Application Pack
Thank you for expressing an interest in this post at The County High School,
Leftwich.
This pack includes:

A letter from the Headteacher;
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details about the post and person required;

details about the School and how to apply;

An application Form;

Our recent Ofsted Report, July 2011.
Please note that only applications submitted on the application form will be considered. Please do not enclose a separate CV.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 8 th May, 2012, 12 noon, if you have not heard anything from us by 31 st May, 2012, please assume you have been unsuccessful in your application on this occasion.
Finally, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs A Pimlatt (Headteacher’s PA and
Business Manager: Personnel) at the school if you require further information or clarification of any matter. We look forward to receiving your application.
Julie Brandreth
Headteacher

Application is by letter (which should not exceed 2 sides of A4, font size 12) and full completion of the application form. CVs are not accepted.
Completed applications should be addressed to the Headteacher but posted to –
Mrs A Pimlatt
Business Manager: Personnel
The County High School, Leftwich
Granville Road
Northwich
Cheshire CW9 8EZ
Please remember to attach adequate postage for a large envelope to avoid delay in the post and to thus meet the deadline for return.
If you prefer, please email your completed application to head@leftwichhigh.com
All candidates submitting an electronic application will be required to sign and date their documentation if invited to interview.
Thank you very much for showing interest in The County High School, Leftwich and this post in particular. We look forward to hearing from you.

The County High School, Leftwich
JOB DESCRIPTION FOR LEARNING LEADER: LEARNING SUPPORT
The main responsibility of the postholder is to provide professional leadership for the
Learning Support Faculty to secure high quality teaching and learning, effective use of resources and improved standards of achievement for all students.
Strategic direction and development of the subject.
To be aware of the Aims and Objectives of the School, to support its ethos and policies.
To develop a strategic view, within the context of the School’s aims and policies, which guides subject policies, plans, targets and practices and which reflects the
School’s commitment to enjoyment, high achievement and effective teaching and learning.
To define, in consultation with departmental colleagues and the Leadership Team, realistic departmental aims and objectives for students of all ages and abilities within the School.
To maintain a Departmental Handbook in wh ich the Department’s aims, objectives, current Schemes of Work and Improvement Plan linked to the whole-school Plan are set out. To ensure the Headteacher and members of the Department have up-todate copies of this document.
Teaching and Learning
To secure and sustain effective teaching of the subject, monitoring and evaluating the quality of teaching and standards of students’ achievement and, using data analysis, to set targets for improvement.
To keep up-to-date with subject development, the requirements of the National
Curriculum and relevant external examination syllabuses.
To be aware of the procedures required for internally assessed components of external examination syllabuses and to ensure that these procedures are carried out.
To design, in consultation with colleagues, programmes of work and teaching approaches which consider learning styles and thinking skills and thus enable departmental aims and objectives to be achieved and external examination requirements to be satisfied.
To organise teaching groups and, using comparative data, advise on support to be given to individual students, including behaviour management and its impact on learning, liaising as appropriate with external agencies, parents and Governors.
To design, in consultation with colleagues, departmental procedures, including the setting of internal school examination papers, for assessing students’ progress. To maintain appropriate records to enable setting, reports, etc to be completed, including reporting as required by the National Curriculum.

To ensure that appropriate learning opportunities are maintained in the absence of colleagues to support Cover Supervisor and / or supply teachers.
To evaluate the quality of teaching in the Department by: observing colleagues’ teaching, providing appropriate feedback and support; participating in the School’s Self-Evaluation and Performance Management procedures.
To complete the annual analysis of examination performance, reporting back to the
Leadership Team and Governors. To set targets and agree strategies for improvement in performance identified in the Departmental Improvement Plan.
To be an effective role model, encouraging educational enhancement and promoting a climate for learning which also engenders the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students.
Leading and Managing Staff
To ensure that all those with involvement in the teaching or support of the subject receive the leadership, support, challenge, information, coaching and development necessary to sustain staff motivation and secure improvement in teaching and learning.
To participate in the procedures for appointing staff to the Department.
To define clearly, in consultation with colleagues and the Leadership Group, responsibilities within the Department and to advise, supervise and support departmental staff with delegated duties.
To organise and chair departmental meetings, drawing up appropriate agendas and providing members of the Department and the Leadership Team with minutes.
To promote by guidance, example and the encouragement of in-service training, the development of departmental staff. To discuss INSET needs with individual members of the Department, linking training to departmental and whole-school
Improvement Plans.
To attend and represent the Department at necessary meetings. To co-ordinate the work of the Department with other departments where this is possible and desirable, especially in relation to whole-school cross-curricular working.
To represent the views and ideas of the Department to the Headteacher, keeping her fully informed of developments and current educational thinking in the subject area and to provide advice regarding threshold, upper pay spine, promotion, induction and references, as required.
To contribute to the development of students on Initial Teacher Training courses, liaising with the Student Mentor and other colleagues as appropriate.

Efficient and Effective Deployment of Staff and Resources
To allocate teaching groups, in consultation with the Leadership Team, in such a way as to promote effective learning by students and to give colleagues satisfaction in their work.
To identify appropriate resources for the subject and ensure they are used effectively, efficiently and safely.
To supervise and develop the resources of the Department, allocate departmental expenditure, promoting “best value”, and maintain up-to-date records.
To be aware of safety issues and good practice relevant to the subject area(s). To ensure rooms and designated corridor areas used by the Department provide a safe and educationally stimulating environment. To ensure the Business Manager:
Finance, Premises, Health & Safety is made aware immediately of any potentially hazardous situation.
With particular reference to the Learning Leader: Learning Support:
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Head the team of support staff working with students with special educational needs, deploying them effectively to maximise the support offered.
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Ensure adequate staff training for colleagues within and beyond the Learning
Support Team and disseminate best practice.
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Ensure accurate and up-to-date records are maintained and used.
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Engage effectively with school tracking and monitoring processes to ensure high expectations and levels of progress are maintained for students with special educational needs.
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Co-ordinate the provision made for Gifted and Talented students.
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Liaise effectively with outside agencies.
Revised April 2012.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. Education and Qualifications
2. Relevant Experience
3. Specialist Knowledge
4. Interpersonal Skills
LEARNING LEADER: LEARNING SUPPORT
ESSENTIAL a) Appropriate degree b) Qualified Teacher Status a) Successful teaching experience at both Key Stages 3 and 4 a) Fully conversant with National guidance for the development of
Learning Support, with particular reference to the current Ofsted
Framework. b) Knowledge of effective strategies which deliver best practice for students with special needs. c) Ability to use and interpret data to inform assessment, monitoring and evaluation d) Ability to apply the assessment of data to appropriate intervention programmes to maximise student engagement and consequent progress. e) Good ICT skills a) Ability to lead and manage a team b) Ability to relate to teachers, other professionals, students and parents c) Very good spoken and written communication skills d) Effective and appropriate student management with evident high expectations
DESIRABLE a) Awareness of progression routes to facilitate access to appropriate Key Stage 5 courses for all students with special educational needs. b) Evidence of appropriate, up-to-date CPD
HOW IDENTIFIED a) Application Form b) Application Form
Successful experience of 2 or more schools a) Application Form, letter, references, interview a) Application Form, letter, references, interview b-e) Letter, references, interview a) Ability to know when and how to delegate effectively and thus develop others b) Experience as a Reviewer of Performance Management a-d) Letter, interview and references

5. Other a) Ability to work independently, to be self-managing b) Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines c) Commitment to raising of standards and achievement d) Willingness to undertake training as required e) Excellent punctuality and attendance f) Ability to relate to and promote the ethos of the School g) Ability to support whole-school initiatives and developments h) Suitable to work with children a) Professional ambition with the desire for career development a) Letter, interview b-c) Letter, interview, references d) Letter, interview e) References f-g) Letter, interview h) References