Deputy Head (Academic)

Candidate Information Pack

CONTENTS

1. Mill Hill School

2. Role Description

3. Person Specification

4. Employment Terms
and Conditions

5. Application Process
 MILL HILL SCHOOL
1 MILL HILL SCHOOL

The Mill Hill School Foundation is a

This is an exciting time of development
successful family of four leading
for the Foundation, with the recent
co-educational Schools providing an
appointment of the Chief Executive
outstanding educational experience
Officer, Antony Spencer, whose
for pupils aged 3-18. Mill Hill School,
responsibility for overarching strategy
the Senior School, is one of London’s
frees up the Heads to manage their
leading co-educational day and
Schools. Since her appointment
boarding schools; Grimsdell, Mill Hill
in September 2018 our Head, Jane
Pre-Preparatory School, is a day school
Sanchez, has drawn on many years’
for pupils aged 3 to 7; Belmont, Mill Hill
experience as the Principal Deputy
Preparatory School, is a day school for
Head of Mill Hill in setting a course
pupils aged 7 to 13 and The Mount, Mill
which reflects her commitment to the
Hill International is a co-educational
pursuit of educational excellence in a
boarding and day school for pupils
21st century context and the nurturing
aged 13 to 17 predominantly from non-
of each individual pupil. Many new
English speaking backgrounds, which
initiatives have already been set in
opened in September 2015.
motion, and an exciting vision for
the future is unfolding, with further
Situated in 150 acres of magnificent
investment planned in facilities and
parkland in North London, the
resources. The appointment of 25
Foundation and its constituent
new members of the teaching staff in
Schools blend a distinctive heritage
September reflects both our growth in
with outstanding pastoral care, high
numbers and our appreciation of the
academic standards and a diverse
fact that our teaching staff is such a
range of sporting, artistic and
key resource. The Mill Hill community
cultural opportunities. Each School
is characterised by the wholehearted
is led by its own Head who has
engagement of its staff and pupils,
responsibility for the admission of
who exemplify the ethos of our School
pupils and for the quality of teaching
motto, et virtutem et musas, instilling
and learning,
values, inspiring minds.
including staff recruitment, and
Heads work closely together to
ensure a seamless transition as pupils
progress through the Foundation.
Within easy reach by private and
public transport and with good
access to all London airports,
enrolment in all four Schools is
extremely healthy and local and
boarding parents alike are supportive
of the School and aspirational for
their children.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Deputy Head (Academic)
Following the appointment of the
current incumbent, Mr Alex Frazer, after
eight years’ service, to an HMC
Headship, Mill Hill is seeking a dynamic
individual and outstanding leader to
shape and develop the academic life of
the School and to contribute
significantly to our vibrant community.
The successful candidate will be ready
to play a pivotal role at this
exciting time in our continuing growth and
development.
The Deputy Head (Academic) is
responsible to the Head for all academic
matters. He or she is responsible
for ensuring the highest standards
of teaching, learning and academic
attainment across the School. He or she
will work closely with the Assistant Head
(Teaching and Learning), the Assistant
Head (Academic Administration), Heads
of Department and other senior staff to
ensure the effective development and
delivery of the academic curriculum
and the efficient management of
academic departments. The Deputy Head
(Academic) reports directly to the Head.
The key areas of responsibility which
attach to the position are set out below,
although the list is not exhaustive and
the post holder may be expected to
assume additional responsibilities as
reasonably requested by the Head. He or
she will keep the Head informed of any
significant issues relating to the
academic curriculum or the academic
progress of the
School and its pupils. The Deputy Head
(Academic) will work alongside the Head
and the Deputy Head (Pastoral) in leading
the strategic direction of the School. He
or she will be expected to deputise for the
Head, as required.
2 ROLE DESCRIPTION
Key Areas of Responsibility
1. Strategic Development
• To develop and implement the School’s
vision, aims and objectives
• To oversee the School’s academic
strategy, in line with agreed
educational priorities, and, where
appropriate, in liaison with senior staff
across the Foundation
• To recommend to the Head future
academic priorities that meet the
academic needs of all pupils
• To represent Mill Hill School at the
relevant Governors’ Committee
meetings, notably the Academic
Committee, reporting on results
and significant academic matters
2. Leadership
• To be a core member of the Senior
Leadership Team, representing the
interests of the academic life of
the School
• To work with members of the
Senior Leadership Team and,
where
appropriate, senior colleagues across
the Foundation, to develop, refine and
implement the School’s policies and
procedures (particularly those with an
academic focus)
• To lead on all academic areas of the
School Development Plan
• To lead the Assistant Heads and
Heads of Department in setting and
meeting agreed academic targets
• To be an excellent role model, in the
classroom and beyond and in his or
her role as a senior leader within the
School
• To take a lead responsibility in
promoting an ethos of academic
rigour, engagement and perseverance
in the pursuit of academic excellence
within a warm and supportive
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3. Curriculum
• To ensure that curriculum planning,
development and delivery meets the
needs of all pupils within the School
and is co-ordinated across the
Foundation
• To oversee the School timetable
(including individual pupil timetables
and prep timetables), working in
conjunction with the School
timetabler
• To manage the timetable, staff
allocations and subject options
• To ensure that the provision of Careers
and Higher Education is ambitious,
high quality, wide-ranging and age
appropriate
• To inform the Head and the Senior
Leadership Team of current research,
trends and issues relevant to the
academic life of the School to
facilitate future planning
4. Staffing
• To assess academic staffing
requirements, recruitment
and deployment
• To oversee support staff (including
recruitment) relating to academic
departments
• To oversee staff cover, including
supply cover - with the Assistant Head
(Academic Administration)
• To monitor staff absence/illness,
including Return to Work interviews and
an active appreciation of staff
wellbeing
• To conduct staff appraisals, as agreed
with the Head
5. Quality of Teaching
• To ensure that the quality of teaching
and learning is consistently excellent
• In conjunction with the Assistant Head
(Teaching and Learning), to foster a
positive culture of professional
reflection and the sharing of excellent
practice
• To have oversight of academic line
management and the continual
improvement of academic
departments
• Working in conjunction with the
Assistant Head (Sixth Form) and
Heads of Department and
Housemasters/ mistresses/House
Parents, to ensure that all pupils are
6. Pupil Performance
supported and well prepared for
• To develop effective systems for
university admissions
monitoring and evaluating the
progress of all pupils, together with
appropriate strategies to support
pupil progress
• To support Fifth Form (Year 11)
pupils at risk of non-qualification for
the Sixth Form
• To oversee the reporting of pupil
progress, together with the
Assistant Head (Teaching and
Learning) and the Assistant Head
(Academic Administration)
• To analyse public examination
performance in relation to:
individual pupils; academic
departments; the School as a
whole and nationally, reporting to
Governors and senior staff on
strategies for improvement
Joint Areas of Responsibility
With the Deputy Head
(Pastoral):
• Contingency planning, planning for
inspection and regulatory
compliance
• Major School events,
including Foundation Day
and Call to Remembrance
• Full School assemblies
As a Member of the Senior Leadership
Team
• To line manage key members of the
SLT and Heads of Department, as
directed by the Head, including
Examinations and Learning Support.
• To lead on ISI inspection preparation
• To lead on the submission of the
annual returns to DfE, ISC and ISI
• School Development Planning
• Leading on key elements of
School Partnerships with local
Maintained schools
• Leadership/membership of
working groups as directed by
the Head
• Disciplinary issues and
responding to pupil and parental
concerns relating to academic
and other matters and oversight
 and maintenance of the School’s
With the Assistant Head (Academic
complaints log Meetings
2 ROLE DESCRIPTION

Administration)
• Support for School routines and events, The Deputy Head (Academic) will attend
• Oversight of organisation of internal
including speaking at assemblies and meetings, including:
and external examinations
parents’ evenings • Senior Leadership Team
• Recording, publication and analysis of
• Academic Heads, the Academic
examination results
Advisory Group (AAG) and
• Identification of and follow up action
cross- Foundation Academic
on pupils whose examination
Heads
performances is a concern
• Head’s Common Room meetings
• Review of A Level grade predictions
• Housemasters/mistresses and House
for UCAS applications
Parents
• Analysis and internal publication of
• MHS Health and Safety Committee
value added data
• Governors’ Academic Committee
• Line management meetings of direct
With the Registrar
reports
• Leading on admissions testing at all
• Haileybury & St Albans Group
entry points, including scholarships and
(Directors of Studies & Deputy Heads
transfer from Mill Hill Prep School and
(Academic))
Mill Hill International School
• Academic assessment of all
Budgets
applications
The Deputy Head (Academic) will be
• Oversight of academic scholarship
responsible for setting (in conjunction
applications (13+ and Sixth Form)
with the Head and Director of Finance
• Involvement in the interview and
and Operations) the budgets assigned
selection process of prospective
to academic departments (known as the
pupils to the School
‘School Materials’ budget).
 3 PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

The successful candidate will be

• A high degree of motivation to
expected to have:
work with children and young
• A strong academic background,
people
with at least a good honours
• The ability to form and maintain
degree
appropriate relationships and
• An awareness, understanding and
personal boundaries with children
experience of issues relating to
and young people
safeguarding the health, welfare and
• A positive attitude to
safety of children
maintaining discipline
• Evidence of successfully leading
• A good eye for detail
and managing change, ideally at a
• Flexibility and resilience
strategic level
• High standards and outstanding
• The ability to take the initiative, to
levels of professional and personal
seek advice where necessary and to
integrity
work effectively as part of a team
• Well-developed knowledge of issues
A track record of success in running
relating to the academic
an academic department within one
curriculum, timetabling, teaching
or more good schools is highly
and learning, and educational
desirable but, for the right candidate,
management
not essential.
• A good awareness of recent trends in
curriculum content, aims, objectives
No specific academic subject
and assessment
specialism is required of the successful
• Well-developed managerial skills and
candidate, who will be expected to
the ability to lead and inspire staff
teach a significantly reduced timetable.
• Outstanding time management,
problem-solving and organisational
skills
• Evidence of achieving excellent
results at GCSE and A Level
• The ability to understand, use and to
encourage, a variety of teaching and
learning styles
• Highly developed inter-personal
skills, and the ability to work
effectively and productively with
pupils, staff, parents and governors
• Excellent written and oral
communication skills and the
confidence to make effective
presentations to audiences of pupils,
parents and staff
• The ability to chair meetings in an
effective and inclusive manner
 EMPLOYMENT TERMS
4 EMPLOYMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
AND CONDITIONS
The Mill Hill School Foundation is committed
to safeguarding the welfare of children. The
School is registered with the DBS and
successful applicants will be required to
complete successfully the Disclosure procedure
at the Enhanced level. It is an offence for a
person barred from working with children to
apply for this post.
The Mill Hill School Foundation is committed to
Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications
from all sections of the community.
Pension: The successful candidate will be
eligible to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
Accommodation: Some staff accommodation
may be available.
Salary: Competitive package of benefits and
salary commensurate with the senior nature of
the role.
5 APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLICATION PROCESS
If you would like to apply for this role, please
download the application form from the School
website. Our Guidance Notes for Applicants can
also be found on the website: millhill.org.uk
Your application form should be completed in full
and returned to applications@millhill.org.uk
Please note that we are unable to accept
applications unless they are made on our own
application form. Due to the large number of
applications the School receives, please be aware
that only shortlisted candidates will be
contacted to be invited for an interview.
Key Dates
• Deadline for submission of applications: 4pm
on Friday 7 February 2020
• Selected candidates will have a first-round
interview during the week beginning Monday
10 February
• Second round interviews are expected to be
held during the week beginning Monday 24
February
Should you require any further assistance, please
contact us via email applications@millhill.org.uk
Instilling values, inspiring minds
millhill.org.uk

Mill Hill School

The Ridgeway
Mill Hill Village
London NW7 1QS

020 8959 1221

millhill.org.uk

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@millhillsenior