Role: Head of Sixth Form
Start: September 2023
Reports to: Principal
Salary: Ark Leadership Scale, competitive
Apply here
An exciting opportunity for an exceptional leader to open our Sixth Form, as we embark on our fifth year as a new Ark secondary school. This role is critical to achieving our vision - every child leaving school with the option to go on to university or embark a career of their choice.
What’s special about this role?
This role is ideal for leaders passionate about delivering outstanding Key Stage 5 provision, supporting pupils’ readiness for life beyond school. The Head of Sixth Form will work closely with the Principal to plan our curriculum offer, systems for academic success and pastoral wellbeing, and opportunities to enrich and extend pupils throughout years 12 and 13. They will work closely with senior and middle leaders as well as the year 12 and 13 pastoral care team and will lead on the opening of our Sixth Form in September 2024.
Who are we looking for?
Across school life, we embed high aspirations and a growth mindset in all of our children. We believe that every single child who joins us has the potential to be knowledgeable, articulate and successful. It’s important this resonates with all candidates. Equally important is subject expertise, which is critical to support strong curriculum planning and implementation. Read more about this leadership role and our ideal candidate here: Job description & Person specification
Why will you love our school?
There are lots of reasons! We’re lucky to be based in a brand-new building with top class facilities. We serve a wonderfully diverse community - we are non-denominational, mixed gender and two fifths of our pupils receive pupil premium funding. We’re led by our values - Aim High, Have Integrity, Be Kind and Model Determination and our team truly unite behind our vision. Curriculum is incredibly important to us and we’ve planned backwards from university readiness to give our pupils the very best in every subject discipline. We timetable collaborative planning and love to engage in ‘productive struggle’. Every team member is supported with coaching and tailored professional development, whatever stage they are at in their career. Our extended school day (we finish at 4 four days a week and earlier on Wednesday) allows us to offer a broad, rich curriculum and timetabled enrichment for every child - but we never have meetings after school. Our team say: ‘All staff are incredibly supportive and positive, and it is a great environment to work in’. Read more about our school here
What are the benefits of working with Ark?
We are lucky to be part of the Ark network of schools, and to build on the successes of numerous exceptional start-up schools in our North London region. Ark offers bespoke professional development to all team members and the opportunity to plan and moderate with colleagues in the same discipline, beyond our own school gates. Joining our network opens a breadth of opportunities - many of our team have taken on leadership roles progressing from one of our sister schools. Ark employees have benefits beyond the classroom including everything from shopping discounts to a supportive and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme. In short, you won’t find a better network of schools to join! Read more about Ark here
Would you like to visit?
We’d love you to come and see our school for yourself. We’re hosting ‘Joining Team Pioneer’ afternoons on Tues 10th Jan (2:30pm) and Monday 23rd Jan (2:30pm) - guests will meet our principal, enjoy a tour with pupils, see lessons in action and speak to members of our team - a chance to see what our school is really like and ask any questions. Please sign up here. If you’d like to speak to our principal about the role let Chloe c.conces@arkpioneer.org know.
Safeguarding
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, click here.