Head of Year | Birmingham

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The Opportunity

Birmingham is a city of immense potential and diversity, and our school is looking for a resilient, visionary, and compassionate Head of Year to lead a specific year group on their journey toward success. This is a pivotal middle-leadership role for an experienced educator who understands that academic achievement is inextricably linked to high-quality pastoral care. You will be the architect of your year group’s culture, setting the tone for behavior, attendance, and aspiration, while ensuring that every student feels known, valued, and challenged to be their best self.

The Pastoral Department

The Pastoral team at our school is the heartbeat of our community. We operate a sophisticated support network that includes Tutors, Safeguarding Leads, and dedicated Wellbeing Officers. As Head of Year, you will sit at the center of this web, coordinating the efforts of your tutor team to deliver a world-class pastoral curriculum.

We pride ourselves on a "proactive, not reactive" approach. We utilize data-driven insights to identify trends in student progress and wellbeing before they become barriers to learning. You will join a collaborative leadership group that values your professional autonomy while providing the mentorship and administrative support necessary to manage a large cohort of students in a busy, inner-city environment.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

As a Head of Year, you will be responsible for the holistic development and academic oversight of an entire year group. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leadership of Culture: Establishing and maintaining high standards of behavior, uniform, and mutual respect within your year group. You will lead weekly assemblies that inspire students and celebrate their achievements.

• Academic Tracking: Monitoring the progress of all students in your cohort. You will work closely with Heads of Department to identify underachievement and implement effective interventions to close the gap.

• Behavior Management: Acting as a senior point of escalation for behavior issues. You will lead on restorative justice practices and work with families to resolve complex behavioral or social challenges.

• Attendance and Punctuality: Overseeing the attendance data for your year group, working with the attendance officer to support families and ensure every student is in school and ready to learn.

• Team Leadership: Managing and motivating a team of Form Tutors. You will lead team meetings, quality-assure the delivery of the PSHE/RSE curriculum, and support tutors in building strong relationships with their tutees.

• Parent and External Liaison: Acting as the primary point of contact for parents and external agencies (such as Social Care or Educational Psychology) regarding the welfare and progress of students in your year group.

• Transition and Events: Leading on key milestone events, such as Parents' Evenings, options evenings, and transition programmes into the next phase of education.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be an experienced teacher with a proven track record of effective pastoral leadership and a deep commitment to student welfare. You should possess:

• Academic and Professional Credentials: A degree in a recognized secondary subject and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Substantial experience as a Form Tutor or in a previous middle-leadership role is essential.

• Leadership Presence: The ability to command the respect of a large cohort of students and the authority to lead a team of professional colleagues.

• Emotional Intelligence: Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy, professional distance, and sound judgment.

• Data Literacy: The ability to analyze complex data sets to identify trends in attendance, behavior, and academic progress, and the strategic thinking to act on those insights.

• Resilience: A proactive and positive approach to the challenges of working in a high-energy school environment, with the ability to remain calm under pressure.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to advocate for students while maintaining the high standards of the school.

Why Join Our School?

Working as a Head of Year in Birmingham offers a rewarding career path with significant opportunities for senior leadership. Benefits include:

• Professional Investment: Access to specialized leadership training, including the NPQLBC (Leading Behaviour and Culture) or NPQSL (Senior Leadership).

• A Supportive Network: Work within a leadership team that prioritizes staff wellbeing and provides a clear framework for student management.

• Impact: The chance to make a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of young people in one of the UK’s most dynamic and youthful cities.

• Stability and Growth: A permanent leadership position with a clear career progression path into Senior Leadership (Assistant Headteacher).

How to Apply

To apply for this Head of Year position in Birmingham, please submit your CV.