This is a senior leadership role combining strategic leadership as an Assistant Principal, whole-school safeguarding oversight as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and a small teaching commitment (approximately 15%) delivering English.

Description

About Arco Academy

Arco Academy is a registered independent alternative school with sports as a specialism. In the heart of Camberwell, London, Arco Academy educates students referred by mainstream schools and the Local Authority. We emphasise pastoral care and take a holistic approach towards education. We are committed to high-quality education and promoting our vision to unleash the potential in all our students by providing a creative and tailor-made curriculum.

Every student is given the opportunity to learn, achieve, and succeed to their highest potential. Consequently, we work diligently towards meeting the learning needs of our students. This includes encouraging sports participation, developing essential life skills, and nurturing positive relationships within the school and the wider community. We believe all staff members play a vital role in the lives of our students. Therefore, we take a proactive approach to the development and well-being of all Arco staff. We are committed to investing in all staff through CPD, internal support, and well-being initiatives. We pride ourselves on appreciating, promoting, and celebrating the diversity and individuality of all students, staff, and partners.

Arco Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All positions are subject to an enhanced DBS and other necessary checks. For further information regarding Arco Academy policies, visit https://www.arco.academy/Policies/.

Please ensure you have read the Safeguarding (Child Protection) Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy.

About the Role

This is a senior leadership role combining strategic leadership as an Assistant Principal, whole-school safeguarding oversight as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and a small teaching commitment (approximately 15%) delivering English.

Role Purpose

The Assistant Principal is a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for driving high standards across safeguarding, behaviour, attendance, teaching and professional development and a small teaching commitment (approximately 15%) delivering English.

The postholder will:

• Act as the academy’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), taking strategic and operational responsibility for safeguarding and child protection in line with statutory guidance.

• Lead and quality assure safeguarding systems, culture and practice across the academy.

• Lead the academy’s Initial Teacher Training (ITT) partnership, developing high-quality trainee provision and strengthening workforce capacity.

Key Responsibilities

• Senior Leadership Responsibilities
• Contribute to the strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the academy.
• Drive high standards in teaching, learning, behaviour, attendance and safeguarding.
• Lead on school improvement planning, self-evaluation and quality assurance.
• Use data intelligently to improve pupil outcomes and engagement.
• Line manage staff and contribute to performance management and appraisal.
• Lead staff training, coaching and professional development.
• Promote a culture of high expectations, inclusion and professional accountability.
• Deputise for the Principal where required.
• Ensure compliance with Independent School Standards and statutory duties.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Strategic Safeguarding Leadership

• Take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the academy.
• Promote a strong safeguarding culture where the welfare of children is paramount.
• Ensure safeguarding is embedded across all aspects of school life and practice.
• Lead the implementation, monitoring and annual review of safeguarding and child protection policies.

Operational Safeguarding

• Manage safeguarding concerns, ensuring timely, proportionate and well-evidenced decision-making.
• Make referrals to Children’s Social Care, Police, Prevent/Channel, LADO, DBS and other relevant agencies.
• Lead Early Help processes and coordinate effective multi-agency plans.
• Maintain accurate, secure and confidential safeguarding records and chronologies.
• Ensure safeguarding files are transferred securely and promptly when pupils move setting.
• Ensure the views, wishes and voice of the child are central to all decision-making.

Availability & DSL Capacity

• Ensure the DSL or a fully trained Deputy DSL is available at all times during school hours and term time for staff consultation.
• Lead, train and quality assure Deputy DSLs to ensure effective safeguarding coverage.

Vulnerable Pupils & Contextual Safeguarding

• Oversee safeguarding arrangements for vulnerable pupils, including:
• pupils with SEND
• children looked after and previously looked after
• those with mental health needs
• pupils at risk of exploitation, harm or contextual safeguarding concerns
• Promote the educational outcomes of children who have or have had a social worker.
• Lead safeguarding responses to:
• persistent absence
• children missing education
• suspensions/exclusions
• risk outside the home (contextual safeguarding)

Multi-Agency Working

• Work effectively with external partners including social care, CAMHS, youth justice and safeguarding teams.
• Challenge and escalate concerns where safeguarding responses are insufficient.
• Ensure timely, lawful and proportionate information sharing in line with data protection and safeguarding requirements.

Training & Staff Support

• Ensure all staff and volunteers receive safeguarding induction and regular statutory training.
• Provide ongoing advice, guidance and supervision to staff on safeguarding matters.
• Support staff involved in complex safeguarding cases or disclosures.
• Promote safer working practice and professional curiosity.

Online Safety & Prevent

• Lead the academy’s online safety strategy, including filtering, monitoring and emerging risks.
• Take responsibility for the Prevent duty, including risk assessment, staff awareness and referral processes.

Safeguarding Systems & Compliance

• Oversee safeguarding systems and processes, including contributions to the Single Central Record where appropriate.
• Support the management of allegations against staff, low-level concerns and whistleblowing.
• Provide regular safeguarding reports, trend analysis and updates to the Principal and Proprietor Body.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory safeguarding requirements.

Resourcing the DSL Role

• Ensure the safeguarding function is appropriately resourced with:
• sufficient time
• training
• funding
• administrative and operational support
• to discharge responsibilities effectively.

Trainee Lead – ITT Partnership

• Lead the academy’s Initial Teacher Training partnership.
• Coordinate trainee placements, induction and timetabling.
• Mentor and coach trainee teachers.
• Monitor trainee progress against teaching standards.
• Liaise with university tutors and programme leads.
• Develop internal mentoring capacity across the academy.
• Evaluate and continuously improve the trainee programme.

Person Specification

Essential

• · Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• · Significant successful teaching experience.
• · Proven leadership experience in a school or alternative provision setting.
• · Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
• · Experience as a DSL, Deputy DSL or equivalent safeguarding lead.
• · Experience coaching, mentoring or developing staff.
• · Strong communication, organisation and interpersonal skills.
• · Ability to lead change and secure high standards.
• · Commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and pupil welfare.

Desirable

• · NPQSL / NPQH or equivalent leadership qualification.
• · Experience in alternative provision, SEMH or behaviour settings.
• · Experience working with ITT providers or universities.
• · Safer Recruitment training.
• · Experience preparing for Ofsted or compliance inspections.

Safer Recruitment Statement

Arco Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and third parties to share this commitment.

Safeguarding practice, suitability to work with children and alignment with the academy’s values will be assessed throughout the recruitment process. Safeguarding questions will form part of the interview and selection process.

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, online searches may be undertaken for shortlisted candidates as part of due diligence checks.

The successful candidate will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks, which may include:

• • Enhanced DBS check with barred list information.
• • Identity verification.
• • Right to work in the UK checks.
• • Qualification and professional status checks.
• • Employment history scrutiny.
• • References, including from current or most recent employer.
• • Prohibition from teaching check.
• • Section 128 direction check where applicable.
• • Medical fitness check where appropriate.
• • Overseas criminal record / certificate of good conduct checks where applicable.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore relevant convictions, cautions and other matters that are not protected must be declared where required.

Arco Academy is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds.

The academy reserves the right to close this vacancy early and appoint before the advertised closing date should a suitable candidate be identified.