Headteacher opportunity
Orchard Manor School
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Welcome
Guy Chappell, Director, The Special Partnership Trust
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in the position of Headteacher of Orchard Manor School. We are proud of Orchard Manor School and the incredible potential it has and warmly welcome your application.
This is a rare and exciting leadership opportunity to lead a special school. The school is part of the innovative Special Partnership Trust, bringing together a collaborative partnership of good and outstanding special schools in Cornwall and Devon. Each school shares a passion and works closely together to best meet the needs of individual pupils. A culture of mutual support and teamwork permeates the organisation.
At Orchard Manor School our pupils are at the centre of everything we do, and we consistently strive for high quality education and care. We understand their individual needs and the importance of positive mental health and well-being ensuring that they can reach their full potential in a happy and safe environment.
Orchard Manor School is a value-based organisation. The values of the school are at the heart of all that we believe and the decisions we make and will be used to guide us through this recruitment process.
The new Headteacher will build on an excellent tradition, bringing fresh challenge and energy to lead the school forward in its next phase of development. Key to the success of the school has been a committed and talented team of staff who embrace change and continually challenge their own practice by looking for innovative ways for pupils to achieve their aspirations and play a meaningful role in the community. The new Headteacher must share this ‘can-do’ spirit and model it in their daily practice and leadership.
You must be confident and positive and have the skills to build effective teams and also to be a team player. If you share this determination and ambition, the post offers an outstanding opportunity to develop in a forward thinking and outward looking organisation where you will also receive excellent support and advice from a talented team of colleagues.
We would be delighted for you to visit the school and that can be arranged through our recruitment advisor, Martin Blair at Hays Leadership (T: 07736791138, E: martin.blair@hays.com) who is also available for an informal conversation about the role or discuss making an application.
I very much look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Guy Chappell
Director
The Special Partnership Trust
Maggie Carter, Chair of Governors
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in the post of Headteacher at Orchard Manor School.
I am very pleased that you are considering applying to lead our school as look forward to an exciting future as part of the Special Partnership Trust and hope that the information we have put together will encourage you to do so.
At Orchard Manor we pride ourselves on putting into practice our motto ‘We Live and Learn Together’ by working in partnership with pupils, families and each other to provide a personalised education and care offer for every child. Our aim is always to support them to become a successful member of the school and of their community.
As the school grows and develops within the Special Partnership Trust we are looking for a strong, approachable, compassionate and supportive leader with a passionate knowledge of, and commitment to, the education and care of children and young people with complex needs.
We can provide you with unique opportunities to work with other schools across the Trust, including the support of other special school headteachers in dealing with the day-to-day pleasures and pressures of leadership.
We are excited about the extended vocational and sporting opportunities that will be provided by our new building, with construction starting this summer. This will complement our extensive outdoor learning facilities on our woodland site.
Yours faithfully,
Maggie Carter
Orchard Manor School
Chair of Governors
ABOUT ORCHARD MANOR SCHOOL
Orchard Manor School is a progressive and ambitious special school for pupils aged 3-19 with communication and interaction difficulties, autistic spectrum conditions and learning needs. There are around 200 on roll with demand for places high and the number on roll expected to increase. The pupils also benefit from on-site residential facilities which can accommodate up to 35 pupils on a weekly basis during term time and adds significant value in developing life skills and independence.
The school is set in a 30-acre site overlooking the Devon coastline with fabulous grounds which enable us to offer an extensive outdoor education including forest school, horticulture area, indoor swimming pool and purpose-built cycle track.
The school is expanding, with work underway to add a new building, which will provide fantastic opportunities for increased vocational and sporting opportunities for all our pupils.
School Improvement
Our SIP report in April 2021 reported:
“Leaders have a clear behaviour management policy in place and there was evidence of some good practice amongst the behaviour management team. Given the turbulence of the last few years (including managing within a global pandemic) current leaders have done very well to maintain the support and dedication of the staff. Staff were positive about the support of leadership and the direction of the school. Students expressed warmth towards adults and felt that adults cared for them and kept them safe. The enormous effort from members of the senior leadership team and commitment to work with the Trust to secure the best future for the students, must be applauded.”
Residential Provision
The high-quality residential provision will provide a platform for future innovate approaches to education and care for pupils in the Trust. We can accommodate up to 35 pupils on a weekly basis during term time.
The young people live within one of our four spacious superbly appointed residential houses which are surrounded by nature and have access to our school’s fantastic outside facilities.
Each of the houses are tailored to the individual needs of the young people. Residents have a say in the decoration and designation of the houses, for example, one house has a model train room another has a Warhammer room, and another has a sensory room.
Young people take part in a varied activity programme supported by a skilled and experienced staff team to help further develop their educational experience and social and life skills.
Young people make accelerated progress from their starting points working on all aspects of their EHCP. As well as supporting their education outcomes we provide significant opportunities to develop skills in preparation for their next steps. This includes shopping, cooking for themselves and groups. socialisation skills, travel skills, personal safety and personal care skills.
We pride ourselves on a forward thinking safe, caring, comfortable “home from home” where young people learn to thrive.
SCHOOL VALUES AND AIMS
“We live and learn together”
Our pupils are at the centre of everything we do, and we consistently strive for high quality education and care. We understand their individual needs and the importance of positive mental health and well-being ensuring that they can reach their full potential, be happy, safe and included in school and the community. We enable them to express themselves in the knowledge that they are listened to and that theirs is the most important voice. Together, we support them into an adulthood which is as independent as possible.
Aims
Prepare our young people for adulthood and enable them to reach their full potential
- Ensure they are happy, safe, cared for and included
- Promote their positive mental health and wellbeing
- Support them to express themselves and be listened to
Further information can be found at www.orchardmanor.devon.sch.uk/
ABOUT SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP TRUST
The Special Partnership Trust is an ambitious and inspiring collaboration of specialist provision with a focus on excellence in learning for everyone. We are formed to ensure that every child, irrespective of need or location gets the best learning opportunities possible. We believe in providing challenge and support in equal measure to our pupils, nurturing the talents and skills of all learners.
Alongside Orchard Manor School, The Special Partnership Trust brings together four good and outstanding special schools based in Cornwall and Devon; Curnow (Redruth), Doubletrees (St. Austell), Nancealverne (Penzance) and Pencalenick (Truro). The partnership is committed to developing support for the broader SEN community in both mainstream and alternative specialist provisions, so that there is a more equitable access to high quality specialist support irrespective of location.
As a strong, high quality Multi-Academy Trust, we offer access to a professional and supportive community of Schools and Area Resources Bases, Executive leadership, and support functions. The Special Partnership Trust is a highly collaborative and enterprising organisation working across Cornwall and Devon.
THE SPT VISION
Vision: A community which aspires together.
Delivered by: An ambitious, inspirational partnership of outstanding learning.
Achieved by: outstanding educational outcomes, empowering parents, pupils and staff to strengthen our community even further.
Further information can be found at www.specialpartnership.org/web
Vacancy details
Role:
Headteacher
Salary:
Competitive
Location:
Dawlish, England
The Headteacher
The Trust is seeking to appoint a candidate with a proven track record of sustained impact as Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Head of School or similar and who is motivated and excited by leading a school with massive potential, an experienced group of staff and a ‘rich’ curriculum resource. The role provides an innovative, exciting opportunity to develop and maximise the potential of Orchard Manor School and an opportunity to work within and help shape the direction and future growth of a strong Multi Academy Trust.
The successful applicant should have a strong track record of leading educational development and improvement. Strive for exceptional standards and aspirations and share Orchard Manor’s vision and values for providing high quality education and residential offer to all pupils. Candidates will need to be articulate and strong communicators with proven strengths in engaging, inspiring and motivating staff at all levels, and working with local community.
Timeline
Closing date: 8am, Monday 13th September
Interviews: 20th and 21st September
Start date: January 2022
Key documents
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.
Martin Blair
Hays Leadership Appointments
Tel: 07736791138
Email: martin.blair@hays.com
Location
Dawlish is an English seaside resort town on the south coast of Devon, 12 miles from Devon’s historic capital city of Exeter and equidistant from the English Riviera resort of Torquay. There is easy access to both Dartmoor National Park, an area of Outstanding National Beauty and the South Devon Coastline.
Orchard Manor SchoolJohn Nash Dr,
Dawlish EX7 9SF
