Army - Defence Children Services (DCS) Virtual School Head Teacher
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 1st October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Are you a UK Qualified Teacher looking for a new and exciting challenge? Then this role may be for you!
Defence Children Services (DCS) is looking for an experienced Head Teacher to come and run our MOD Virtual School. DCS is recruiting a MOD Virtual School Head Teacher (MODVS HT) to join our Headquarters team in Wiltshire. You will play a vital role in supporting and improving the educational outcomes of c.5000 children and young people in Service Families. This is a dynamic and exciting role providing the opportunity to work with our overseas locations and work with the wider Defence community.
The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such using data to aid understanding of our workforce is vital.
As the MOD Virtual School Head Teacher (MODVS HT), you will make a huge difference to Defence and Service families by overseeing all children in non DCS schools including those who are electively home educated (EHE). The MODVS HT ensures all military children in non DCS schools are identified, located and have an education provision in place that is suitable. The MODVS HT will ensure that children who are not in a DCS school have their educational and welfare needs met to provide children with the best life chances. They will provide professional guidance and assurance for stakeholders to provide an effective and safe education. The MODVS HT will work with the forward deployed Headquarters’ school improvement, Education Psychologists and Speech and Language (EPSL), Education Welfare Officer (EWO), Safeguarding (SAFE), Welfare and Social Worker (WSW) and Overseas Education Supportability (OES) teams to secure a consistent approach and ensure that any safeguarding concerns and ensure that unsatisfactory educational offers are identified and addressed immediately. The MODVS HT will be responsible for the integrity and transmission of pupil data held.
DCS has staff working in Military establishments across the world. Our services include the provision of advice, guidance and support concerning the education and safeguarding for service families in the United Kingdom and across the world.
Position is advertised at 37 hours.
Job description
The MOD Virtual School (MODVS) is a newly established team based at Upavon and led by the MODVS HT. The team engages with service personnel and other entitled civilians who require advice and guidance about their children’s education during overseas tours and works with parents in preparation for return to the United Kingdom or transfer to another overseas location.
The post holder’s key responsibilities and main duties are:
- To work with senior leaders across DCS, EWOs, and education organisations to ensure all military children educated overseas in non-DCS schools are safe and in receipt of an appropriate education.
- To lead the MOD VS team and set the strategic direction of the MOD Virtual School.
- To establish, develop and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders, including school senior leaders, overseas Commands and health/social care professionals.
- To work with key partners to develop plans and programmes of support that meet the needs of Service children in non-DCS schools.
- To ensure referrals to other supporting agencies (British Forces Social Work Service (BFSWS) or teams EWO, OES are made at the appropriate point and in a timely manner. To liaise closely with other teams to ensure the DCS provide a ‘joined-up’ service for Service families.
If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com
Person specification
The role requires a confident, strategic leader with a proven record of success.
You will have the ability to bring together expertise and practical delivery focus and be a role model for excellence in inclusive and professional leadership across the Specialist Service Support pillar.
In your personal statement, please provide evidence of how you demonstrate:
Essential
- Experience as a Headteacher or Head of School.
- Excellent skills in teamwork and diplomacy.
- Influencing other stakeholders to secure the best outcomes for children.
- Using initiative and the ability to be an exemplary role model
- Knowledge of good practice in SEND, safeguarding, equal opportunities and inclusion, and a full commitment to these aspects
- Substantial current or previous senior level experience in improving outcomes for children and young people in an education or local authority setting
- An understanding of the range of learning opportunities which are designed to re-engage young people
- Experience of successful partnership working
- Experience of working with children and young people across education phases
Desirable
- An understanding of the military context and the impact of mobility on children, families and schools
- A thorough knowledge and understanding of the challenges for military children and their families
Qualifications
• Evidence of further professional development qualifications
Evidence of qualification will be required at interview.
All qualifications/licences declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalent Qualifications will not be accepted.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other benefits for Army civil servants include:
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- Highly competitive pension scheme
- Personal and professional development of skills
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave
- 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
- Learning and Development
- On-site gymnasium
We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.
A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.
Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/
This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
At sift you will be assessed on:
Experience
- Candidates will be required to provide a CV, details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.
- Candidates will be expected to provide a Personal Statement (up to 1000 words) detailing how they meet the criteria in the Person Specification detailed above.
At interview you will be assessed against the above along with the following:
Behaviours:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Gemma Hunt
- Email : rc-dcs-hq-recruitment@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk
Further information
