The formal partnership between Chatham House Grammar School (boys) and Clarendon House Grammar School (girls) came into being from January 2009, as a ‘hard’ Federation with one Governing Body and one Executive Headteacher. Since then, as equal partners in the Federation the two schools have worked more closely together, with a formal merger into one mixed grammar school as the strategic goal, we hope by September 2012.

 

 

 

* Both partner schools became federated Converter Academies from

January 2011

 

* Federal restructuring, unifying curriculum areas and leadership under one cross-federal management structure, based on Heads of Faculty, Subject Leaders and Cross-Curricular Coordinators, was implemented from September 2010.

 

* The implementation of the CCVI: our joint Federal Sixth Form with over 500 students, from September 2010.   

 

* When our £30 million BSF Wave 4 Building Project to co-locate both Chatham & Clarendon on the Chatham House site was cancelled by the new government in June 2010, the Governors agreed to implement a multi-site “Urban Campus” from September 2011. This will co-locate the boys and girls, by reorganising the existing buildings to base Years 7 - 9 at the Chatham House site as a Lower School, and Years 10-11 at the Clarendon House site as an Upper School. Sixth Form students, who will have some of their lessons across both main sites, also have their own CCVI Centre in the Cavendish building, located centrally between Chatham House & Clarendon House. Accessing whatever post-BSF funds are allocated, as a federated Academy, we will bid for capital grants from central government to refurbish and enhance the existing buildings.

 

* From September 2011 the pattern of the School Day will change to a 3 sessional model with a long morning break, to support inter-site movement by Sixth Form students and some staff. We would expect staff who join the Federation to be willing to teach across the Urban Campus, from Key Stage 3 to the Sixth Form, as/when necessary

 

* All teaching groups in the joint federal Sixth Form are mixed; from September 2011 more (GCSE option) teaching groups at Key Stage 4 will be mixed, and all teaching groups at Key Stage 3 will remain single sex.

 

* Curriculum innovation: to achieve IB World School Status, the Federation is implementing the Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Key Stage 3-4, being phased in from Year 7 starting September 2010. The IB Diploma and the IBCC vocational pathway will provide umbrella accommodation for vocational courses, and we will look to introduce the IB Diploma when that is affordable.

 

* CPD is a significant element of what the Federation offers, and under the leadership of the Professional Tutor, all colleagues who join us will participate in a supportive programme of induction and professional development. Through our various specialisms, the Federation already has good links with other secondary and primary schools in our area. As an Ofsted-rated “Outstanding” Academy we are also investigating ways to extend these partnerships, for example as part of a consortium of schools in East Kent bidding for the new “Teaching School” status in 2012-13.

 

Prospective applicants may be reassured to learn that in switching to Academy status, the Governors & Senior Leadership Team insisted that the National Teachers Pay & Conditions Document, and the support staff equivalent, would be maintained. We recognise that the greatest strength of the Federation is the people who work here – their talent and commitment, which is held in high regard by students, parents and the wider community. Consequently we have resolved not to use the flexibility of Academy status to introduce pay and working conditions which would be considered detrimental by the staff.

 

Formal partnerships, federations and Academies are increasingly seen as the way forward in a time of radical change for the education system.  This is an exciting time to join us, and to play a part in shaping what happens here. We can offer cohesive and mutually supportive teams of staff, friendly and responsive students who are keen to learn and be stretched, and the opportunity for fulfilling and transferable professional development. Having read the application pack and researched the Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School Federation, I hope that you decide to apply for a post with us and wish you the best of luck.