership role on the Senior Leadership Team.

• They will work closely with the Headmaster and the Senior Leadership Team in the strategic leadership of the School.

• They will also play a full part in the life of the School, including attendance at evening and weekend functions and events, Open Days and exhibitions off-site.

• They would be expected to teach up to eight lessons a week and be involved in the extra-curricular life of the School.

• The Head of Junior School will be responsible for shaping and sustaining the ethos and culture of the Junior School to ensure that the Junior School at Freemen’s is a challenging, fulfilling and exciting time in the pupils’ development.

• In many of the following areas the Head of Junior School will work closely with a team of colleagues who hold specific responsibilities to support Junior School pupils at the School.

Management and Administration

The Head of Junior School will be responsible for the following:

• The effective day to day running and administration of the Junior School.

• Setting the tone for the Junior School and cultivating a positive, progressive and supportive environment for pupils and staff.

• The organisation, induction, deployment, appraisal, and welfare of teaching and professional services staff in the Junior School

• Monitoring with care the academic progress of Junior School pupils, working closely with tracking data.

• Communicating clearly with pupils, colleagues and parents both orally and in writing, not least through reports and at Parents’ Evenings.

• Line managing the Junior School leadership team and Junior School tutors, holding regular and productive minuted meetings;

• Dealing appropriately with staff, student and parental academic concerns in a timely manner.

Assistant Head - Head of Junior School (Year 3-6)

• Leading age appropriate and inspirational assemblies, supported by the Junior School team.

• The review and oversight of a purposeful induction for Junior School pupils.

• Reviewing and updating policies relating to the Junior School.

• Overseeing and organising Junior School events which will include Junior School Open Evenings, Junior School Parents’ Evenings, and social events for Junior School pupils.

• Contributing purposefully to the Staff INSET and Staff Review programmes, taking a keen interest in the development of colleagues.

• Writing an annual report for the Governors and attendance at Governors’ Meetings, as requested.

• Pastoral Care for Junior school.

Safeguarding

The successful candidate will play an important role in the Safeguarding team and will:

• Take responsibility for pastoral care and discipline of the Junior School, working closely with the Deputy Head and Headmaster.

• Manage attendance, punctuality and appearance of Junior School pupils.

• Oversee PSHE for the Junior School, including the visiting speakers’ programme.

• Fully support the Junior School’s co-curricular, enrichment and scholars programme, ensuring full engagement from pupils.

Financial and Masterplan

The successful candidate will:

• Fully engage with the School’s budget and in particular, manage the Junior School resources budget.

Click image to play video

Assistant Head - Head of Junior School (Year 3-6)

Marketing and Recruitment

The Head of Junior School plays an important role in promoting the Junior School and will:

• Fully and actively support the recruitment and assessment of applicants to the Junior School, including Academic Scholarship applications.

• Play an active role in marketing the Junior School to prospective parents, current parents, feeder schools, and other key stakeholders; working closely with the Marketing Department to develop appropriate strategies and initiatives.

• Support the Head of Communications and Marketing and be proactive in supporting the School via marketing events at Freemen’s and elsewhere.

• Play a key role in recruitment of pupils to the Junior School in conjunction with the Admissions Office and the Headmaster.

This job description is not exhaustive, and the successful applicant may be required to take on other duties as reasonably required by the Headmaster.

Person Specification

The successful applicant will have enjoyed a successful career in middle management and will ideally have gained experience in academic and pastoral contexts. They will:

• Be educated to degree level and have a wide-ranging profile in continued professional development.

• Have a love of learning for learning’s sake and be able to infect others with that enthusiasm.

• Model a scholarly approach to academic study.

• Have a genuine passion for education.

• Demonstrate strong and visible leadership skills.

• Have the certainty necessary to inspire confidence in others, not least at public occasions.

• Be reflective and have humility, patience and tact.

• Have good levels of physical and emotional resilience.

• Be able to resolve disputes when required.

• Possess a healthy sense of humour.

"This friendly, grounded and well-run school takes the pressure off getting academically bright young things into senior schools and seems to a knack of making challenging work seem fun."

The Good Schools Guide

Professional expectations of staff

Safeguarding

Staff will be kind, fair and respectful to students and each other, challenge others when they are unkind, unfair or disrespectful and have the highest regard for the students’ safety and their safeguarding duties, whether on or off the school premises.

Appearance

Smart professional dress, or appropriate co-curricular clothing, at all times.

Availability

Prompt attendance during the School’s operating hours and a commitment to completing School business is expected.

Awareness and use of Freemen’s policies

Staff will be able to access and use policies as necessary, and read and act upon them appropriately.

Behaviour

Staff will establish Freemen’s as a place of learning and will determine clear boundaries of behaviour, based on mutual respect and trust. Staff will have high expectations of students and will manage their behaviour effectively.

Collective responsibility

Staff share collective responsibility for Freemen’s standards, reputation and property, should treat them with respect and care, and insist others do likewise.

Communication

Staff will expect high standards of communication from students and will, in turn, demonstrate accurate, timely and appropriate communication when dealing with students, parents and colleagues.

Ethics and behaviour

Staff will uphold public trust in the profession and the reputation of Freemen’s by maintaining high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside School. They will be respectful and tolerant of the rights of others, including colleagues, and not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. They will ensure that their personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.

Learn, lead and make a difference

Leaders

Staff will be leaders in the School, exercising good judgement and modelling the behaviour and habits that are expected of the students.

Learners

Staff will show and share a passion for their subject or discipline(s). They will seek to develop as professionals and as specialists, will be open to feedback and will seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and engage with relevant research.

Planning

Teaching staff will have a sense of where the lesson fits within the scheme of work and plan well-structured lessons using an appropriate range of pedagogies.

Use of feedback

Staff will seek to use feedback for themselves and if appropriate, their students and will complete assessments and reports in a timely fashion in the appropriate manner and style.

How to apply

Applicants should send a letter of application and a completed application form to the Headmaster via CLFS-Recruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk, by 9.00am on Monday 30 October 2023.

Shortlisted candidates will invited to first round interviews on Monday 6 November and second round interviews will take place on Friday 10 November. Candidates should be aware that the interview/s will be a full day process. Please note that Freemen’s retains the right to interview and appoint at any time during the application process.

Candidates can expect to be interviewed by members of the Senior Leadership Team, meet members of the department and students, tour the school, teach a lesson, and discuss how they will help Freemen’s achieve its mission and aims. Depending on the post other tasks may also be required.

Freemen’s acknowledges receipt of all applications, if you have not received confirmation of the safe receipt of your application within two working days please call the School or email CLFS-Recruitment@ cityoflondon.gov.uk to check on its status.

The successful candidate must be able to satisfy the City of London’s health requirements and a confidential medical assessment by the City of London’s Medical Officer is required. City of London Freemen’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (Enhanced Disclosure).

The Good Schools Guide

"Friendly was the single most uttered word used to describe the school by students, while parents report that their offspring are happy. ‘Kind’ and ‘non-judgemental,’ we also heard, with support on tap."

Your benefits

City of London benefits:

Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS)

Contributory defined benefit

• CityBenefits - discounts and cashback.

• Wellbeing resources.

• Sponsorship to become a Freeman of the City of London.

Sports and Leisure:

Family friendly

Significantly enhanced maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement

• Discounted gym membership.

• Free use of the fitness suite.

• Staff social and sporting opportunities including pilates, yoga and five-a-side football.

Free lunch and refreshments

The option to join Supper Club at a subsidised rate

• Free staff swimming and weekend family swimming for staff.

Learning and Development:

Fee remission

Up to 50% fee remission subject to the normal entry requirements.

Cycle to work scheme

Up to £3,000 salary sacrifice

• Funding to obtain QTS/PGCE.

• Tailored CPD for all colleagues that includes a thriving internal CPD programme, as well as a range of external opportunities such as Masters and PhD support, Enquiring Teachers Programme and Chartered College qualifications.

Season Ticket Loan

Free parking on site

Access to on-site facilities

Wellbeing:

• Up to 2 days’ paid leave for volunteering.

• Cash back on private health care treatment.

• Access to on-site Medical Centre.

• Staff Wellbeing Committee.

• Confidential Employee Assistance for staff and their families.

• Emergencies-only approach to out of hours email.

Campus Map

Centre 11. Junior School (Kemp House) 12. Boarding (Walbrook House)

13. Music School and Recital Hall

14. Main House

15. Sports Hall

16. Swimming Pool

17. Cricket Pavilion

18. Tennis and Netball Courts

19. Astro Pitch

20. Cricket Nets

21. Cricket Pitch

22. Italian Garden

23. Rugby and Football Pitches

24. Green Room

Click here to view 360 Tour of campus

25. Fire Assembly Point

26. Bus Stop

27. Upper Car Park

28. Lower Car Park

29. Service Gate (KT21 1JB)

"A down-to-earth, friendly school that’s comfortable in its own skin rather than relentlessly trying to show off its most polished side – and is all the better for it. Just the ticket for parents after a high-quality, stress-free route for their academically bright sons and daughters from age 7 right through to 18. Almost unique around here."

The Good Schools Guide