Principal Vacancy Dove House Academy
View Vacancy detailsWelcome from the CEO
Dear Colleague,
Thank you for showing an interest in applying for the post of Principal at Dove House Academy, part of Solent Academies Trust. This is a very exciting opportunity for an outstanding leader who has a passion and commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for our young people with special educational needs and disabilities and working closely with our families. I hope that you will find enclosed all the information you need to inspire you to want to lead Dove House Academy with the support and guidance of the Chief Executive Officer.
We are delighted that Dove House Academy joined our Trust in August 2023, having previously been a Single Academy Trust. We are now a family of five incredible special schools, three of which are in Portsmouth, one in Compton, West Sussex and now Dove House in Basingstoke. Founded by Mary Rose Academy which now celebrates its fourth outstanding OFSTED rating, our Trust has 17 years’ experience in transforming the lives of our children and families through high quality specialist education for pupils aged 2 - 19. We pride ourselves on harnessing the benefits of being a multi academy trust, working closely together to accelerate school improvement and share innovative practice in order to improve outcomes for all pupils and develop a strong learning community. We are actively growing our Trust to widen further our impact for young people with special educational needs and we are delighted to have recently gained Secretary of State approval for a new Special Free School in Hampshire.
We have an established track record demonstrating that we make a positive difference to the lives of the children and young people who learn with us. We also have strong collaborative relationships across our Trust and all five of our academies work very closely together. We are also very proud of our continuous impact through our outward facing school improvement activities, through the Trust School Improvement Offer, and by leading the Portsmouth Challenge Partners Hub and local STEM Enthuse Partnership.
This role presents an exciting opportunity for a new leader to work with the Chief Executive and members of the Strategic Senior Leader Team to lead the school into the next stage of its development, building on our vision and achievements and leading our team to achieve their very best. The ideal candidate will be experienced in specialist education and have an ambition to become an Executive Principal in the near future, supporting our Trust wide growth opportunities. Your immediate priority will be the success of leading outstanding specialist provision at Dove House Academy which will then open the door to opportunities for executive leadership within our trust.
As Chief Executive, I am keen to ensure a dynamic and forward thinking, experienced senior leader person is appointed to this position. We are certain that our new Principal will find the position both professionally and personally rewarding, working closely with a very experienced Strategic Senior Leadership Team. I look forward to getting to know candidates throughout the recruitment process.
We very much encourage you to visit us, where we will be delighted to show you our wonderful school. To arrange this or for further information please contact Martin Blair at Hays Recruitment (07736791138 or martin.blair@hays.com)
I wish you all the very best with your application.
Mrs Sharon Burt
MBA, CMgr FCMI
Chief Executive Officer
Welcome from the Executive Principal
Dear Colleague,
We are delighted that you are interested in pursuing the role of Principal at Dove House Academy, the most recent addition to the Solent Academies Trust family of schools. The role of Principal is set to provide the successful candidate with limitless opportunities for personal and professional growth, innovation and success; all of which will take place within the context of our highly supportive network of high-performing specialist settings.
Dove House Academy is a specialist school for 230 pupils aged 11-19, situated across two sites in Basingstoke. Our main site accommodates Key Stages 3 & 4, with Post-16 based at a satellite site approximately one mile away. The main site boasts extensive outside space, a gym and large fitness suite, as well as multiple specialist spaces. Additionally, there is plenty of scope for future development to our site, with plans already underway to enhance and grow our physical environment further, including new classrooms and a redevelopment of our outdoor spaces, to include areas such as horticulture and forest school provision.
Most pupils at Dove House have a primary need of moderate learning difficulties or specific learning difficulties, however, an increasing proportion have a diagnosis of severe learning difficulties or Autism. As a result, we are currently on an exciting journey of curriculum development to ensure that our ‘outstanding’ setting continues to meet the needs of future cohorts, to an exceptionally high standard. In support of this, we are seeking an experienced Senior Leader from within the specialist sector who is raring to lead our Dove House team forward into the next phase of its development.
In recognition of this, Solent Academies Trust has committed to a robust and long-term model of executive and peer support for the successful candidate, ensuring that opportunities for collaboration and shared strategic development sit alongside safeguarding the new Principal’s role as leader of the academy. Within this structure, the successful candidate will be strongly encouraged to champion the individual identity of Dove House Academy at every level, from curriculum development to vision and values, simultaneously aligning with the Solent Academies Trust vision of Empowerment, Respect & Aspiration for all.
The opportunities outlined here offer an irresistible invitation to a motivated, passionate, committed and forward-reaching leader, who is able to drive meaningful change alongside maintaining the many successes already seen within Dove House Academy. We would, therefore, very much like to extend an offer to visit our school and to discuss this exceptional opportunity further.
With thanks and very best wishes,
Faye Watton-Lawrence
Executive Principal
About Dove House Academy
Dove House Academy is a special school for 229 pupils, aged between 11 and 19, situated across two sites in Basingstoke. Dove House provides an engaging, aspirational, and highly specialist curriculum for young people with Moderate and Severe Learning Difficulties, including Autism and Specific Learning Difficulties.
You can find out more about the school at www.dovehouseacademy.com
Our Values
Empowerment
All valued members of our learning community are encouraged to empower others to achieve their best and take every opportunity for themselves to become empowered as confident, independent and ambitious members of our team, committed to achieving our Trust pledge.
Respect
We are committed to treating each other fairly, with trust, care and respect. We seek the very best outcomes for all our pupils and are unwavering in our effort to ensure that all pupils have access to the opportunities they deserve.
Aspiration
We are continuously aspirational and tenacious in making sure our teams perform well and deliver the highest quality provision and enjoyable educational experience for our pupils to be well prepared for their next stage in life.
About Solent Academies Trust
Solent Academies Trust drives an aspirational vision to inspire lifelong learning, perseverance, kindness and growth for all our community through our unwavering belief that ‘it’s got to be possible’. Together we make every day count towards transforming the lives of our children and families by harnessing the opportunities they deserve to thrive as healthy and engaged individuals.
We are committed to improving equality of opportunity, social inclusion and closing disadvantage gaps more broadly, by developing innovative partnerships locally and nationally. The benefits of working together as a family of schools across our Trust are far-reaching. We have a genuine sharing of expertise, experience and ideas which promote continuous learning, excellent career opportunities and high quality professional development.
We pride ourselves on providing friendly, caring and stimulating learning environments with high levels of challenge within which pupils can flourish. Each school provides a curriculum that is creative, relevant, motivating and personalised to meet the wide-ranging needs of its pupils. We have active, positive partnerships with families and the communities in which our pupils live, work and interact socially.
You can find out more about the Trust at https://solent-trust.net/
Location
Vacancy details
Core Purpose
The Principal is accountable to the Chief Executive Officer of Solent Academies Trust for ensuring the educational success of Dove House Academy within the overall framework of our Trust Strategic Plan.
The post holder will demonstrate courageous leadership to develop and support the strategic direction, vision, values and priorities of Dove House Academy, in line with the strategic aims and objectives of our Trust.
The post holder will execute dynamic leadership to successfully deliver and implement the Academy Improvement Plan to facilitate the very best outcomes for our children and their families.
Salary
L22 – 28 (£79112 - £91633), starting salary negotiable dependent on experience
Timeline
Closing date – 8am, Monday 26th February
Interviews – 7th and 8th March
Start date – September 2024 or sooner in discussion with the appointed candidate
Visits
Candidates are welcome to visit the school, and this can be organised by contacting Martin Blair at Hays Leadership Appointments
How To Apply
For further information, an informal and confidential discussion about the role or to discuss the application process please contact Martin Blair at Hays Leadership Appointments.
Safeguarding
Dove House Academy and Solent Academy Trust value equality and diversity and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment practises including satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check for the appointed candidate.
Martin Blair
Hays Leadership Appointments
Tel: 07736791138
Email: martin.blair@hays.com
