Job Description

Person Specification

Salary: L14 – L16

Contract: Permanent

Start Date: 1st September 2025

Responsible to: Headteacher
Closing Date: Friday 18^th April 2025 at Midday   

Thornden is an oversubscribed school serving Chandler’s Ford and the surrounding area with just over 1460 students on roll. We have an ambitious ethos based on high expectations for all. Our students are proud of their academic and wider achievements, having a belief in their own success and ability to succeed, which continues beyond our school with a high percentage of Thornden students excelling at local colleges and then at further and higher education. 

Our mission is to become the Best School in the South, and we need the best staff to ensure that we are successful – could that be you?

About the role:

Following the retirement of one of our Senior Team members, we are looking to appoint an excellent individual to this key role. The school is at an exciting juncture – we want to keep the excellence that we have already established but take literacy and inclusion to the next level. Experience of delivering this on a department or whole school basis would be beneficial, as would experience of literacy and SEND/ other areas of inclusion. 

We are seeking an individual who is: 

You will already be a successful middle or senior leader who is able to articulate a positive culture and enable it to permeate and become part of the fabric in your team and across the wider school. You will understand the absolute importance of inclusivity and literacy as well as understand the research and evidence base around the subject. You will also be a positive and enthusiastic individual who is truly a team player, someone who is comfortable being a leader and developing both students and other staff. 

In addition, you will be: 

• Educated to degree level and have QTS 

• Evidence of continuing professional development  

• Teaching or training in a comprehensive school (KS3 and 4) 

• Ability to prioritise workload and deadlines 

• A highly effective teacher who can teach their subject up to GCSE 

In return, we can offer you:  

• A positive working environment focused on staff well-being, student welfare, progress and high standards of achievement and behaviour 
• Excellent CPD opportunities and Training and Development Programmes 
• In-house Teaching School 
• Eligibility to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme
• Please see the recruitment video on our website for details about what it is like to work at Thornden – https://www.thornden.hants.sch.uk

About HISP Multi-Academy Trust:

Thornden School is part of HISP Multi-Academy Trust, a forward-thinking and evidence-driven organisation.  We believe in building excellent educational environments that inspire and unlock potential in all our school communities.  We currently have multiple schools within our Trust covering the age ranges from nursery to 16 with plans to expand and grow quickly across our geographical location. 

Whilst we are currently a small Trust, we are ambitious and have a broad range of outward-facing accreditations that support our schools and those within our local area.  We are part of the Education Endowment Foundation Network with our HISP Research School.  Evidence-informed practice underpins our ethos, professional development and school improvement.  We have an outstanding provision for training new teachers through our Hampshire SCITT Partnership, which also supports career progression for staff within our Trust and links to higher education. We have recently been designated, by the DfE, with two Teaching School Hubs covering Portsmouth, Southampton, the Isle of Wight and the South Eastern and South Western parts of Hampshire.  The core purpose behind the Teaching School Hubs is to become centres of excellence for teaching and leadership training and development.

How to Apply:

To apply, please visit our website at HISP MAT Careers to download the application pack. Completed application forms should be sent to hr@thornden.hants.sch.uk or posted to:

HR Business Partner, HISP MAT, Thornden School, Winchester Road, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 2DW. 

Please note:

•  CVs will not be accepted

•  Applications from agencies will not be considered

•  For informal enquiries, please email us at hr@thornden.hants.sch.uk

Safeguarding and Equality:

The HISP Multi-Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks. We are also committed to providing equality of opportunity at all stages of the recruitment and selection process and ensuring that candidates are treated fairly and lawfully throughout the process.  

Join Thornden School and make a difference in a thriving and supportive environment!