Management Information Sheet
The Norfolk Locum Register of School Leaders
Background
There are occasions when schools suddenly need support because of unforeseen circumstances, such as the illness of the headteacher or another senior leader. In some cases an existing member of staff is able to undertake the post holder's duties until the situation is resolved. In others, where this is not possible, we are often asked by governors to help find a suitable replacement to fulfil the role, sometimes at very short notice.
For sixteen years, the Local Authority (LA) has kept a register of experienced and successful headteachers, deputy heads and middle leaders who are willing to be called upon in these circumstances and many have been deployed to schools in need.
The time has come to refresh the scheme so that it remains fit for purpose. In future the locum leader role will reflect the changing context in which we all work by supporting the national strategy for school-to-school improvement and succession planning. Locum leaders will therefore continue to work beyond their own school to sustain good leadership and to provide local solutions to intractable problems. However, placements will be negotiated at governor level with the LA acting as broker.
The Benefits
In addition to being of immense help to schools in difficult situations, supporting another school in this way gives successful headteachers, deputy headteachers and teachers the opportunity to broaden their experience and demonstrate their capacity to respond to the challenges of new and unfamiliar situations. This is a very valuable form of professional development that adds value to their work in their own school when they return and there is sufficient evidence to suggest that this will subsequently result in rising standards.
Experience tells us that governing bodies recognise the benefit of this for the staff involved, but also for the staff who have the opportunity of 'acting-up', and thus gaining experience and assuming extra responsibility in the absence of the headteacher, deputy or other staff member. Governors' also recognise that in providing such opportunities they are promoting their own reputation for enhancing careers which in turn makes it easier to attract and retain a high calibre workforce. The best governing bodies make strategic plans to accommodate changes in leadership at short notice as this minimises disruption and assures continuity.
Making an Application
The locum leader role is likely to interest serving headteachers, deputies and assistant heads, recently retired headteachers and other aspirant leaders such as those in the Norfolk Talent Pool. However, applications are invited from all those with the relevant experience, competencies and personal qualities. If you have been included on the locum register previously you must reapply for 2013 and beyond.
If interested, please make an application by clicking on the following link to download and complete a pen portrait. You must return this document to ruth.foster@norfolk.gov.uk by Friday 1 February 2013. Alternatively, you can apply via the schools vacancies section of the Norfolk Schools website from the 11th January 2013. Successful applicants will be given further details including an invitation to attend a short interview.
Where already employed, applications will only be considered from those who have gained the consent of their headteacher and/or governors as it is essential that those on the register are available potentially at quite short notice.
Inclusion on the Locum Register will not, of course, mean that you will be called upon. A range of factors, such as travel distance, size and type of school, the specific requirements of the receiving school and circumstances in your school at the time, will influence every locum arrangement.
How the Register Works
Once successful candidates have been identified and quality assured through the interview process, their names will be placed on 'The Norfolk Locum Register of School Leaders'. The Local Authority will then act as a 'broker' for schools seeking an interim leader at senior or headship level. The process will be:
Although full information is being released to schools at this, the recruitment stage, it is anticipated that the Locum Leaders on-line register will become live in April 2013. Therefore, a further reminder will be sent nearer the time to give specific details on how to access the site.
For informal enquiries and further details please contact:
Bob Bone - Senior Adviser on 01603 303309
Simon Morley - Senior Adviser on 01603 307788
There are occasions when schools suddenly need support because of unforeseen circumstances, such as the illness of the headteacher or another senior leader. In some cases an existing member of staff is able to undertake the post holder's duties until the situation is resolved. In others, where this is not possible, we are often asked by governors to help find a suitable replacement to fulfil the role, sometimes at very short notice.
For sixteen years, the Local Authority (LA) has kept a register of experienced and successful headteachers, deputy heads and middle leaders who are willing to be called upon in these circumstances and many have been deployed to schools in need.
The time has come to refresh the scheme so that it remains fit for purpose. In future the locum leader role will reflect the changing context in which we all work by supporting the national strategy for school-to-school improvement and succession planning. Locum leaders will therefore continue to work beyond their own school to sustain good leadership and to provide local solutions to intractable problems. However, placements will be negotiated at governor level with the LA acting as broker.
The Benefits
In addition to being of immense help to schools in difficult situations, supporting another school in this way gives successful headteachers, deputy headteachers and teachers the opportunity to broaden their experience and demonstrate their capacity to respond to the challenges of new and unfamiliar situations. This is a very valuable form of professional development that adds value to their work in their own school when they return and there is sufficient evidence to suggest that this will subsequently result in rising standards.
Experience tells us that governing bodies recognise the benefit of this for the staff involved, but also for the staff who have the opportunity of 'acting-up', and thus gaining experience and assuming extra responsibility in the absence of the headteacher, deputy or other staff member. Governors' also recognise that in providing such opportunities they are promoting their own reputation for enhancing careers which in turn makes it easier to attract and retain a high calibre workforce. The best governing bodies make strategic plans to accommodate changes in leadership at short notice as this minimises disruption and assures continuity.
Making an Application
The locum leader role is likely to interest serving headteachers, deputies and assistant heads, recently retired headteachers and other aspirant leaders such as those in the Norfolk Talent Pool. However, applications are invited from all those with the relevant experience, competencies and personal qualities. If you have been included on the locum register previously you must reapply for 2013 and beyond.
If interested, please make an application by clicking on the following link to download and complete a pen portrait. You must return this document to ruth.foster@norfolk.gov.uk by Friday 1 February 2013. Alternatively, you can apply via the schools vacancies section of the Norfolk Schools website from the 11th January 2013. Successful applicants will be given further details including an invitation to attend a short interview.
Where already employed, applications will only be considered from those who have gained the consent of their headteacher and/or governors as it is essential that those on the register are available potentially at quite short notice.
Inclusion on the Locum Register will not, of course, mean that you will be called upon. A range of factors, such as travel distance, size and type of school, the specific requirements of the receiving school and circumstances in your school at the time, will influence every locum arrangement.
How the Register Works
Once successful candidates have been identified and quality assured through the interview process, their names will be placed on 'The Norfolk Locum Register of School Leaders'. The Local Authority will then act as a 'broker' for schools seeking an interim leader at senior or headship level. The process will be:
| 1. | The Chair of Governors will contact the named LA Adviser to articulate their leadership need. |
| 2. | The LA adviser will advise on the recruitment process that must be followed. This will require the Governing Body to identify a small selection panel to take delegated responsibility throughout. |
| 3. | The adviser will then enable access to the online register and suggest up to three people who may best meet the stated need. |
| 4. | The governors' selection panel will read the pen portraits of those nominated by the adviser (plus any others that they find viable and available) to find the best match of leader for their context and circumstances. The responsibility for the final selection will rest with the panel. |
| 5. | The LA adviser may then broker an introductory meeting between the selection panel and the leader of their choice and their Chair of Governors to agree the locum arrangement. This must include discussion about the needs of both schools and about the financial and contractual arrangements for supporting the placement. The formal agreement from the governors of both schools must be sought and recorded. The appropriate LA officers and HR consultants can advise on how best to achieve this. |
| 6. | Where a leader is identified and the recruitment process is successfully concluded, the selection panel must recommend the individual to the full Governing Body who will ratify their decision. |
| 7. | Placements will usually be negotiated for one term at a time, but may last for anything from a few weeks to two or three terms depending on the situation. |
Although full information is being released to schools at this, the recruitment stage, it is anticipated that the Locum Leaders on-line register will become live in April 2013. Therefore, a further reminder will be sent nearer the time to give specific details on how to access the site.
For informal enquiries and further details please contact:
Bob Bone - Senior Adviser on 01603 303309
Simon Morley - Senior Adviser on 01603 307788