P430369 - Deputy Year Leader - Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy

On a usual school day, there's so much going on at Lord Lawson! Our students are well known locally for their engagement in an awe-inspiring variety of sporting activities, and our visual and performing arts are wonderfully strong. Students take advantage of more than fifty lunchtime and after-school activities each week, and they have raised thousands of pounds for local and national charities. Opportunities for student leadership abound. Classrooms are calm and settled: the atmosphere is purposeful. Our outstanding professional development programme for staff is evidence-led and flexible; staff at all levels value the opportunities that we provide for them to discuss and improve their professional skills. We work very closely with Ambition Institute for our NPQs and teacher development, as well as with Teach First and local universities. Currently, 44% of our teaching staff are involved in Ambition Institute's Transforming Teaching programme, and all our staff are engaged in
tailored professional development. In a competitive market, we are a school of choice for new teachers. This is a pivotal and exciting time to become part of our pastoral team.

The New Deputy Year Leader will work with Year 7

Deputy Leaders are essential pillars of the academy's structure, offering support to ensure both the academic progress and personal development of all students in a particular year group. Deputy Year Leaders work with Year Leaders and tutors to coordinate the wellbeing and progress of students, communicating closely with teachers and senior leaders, parents and carers. Deputy Year Leaders support the Year Leaders to action the academy's vision and values, and in working towards achieving the academy's strategic goals.

Our students deserve the best and most effective pastoral support we can give them, so they can be happy and successful, both now and in the future. Working together, colleagues at this school have been very successful in improving our culture for the benefit of our students. Attendance increased by almost 3% last year, and behaviour has been transformed. These improvements have enabled teaching and learning to be much more effective. Against a local and national picture of decline and difficulty, we are continuing to develop our culture, and Deputy Year Leaders are a key part of future improvements.

The pastoral team at Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy includes a range of expertise and knowledge that supports our students to grow, learn and succeed. Ian Cooper is the Deputy Principal for Pastoral Care and Inclusion: he holds overall responsibility for the pastoral team. His leadership is supported by Paul Walsh (Assistant Principal - Behaviour), Alex Rayner (Assistant Principal - Safeguarding and Attendance) and Helen Potter (Assistant Principal - SENDCo). Each year team has a teaching Year Leader and a non-teaching Deputy Year Leader. This allows the pastoral team to remain proactive, supporting our students throughout the school day. The pastoral team also includes attendance officers, a school counsellor, a EBSA worker, and the learning support room team. Pastoral staff have strong supportive relationships with external agencies and partners, which enable them to safeguard and support students with the different challenges they face. In summary, you will be
part of a well-resourced and proactive team.

As a Deputy Year Leader, you will quickly become part of our mission to transform the education and life chances for around 1350 children in Birtley, on the southern edge of Gateshead. You will join an ambitious and collegiate team of senior and middle leaders, who are passionately committed to improving the school for the benefit of its students. Before its 'Good' judgement, the school had two 'Requires Improvement' judgements from Ofsted (February 2017 and June 2019). I joined the school as Principal in June 2019, immediately following the second 'RI' judgement. With a new and reinvigorated leadership team, I have led a transformational programme of school improvement. Our school has benefited from substantial support, working with outstanding local partners. Finances are now sustainable, and lines of accountability are clear. Staff have worked together, in working parties and as part of our collaborative professional development programme, to improve behaviour
and attitudes, students' personal development, and the quality of education. Examination results last summer were good, maintaining the progress made the previous year and demonstrating the improvements that we have already made.

Despite our changes and improvements, however, the progress of very many students, including those deemed disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, remains a concern. Our clear moral purpose is to improve education for these students; we know that all our students will benefit.

This important pastoral role would suit an ambitious and effective individual who is able to demonstrate the impact of their actions and initiative. It is unlikely that any individual, whatever their current role, will already have the full set of knowledge, skills and experience that are necessary to be completely effective in this role from the outset. The successful applicant will need to be highly adaptable, and training will be provided. Applications are therefore welcomed from individuals at various stages of their careers, who are committed to inclusion, progress, and the continued improvement of our school and its students.

Lord Lawson is pushing ahead! In November 2022, Ofsted inspectors judged the school 'Good' in all areas, with just one point for development. This judgement confirmed what staff, students and parents already knew: through clear-sighted leadership and our commitment to the academic and personal development of students and staff, the school has improved beyond recognition in four years. Since then we have continued to develop: this year we have focused particularly on improving our culture and engagement. We live out our vision every day: Together we grow, learn and succeed. We are recognised as an inclusive school, and we particularly welcome applications from colleagues who belong to groups that are currently under-represented in our team.

We are a school that is an excellent place to work and learn. Our ambition is to offer outstanding education - within the classroom and far beyond - that engages and stretches all our students. Our staff are energetic, committed and able; our leaders are strategic and well-motivated; our governors are hugely supportive and suitably ambitious. The school is full, and parents want their children to do well. We have a sixth form that is small but focused and successful. Our facilities are outstanding and well maintained.