Introducing our new headteacher for Chesterton Primary School, Libby Pringle

 

Over two days Tuesday 1 March and Thursday 10 March 2022 Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive, Chair of Chesterton Primary School’s local governing body, Anne Stokes, school staff and pupils met with four candidates for the post of headteacher at Chesterton Primary School.

 

As a part of our rigorous and comprehensive recruitment programme, candidates had the opportunity to learn more about the school and its curriculum by observing lessons and reviewing work in pupils’ books. They were invited to provide feedback on what they had seen and to reflect on what they perceived to be the school’s strength and areas for improvement with Chiquita Henson and The Corinium Education Trust’s School Improvement Consultant, Geraldine Tidy. The candidates were also interviewed separately by three panels: pupils, staff and governors.

 

We are grateful to all of the candidates for the work they put into their applications and in preparation for their interviews. However, after our deliberations, we were very pleased to appoint Libby Pringle to the post of headteacher full time from September 2022. In the interim period, we are delighted that Libby Pringle has kindly agreed to work part time at the school on Thursdays and Fridays from Thursday 28 April 2022.

   

Libby Pringle is an experienced school and curriculum leader. She is currently employed by Gloucestershire County Council as Head of Curriculum and Teaching and Learning at the Gloucester and Forest Alternative Provision School which provides education for children from Key Stages 1-4. Prior to this, Libby Pringle was Head of School at Abbey Park Federation of Schools, multi-academy trust in Worcestershire.

 

Libby Pringle is looking forward to joining The Corinium Education Trust. She is keen to learn more about Chesterton Primary School and join its community of pupils, parents and staff.

 

'I am delighted to have been appointed Headteacher at Chesterton Primary School. I am looking forward to working with all members of the school community to ensure we can provide the best education for all our pupils. The school has developed greatly since joining the Corinium Education Trust and I am dedicated to ensuring this continues. I hope to make a real difference to the lives of our families and the local community.' Libby Pringle, Headteacher Chesterton Primary School

 

‘Libby Pringle has very high expectations and she will be a very welcome addition to The Corinium Education Trust’s Leadership Group. She is determined to lead Chesterton Primary School forward on its current improvement journey. We are looking forward to seeing her build on the foundations laid by Karen Venner and her team.’ Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive

 

The Corinium Education Trust is grateful to Karen Venner, the school’s headteacher from September 2017 to April 2022, for her inclusive leadership, especially so, throughout of the pandemic when during periods of lockdown Karen Venner and her staff ensured over 50% of the school’s pupils, many of whom were vulnerable or children of key workers, were able to attend school directly.

 

Over the last 12 months, Karen Venner has worked closely with Deputy Head, Kerry Buckland, to develop the school’s curriculum plan and support its implementation. In turn, Kerry Buckland, has engaged in training with the Ambition Institute and with The Corinium Education Trust’s School Improvement Consultants. This has enabled her to provide personalised coaching. She has shared her pedagogical knowledge and her curriculum expertise with school staff. She has been focused on strengthening teaching and learning.

 

We wish Karen Venner good luck in her new business enterprise and Kerry Buckland all the very best during her period of maternity leave.

School Improvement Lead (Primary) – part time .6 for September 2022 (L10-L15)

 

We are looking to appoint an inspirational and highly effective primary school improvement leader to work part time (.6) alongside Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive, our primary school headteachers and school staff, to further embed ambition and raise achievement.

 

The Corinium Education Trust is currently made up of one secondary school and three primary schools. However, we will be opening a new presumption free primary school in 2024, initially on a host site, before moving to its permanent site on The Steadings, a new residential development in Cirencester, in 2026. Our new School Improvement Lead (Primary) will be instrumental in helping us meet this challenge.

 

As this is a new part time role within The Corinium Education Trust, we are open to fulfilling this role through a temporary two year secondment, or as a permanent part time post for an appropriately qualified and experienced candidate.

 

Our part time School Improvement Lead (Primary) will:

• Recognise the current direction of travel and help The Corinium Education Trust continue ahead on its improvement journey by building on the foundations that have already been laid;
• Have a positive mindset and ‘can do’ attitude, excellent communication skills and emotional intelligence; 
• Provide clear leadership, inspire and motivate everyone in the school’s community to be the best they can be every day;
• Develop and strengthen the quality of teaching and learning by drawing on research informed practice to ensure a diverse curriculum that is ambitious and meets the needs of all learners across our multi-academy trust;
• Evaluate the quality of education effectively and ensure that all pupils can access and learn the intended curriculum;
• Build positive relationships with pupils, parents and staff;
• Share The Corinium Education Trust’s collaborative approach and ambition for all of our schools.

 

In return, The Corinium Education Trust offers:

• Enthusiastic pupils who are keen to learn and an engaged community of families and external partners;
• A highly effective strategic leadership team and talented, hardworking staff;
• A supportive and proactive Chief Executive and the opportunity to be a part of a MAT-wide leadership team and contribute to the wider development of our MAT;
• A community of like-minded professionals committed to working collaboratively in the best interests of our pupils and to bringing about school improvement. We support and challenge each other;
• An induction programme and support to help you develop further as a leader, identify talent and plan for succession;
• Cross-phase research and evidence-based continuing professional development;
• Strong governance and a commitment to curriculum-led financial planning.

 

You can access a summary job description and person specification alongside a letter to applicants and application form here. However, for more detailed information about The Corinium Education Trust, and the primary schools within it, we encourage you to visit our websites.

 

Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive of the Corinium Education Trust would be delighted to respond to any questions you might have about the role either in person or over the telephone. Please contact Allison Boucher, Headteacher’s PA, by phone (01285 646558) or email (A.Boucher@deerparkschool.net) if you would like to do so.

 

Your letter of application should be no longer than 2 sides of A4, and should cover the points detailed in the letter to applicants. It can be returned together with your completed application form by email (C.Henson@coriniumeducationtrust.net) or in hard copy by post to Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive, Corinium Education Trust, C/O Cirencester Deer Park School, Stroud Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1XB. The deadline for applications is midday on Wednesday 4 May 2022 and interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place on Wednesday 11 or Thursday 12 May 2022.

 

The Corinium Education Trust is committed to the safeguarding of our pupils, and employment will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and receipt of satisfactory references.