Principal - Full-time

Turner Free School, Folkestone

• Ref:KCC886-4021-234L
• Posted:08/03/2024
• Pay:Leadership Payscale dependent on experience
• Start Date:September 2024
• App Close Date:15/04/2024 at 12:00
• Interviews:Week Commencing 22nd April 2024

Advert

We are seeking a Principal to join Turner Free School which forms part of Turner Schools. The growing multi-academy trust currently comprises six schools, a trust sixth form and 5 specialist resource provisions in the Folkestone and Dover district with future expansion planned for September 24 with an additional hub in Canterbury.  You will be joining the Trust at an exciting time as we move through a period of growth and development. 

The Principal should be able to demonstrate a proven track record of rapid school improvement and improved outcomes for pupils. We are looking for someone who is already an established and successful educational leader, with the drive and ambition to ensure continued success and the vision and skills to deliver change in the years ahead.  Due to our planned growth and development, there are excellent progression opportunities within the Trust. However we would welcome applicants who may not be ready for the principal role but wish to initially become Head of School and we would especially welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and experience.

The role will focus on improving provision at Turner Free School even further, especially for pupils with higher prior attainment. The role will involve working with our CEO, Vice Principals and other senior and middle leaders to effectively self-evaluate and deliver high-quality education provision through robust and ambitious teaching and improvement work. The successful candidate will have the motivation and desire to develop pupils’ achievements within a Trust who are focused and determined to ensure that all pupils make exceptional progress. The right candidate will be an excellent communicator who understands the power of collaboration and shares our vision to transform children’s futures, empower families and strengthen communities. 

Interview

There is an opportunity to meet the CEO and have a tour of our schools.

Please email HR@turnerschools.com to arrange a visit.

Benefits of Working for Turner Schools: 

Our staff tell us that the Trust is a supportive and motivational place to work, with real attention paid to staff wellbeing, workload and professional development. Further information about our Trust can be found on our website: www.turnerschools.com 

We care about our staff's personal and professional wellbeing and are pleased to offer the following benefits: 

• Fully funded access to Benenden Healthcare
• Outstanding professional development through our Turner Institute 
• Membership for all ECT, teaching and leadership staff to the Chartered College of Teaching 
• Regular wellbeing and social activities 
• Counselling and mental wellbeing support 
• Access to Mental Health First Aiders
• Electric car scheme 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Innovation Awards that encourage staff to put forward innovative ideas to make a difference to children’s experiences 
• Trust Vision and Values awards to recognise staff contribution 
• Free parking on all our sites with access to E chargers 

Information about the school

The Turner Free School is an academically ambitious and inclusive school for 11-18 year old pupils in the Cheriton area of Folkestone. In other words, it is a grammar-style school for everyone. As a smaller than average secondary school, all pupils are known and educated as individuals. The school has a knowledge-led curriculum, organised along the principles established by Professors Michael Young of the IOE and E.D. Hirsch of the University of Virginia, to ensure all pupils receive the knowledge they need to thrive in the modern world. In addition, to give pupils a leading edge for further education and employment, modern foreign languages are emphasised, with the aspiration that all pupils will achieve a working standard by the time that they graduate from the school.

As a free school the Turner Free School is a new Academy school; directly funded by central government and independent of Local Authority control. Like other free schools, the Turner Free School has a responsibility to expand the educational offer locally, to promote higher standards inclusively, to address local social issues and to ensure excellent value for the public purse.

The Turner Free School is part of Turner Schools, a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) on the beautiful Kent coast. The Turner Schools family includes six schools in Folkestone:-

• Dover Christ Church Academy

• Folkestone Primary

• Folkestone Academy

• Morehall Primary

• Martello Primary

• Turner Free School

We provide education through pre-school, primary, secondary and on to sixth form. Each academy is individual and responds to the needs of its local community to provide the best possible opportunity for its young people. We promote high academic standards, while ensuring crucial opportunities for personal and emotional development.

Turner Schools is committed to Transforming children’s futures…Empowering children’s futures…Strengthening communities.

To help us achieve this Turner Staff ‘Walk the Turner Talk’

They will:

• Speak and act with care: always show compassion and respect for children.

• Act boldly: be ambitious for yourself and the children and young people we serve.

• Learn from adversity: be evaluative, thoughtful and reflective.

• Challenge convention: be curious, welcome difference and unfamiliar thinking.

• Connect with others: support colleagues, parents and pupils to make a great team.

• Use your voice: offer different views and ask questions.

• Do what it takes: be relentless in pursuing the best for children.

• Ask for support: be open and honest when plans go awry.

• Don’t give up: be calm, resilient and measured when managing challenges.

Turner Schools is committed to giving a powerful education to local families through schools where children thrive and knowledge matters. Turner Schools is committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. It expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any appointment is subject to thorough recruitment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and an on-line search in order to identify any incidents or issues that have happened and are publicly available on line.Two references are required prior to commencement of employment. We are an equal opportunities employer.

We would welcome applicants to visit the school prior to application to experience the culture and ethos. Please contact HR@TurnerSchools.com if you would like to arrange a tour.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Caroline Dominguez
• Address:Academy Lane, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 5FP
• Telephone: 01303 842433
• Email: hr@turnerschools.com

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Principal