Headteacher
Headteacher
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Job Description
Permanent full time position working all year round. Working hours: 08.00 17.00 Monday to Friday with additional hours on occasions to fulfil the requirements of the post
Salary: depending on experience
Closing Date for this vacancy: Midnight Thursday 20th March 2025
Interview Dates: Week commencing 24th March 2025. The selection process will involve the completion of job specific tasks and activities
Start Date: September 2025 or earlier if possible to ensure transition with outgoing Headteacher
Please also complete the Schools Application Form alongside a cover letter and up to date CV.
York Steiner School (YSS) is recruiting a newHeadteacher from September 2025. YSS is an independent school offering Steiner Waldorf education to children and young people from age 3 to 16. It is located in York has a thriving and supportive community and committedteachers. It is inspected by Ofsted and currently rated Good . The Upper School is newly established and offers an innovative and creative Level 2 portfolio assessment alongside English and Maths GCSEs. This is a small school with huge potential. It has staff and parents who care deeply for this approach to education.
Key requirements for this role are:
- An appreciation of and willingness to learn about the Waldorf approach which has a unique curriculum and pedagogy. Artistic and academic learning are equally valued alongside a commitment to developing dispositions for learning independence and resilience.
- An empathetic collaborative and decisive leadership style a headteacher who is able to take difficult decisions whilst maintaining staff morale and agency.
- The ability to build positive relationships with staff parents carers and the wider school community.
- Good financial and business understanding.
Job Description
Please note: This job description is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the Headteacher role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the Headteacher will perform. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the level of the role.
Background context and future vision
The Headteacher is responsible for nurturing our schools strengths:
- a longestablished Steiner Waldorf School whose most recent Ofsted Report rated all areas of the school as Good.
- a highly committed and skilled staff team of teachers learning support assistants finance administration and estates staff.
- a strong confident parent and carer body able to share voices and views with school leadership to develop and continually improve our school.
- pupils aged 316 years who are keen to learn grow and to play their part in our schools present and future provision so they can positively shape their own lives and those of others.
The Headteacher will be responsible for further developing the schools vision. By listening attentively to all the schools stakeholders and observing its strengths in action while monitoring and keeping abreast of the educational landscape regionally nationally and internationally the Head Teacher will enable York Steiner School to be an outstanding provider of Steiner Waldorf education.
Strategic Planning and DecisionMaking
York Steiner School is undergoing an exciting chapter in its history. As well as continuously building on existing strengths YSS has an exciting and ambitious 5year Strategy Plan encompassing the following strands:
- Curriculum
- Staff Development
- Connected Community
- Connection to the Natural World
- Regulatory Compliance
- Marketing and Admissions
- Financial Stability
It will be the responsibility of the new Headteacher to lead delivery of the Strategy Plan 2024 29. Much has been accomplished already with the opening of Upper School in September 2024 as well as improving our outdoor spaces mentoring and training teachers increasing student numbers creating an alumni association and developing a parent volunteering model.
The Headteacher will hold a strategic overview and make sure discussions and decisions are made in a timely manner consulting with relevant individuals and delegating as appropriate. The Headteacher will report to the Board of Trustees on attainment of Strategy Plan goals and engage in updating these as appropriate.
The Headteacher will:
- articulate our schools ongoing direction and identity operationally and strategically as part of a largely collegiate management approach.
- develop the schools aims and objectives and provide overall strategic leadership.
- develop action plans for achieving these aims and objectives.
- communicate the schools vision to all stakeholders through collaborative leadership.
- motivate staff pupils and families and carers to achieve the schools vision whilst ensuring ongoing strengthening of the provision of Steiner Waldorf education.
Working with the Trustees
The Headteacher will:
- work with the Board of Trustees to ensure that strategic school objectives are articulated as achievable realistic and resourced school operations.
- attend Trustees meetings (currently every 6 weeks) providing the information needed to by Trustees to fulfil their oversight function including through the provision of a written Headteacher Report and Safeguarding Report.
- meet the Safeguarding Curriculum and Finance Trustees regularly or as needed to move forward operational and strategic matters.
- develop good working relationships with the Trustees acknowledging their oversight on strategic matters whilst maintaining ownership of operational matters.
Finances
The Headteacher will:
- work with the Finance Manager to support strategic curriculumled financial planning to ensure effective use of budgets and resourcesbalancing the schools ambition to be inclusive and accessible with the need for fiscal responsibility.
- provide timely reporting of financial information including any actual or anticipated variances susceptible to have a material impact on the schools financial performance.
- identify and oversee opportunities for income generation grant applications and fundraising.
Marketing and admissions
The Headteacher will:
- be an ambassador for the school promoting the school in the city and beyond.
- In liaison with the schools marketing team and marketing trustee develop the schools marketing strategy and deliver on its aims and objectives.
- in collaboration with the Admissions Secretary organise and lead Open Days (currently 2 annually on Saturday mornings).
- in collaboration with the Admissions Secretary lead Enquirers Mornings (currently 8 a year) for small groups of prospective parents.
- conduct tours and phone calls with prospective parents
- in liaison with the marketing team oversee the productions of the schools marketing literature.
- contribute to the schools newsletter website and social media pages.
- work strategically to increase student numbers including within Parent and Child and Kindergarten by networking with relevant stakeholders overseeing effective marketing and ensuring the quality of the educational experience within the school.
- build on the recommendations of the recent communications review to ensure all internal and external communications reflect and promote the school based on the agreed branding and messaging.
Operational Coordination and Regulatory Compliance
The Headteacher is a member of (and currently chairs) the School Management Group (SMG) the schools senior leadership team to ensure compliance with the full range of external regulatory and inspection requirements.
By facilitating collaboration and coherent decisionmaking the Headteacher will ensure our pupils and staff enjoy psychological as well as physical safety and our school enjoys financial stability and further growth.
The Headteacher will:
- ensure that the school is always inspection ready.
- monitor progress towards the achievement of the schools aims and objectives.
- manage staff and resources so that the school is compliant for example with regards to Health and Safety the Charity Commission and Ofsted requirements (including the EYFS and ISS).
- work with the Admin/HR Manager to address concerns complaints grievances; and performance recruitment and disciplinary matters.
- ensure that the schools systems organisation and processes are well considered efficient and fit for purpose.
- maintain and review an uptodate School Evaluation Form (SEF) and School Improvement Plan (SIP).
- ensure that all statutory policies are reviewed approved by Trustees and up to date on the school website.
- maintain and develop strong relationships with relevant partners in our local authority and respond effectively to changing local and national policy contexts.
Safeguarding Behaviour and Attendance
The Headteacher is the schools Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) supported by a safeguarding team of Deputy DSLs. Together DSL and deputy DSLs are responsible for embedding and sustaining a culture of safety and vigilance at the school.
The Head Teacher/DSL will:
- provide supervision of key safeguarding staff (including but not restricted to deputy DSLs) to ensure reflective practice is nurtured learning and leadership are encouraged and the schools safeguarding and child protection continuously improves.
- liaise with outside agencies including MASH Early Help and Supporting Families and the LADO if appropriate and keep accurate records.
- conduct annual staff safeguarding update and maintain training records for all staff.
- attend CYC Safeguarding Briefings and the Independent Schools of York Safeguarding meetings.
- monitor attendance by analysing attendance data in liaison with reception staff class teachers and communicate any concerns to parents; report attendance data and trends to the Trustees via the Head Teachers report.
- Analyse CPoms incidents via incident categories monitor trends and take action if necessary.
- build positive relationships with all members of the school community showing positive attitudes to them.
- hold all staff to account for their professional conduct and practice.
- provide a safe calm and wellordered environment for all pupils and staff focused on safeguarding pupils and developing exemplary behaviour.
- safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and ensure school policies and the staff code of conduct are followed.
- Agree and sign off any reduced timetables/flexi schooling agreements and review theses arrangements regularly with the SENDCO.
- Monitor the implementation of the school behaviour policy.
- Record any exclusions (fixed term or permanent).
- be a role model for all in our community.
Staffing and Staff Development
The Headteacher will:
- seek training and continuous professional development to meettheir own needs.
- In line with the schools development plan identify staff training needs and organize a whole school CPD programme.
- Coordinate staff INSET days (currently 4 a year).
- induct new staff and ensure that all new teachers have a mentor and that meetings and lesson observations take place consistently.
- Mentor or identify a mentor for ECT teachers (awarding body ISTIP) and PGCE students conducting observations mentoring or coaching meetings and completing all necessary paperwork.
- In liaison with the HR manager interview and recruit all staff according to Safer Recruitment Practices and carry out Induction reviews in the first year.
- Be responsible for staff deployment in Parent and Child Kindergarten Main School and Upper School.
- Map out staffing needs well in advance of the next academic year and recruit the right people to the right jobs in a timely manner.
- Approve overtime requests and longterm cover.
- In liaison with the HR Manager manage long term sickness.
- Have oversight of the school appraisal system coordinate appraisals of all the teaching staff and conduct appraisals of those admin and support staff who are direct reports
- identify emerging talents coaching current and aspiring leaders.
Curriculum and Quality of Teaching and Learning
The Headteacher will work closely with Waldorf UK to establish York Steiner School as a provider of outstanding Steiner Waldorf education and an outstanding school in a fastchanging educational context ensuring Waldorf pedagogy remains at the heart of schooling. Working with the Education Management Group (EMG) the Head Teacher will:
- ensure a high quality of educational provision having ambitious standards for all pupils instilling a strong sense of accountability in staff for the impact of their work on pupil outcomes
- ensure excellent teaching in the school including through training and development for staff.
- ensure Steiner Waldorf pedagogy and culture are at the heart of teaching and learning.
- keep up to date with developments in education and have a good knowledge of education systems locally nationally and globally.
- create an ethos within which all staff are motivated and supported to develop their skills and knowledge.
- create an outwardfacing school which works with other schools and organisations to secure excellent outcomes for all pupils.
- support lead/senior teachers to conduct termly student progress reviews with the Class teacher and SENDCO to identify any interventions/actions necessary for pupils.
- support organisation of a programme of subject lead meetings on a termly basis have oversights of curriculum documents and ensure that they are kept up to date.
Person Specification
- Qualified teacher with extensive teaching experience.
- Experience of working in senior leadership in the capacity of headteacher deputy head/lead head of department lead or equivalent role (in the case of exceptional applicants other relevant experience may be considered).
- Knowledge or awareness of the principles underlying Steiner Waldorf Principles and commitment to deepen that knowledge through ongoing professional development.
- Successful completion of Child Protection and Designated Safeguarding Lead training.
- Demonstrable financial competence including agood understanding of budget setting cash flowand fiscally responsible financial management and planning.
- An understanding and practical experience of educational compliance and legal obligations within schools and their application.
- Inclusive leadership approach which recognises the importance of distributive management.
- Excellent administration organisational planning and analytical skills.
- Demonstrable experience of successful line management and staff development
- Demonstrable ability to delegate effectively and manage change.
- Proven ability to identify and acknowledge excellence as well as the ability and resolve to respond to underperformance effectively and decisively holding staff accountable for their professional conduct and practice; ability to challenge decisions and behaviours respectfully and professionally.
- Ability to communicate engage with and cooperate well with colleagues and parents; to forge warm effective collaborative working relationships both internally and externally in keeping with the schools ethos and culture.
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality particularly in relation to sensitive HR information.
- Ability to maintain discipline build and maintain positive relationships with pupils understanding and relating to them perceptively and empathetically.
- Aptitude to prioritise and manage a varied and complex workload and meet deadlines.
- Resilience and ability to work under pressure and manage stressful situations calmly.
- Selfmotivation and imagination.
- A qualification in Steiner Waldorf education and/or teaching experience in Waldorf Schools.
- An appropriate senior leadership qualification such as NPQH.
- Evidence of establishing a collaborative school vision of excellence and equity that sets high standards for every student and the ability to inspire challenge motivate and empower others to carry the vision forward.
- Proven track record insecuring funding through grant applications or other means.
Annual Leave: 28 days (inclusive of bank holidays) in the first year 31 day in the second year before rising to 33 days after 3 years. There will be a 6 month probationary period.
We implement safeguarding protocols in all aspects of our working practices and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check and this will include social media checks.
York Steiner School is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to ensuring that every job applicant or employee receives equal treatment irrespective of sex marital status age race nationality disability sexuality or religious belief.
Application process and timescales
Application forms can be downloaded from find out more about York Steiner School visit our website completed application forms to be emailed: to Sarah Heaton HR/Admin Manager at alongside a cover letter and up to date CV.
Employment Type
Full-Time
