Thank you very much for your interest in applying for a post at Bridgnorth Endowed School. You will find additional details under the links on the left.

I joined the school just over a year ago. The first thing I noticed on interview was the students; they are articulate, well mannered and confident in themselves. I also found staff to be warm and welcoming, and the longer I have spent here the more I find these things to be true. As a school we are actively seeking to become outstanding from a current position of satisfactory with some good features. As a staff we have developed our vision for the school we are trying to build together:

We are a school community working together for the success of all.

The key elements of which are:

Learners who are:

• Happy, secure, inspired and confident.
• Fully engaged in the life and development of the school.
• Developing the life skills of thinking, teamwork, resilience, responsibility, communication, creativity and independence to prepare them for the changing world in which they live.
• Valued as individuals of limitless potential.

Staff that are:

• Happy, secure, inspired, inspirational and confident.
• Creative, adventurous and supported in risk taking.
• Fully engaged in the life and development of the school.
• Engaged in their own learning and development through strategies such as peer observation, coaching and collaboration.
• Valued as individuals of limitless potential.

A school community that is:

• Reflective
• Collaborative
• Forward looking in teaching, learning and technology
• Student centred
• Communicative
• Celebratory

The OFSTED inspection of May 2008 found that Inspectors agree with the school's accurate self-evaluation in that the school provides a satisfactory standard of education but they also judged that many elements are good. Students receive very good pastoral care which enables them to show good personal development and well-being. Students generally enjoy school and they respond well to the many activities and good lessons. However we are not happy being described as satisfactory and will not rest until the teaching and learning is outstanding so that pupils leave us prepared for the rigours of the world, having gained the qualifications that mean they will have the opportunities to fulfil their potential in their working life.

Here are some of the exciting things that are happening at Bridgnorth Endowed School:

• We are looking to develop our Opening Minds programme beyond year 7 after developing an assessment regime based upon the PLTS.
• We have vertical tutor groups, meaning that each tutor has 20 students in their group on average from years 7 to 11. We see the role of tutor as key in student development and this model means tutor groups develop a unique feel, allowing pupils to mentor those from other years. We are currently developing the input of year 12 into these tutor groups.
• We have formed a partnership with the other 11-18 school in the town at sixth form level so that over 60% of classes involve students from both schools as we aim to further develop a curriculum to support post-16 education for the area
• Developments in the 14-19 agenda including leading the four schools in our consortium in development of the Engineering and Society, Health and Development Diplomas as well as being involved in the development of two others being lead by other schools.
• Development of our KS4 curriculum to take place over three years enabling pupils to have greater choice, complete qualifications in a shorter time by engaging in a more concentrated learning journey and to learn in groups that may contain pupils from more than one year group

We also believe these things are important in any school:

• All colleagues having high expectations of pupils at all times, whether behaviourally or work-wise, whether in the corridors or the classroom.
• A positive working atmosphere in lessons, where there is order, where pupils feel secure and where they are valued no matter their ability. Where they can flourish and give of their best.
• Staff who are excellent role models for pupils in so many ways, whether in the fact that they are punctual for lessons or in the way they present themselves, being smart and business like.
• Reflection and review of what we are doing at regular intervals, both individually and collectively so that we can learn from what we have done, relating everything back to our core purpose.

What are my expectations when visiting classrooms? Well, I expect to see:

• Well planned lessons.
• High expectations of the pupils and by the pupils.
• Learning and teaching that involves Assessment for Learning.
• Pupils who are engaged with the teacher in learning, not just passive receptacles.
• Work that is at an appropriate level and also differentiated.
• Regular use of praise and encouragement.
• Crisp pacing.
• Homework that has a clear purpose, linking clearly to the learning of the lesson.

We are committed to the development of the personalising learning agenda and to that end we are going through a re-structuring process that will see the TLR structure reflect the nine gateways, grouped into the Deeps as per David Hargreaves’s work. We have already remodeled the SLT around the Deeps and put the subjects into clusters and are looking at the timetable for TLR changes at the moment.

We have appointed a Teaching and Learning Consultant (AfL) because I see this area as a key factor in whole school improvement. Every member of staff is in the process of being trained in TEEP (Teacher Effectiveness Enhancement Programme) to further develop the use of AfL, questioning, thinking skills and active learning in lessons.

I am seeking members of staff who are keen to inspire students to achieve their best and who are reflective practitioners always looking to improve the teaching and learning they deliver through peer observation, coaching and collaboration.

If you feel that you are able to meet the challenges we are setting for the future then I am pleased that you are interested in joining us on our exciting journey towards achieving the status of an outstanding school and look forward to receiving your application form and letter as and when a vacancy arises.

Kind regards

Phil Loveday
Head Teacher - Bridgnorth Endowed School