Careers
Fairlands Primary School
For more informat ion
Fairlands Primary School
Pound Avenue
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 3JA
01438 351053
www.fairlands.herts.sch.uk
Fairlands Primary School is part of The Claxton Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales with company number 10461895. The registered office is at Fairlands Primary School, Pound Avenue, Stevenage, Herts SG1 3JA.
About Fairlands
Fairlands is a large, three-form entry primary school, with the capacity for up to 720 children aged 2 - 11 years old, situated on the borders of the Old Town in Stevenage.
Our spacious layout of four buildings across two sites means that we are able to create separate, smaller 'identities' within the following phases:
Lower phase: Nursery - year 1
Middle phase: Year 2 & 3
Upper phase: Years 4, 5 & 6
Each phase is led by their own dep-uty headteacher. This creates an en-vironment where every child is known and valued as an individual, with strong transition all the way from pre-school experiences through to Year 6.
M u s i c l e s s o n s a r e g r e a t b e c a u s e t h e t e a c h e r s a l l o w u s t o g o o n t o m u s i c p r o g r a m m e s l i k e ' S o u n d a t i o n ' .
P a w e l , a g e 1 0
At Fairlands, we stand for two things: delivering excellent standards of education whilst at the same time providing rich and truly enjoyable learning experiences for our community of children.
Our motto 'Reaching High' touches everything we do as a school. We are deeply aware that children only get one chance at their primary education and it is our job to ensure that they all reach for the highest levels of personal achievement and development.
We want every child to be successful; to reach for success from the very first day they join us and as they move through the key stages of their early education, so that when they leave us, they do so with a positive view of learning for the rest of their lives, having made a large number of friends and happy memories along the way!
This includes welcoming all children from a wide range of families and cultural backgrounds, and children with a range of special educational needs, who we celebrate as a valuable part of our rich and diverse school community.
Working at Fairlands
Culture and e thos
Resources
Suppor t
Fairlands is highly inclusive, forward thinking school. There is
an innovative culture which encourages creative approaches to
learning. Teachers and education support staff work within a
supportive team environment, and there are strong links with
the local community and other settings.
We are extremely fortunate to have wonderful grounds and
facilities at Fairlands, which are fully open for community
access. We take pride in our learning environment and when
you come in you will find a calm, well-organised and purposeful
atmosphere. Classrooms are well-resourced and there is
extensive outdoor space.
Each phase has a dedicated inclusion team, providing special-
ist support for children who are struggling to access the class-
room and those who require social, emotional or behavioural
support. We also employ a speech and language specialist and
family support workers to assist teachers with their work.
Jamie Brewis
Deputy Headteacher, Lower Key Stage 2
I joined Fairlands as an NQT eight years ago after a career change in my 30’s. I found some aspects of school life challenging in my first year but I was fortunate to have a fantastic year group partner who took time out of her own PPA to support me, giving me feedback on my teaching and learning and explaining how she had planned and organised the lessons of hers that I observed. During my second year, I was given increased responsibilities, which helped me develop as a leader and prepared me well for the next stage of my career. I was promoted to the senior leadership team where I was able to support colleagues in much the same way as I had been supported in the past. The CPD that I received and the opportunities to support others through coaching and mentoring had further positive impact on my practice.
During the third year of teaching, a vacancy for a deputy head role arose. During my application, I was able to reflect back on all of the fantastic opportunities that I had been awarded whilst working at Fairlands. Each one had set me in good stead for this next stage of my career and I felt confident that I had developed the skills and knowledge to be successful in the role. I was successful and happy that the support and development continues, as we look at new and innovative approaches to move both the school and MAT forward for both children and staff.
There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be the teacher that I am
today, nor would I have the career that I do, if it were not for the
opportunities and fantastic role models from my colleagues at Fairlands.
Teaching can be a demanding job and everyone will need support at
times no matter the stage of your career or your aspirations. I can safely
(and proudly) say that I don’t think there are any better places than
Fairlands to support you.
Fairlands has a unique staffing
structure, which supports teachers to
achieve their career ambitions. The
school has a strong history of ‘growing
talent’ and many teachers progress
rapidly into leadership positions.
Fairlands is divided into three phases,
each led by a designated deputy
headteacher who is supported by a
senior teacher. Developing teachers
and trainees receive a wide range of
development and support, and are
encouraged to take on leadership
responsibilities as soon as they are
ready to do so.
Working within The Claxton Trust
strengthens this support and provides
greater opportunities for development.
Trainee
teachers
Accomplished
teachers
Developing
teachers
Senior
teachers
Expert
teachers
Deputy
headteachers
I r e a l l y e n j o y w o r k i n g a t F a i r l a n d s !
T h e t e a m a r e w e l c o m i n g a n d I l o v e
t h a t w e h a v e s u c h a v a s t t e a m w e
c a n s h a r e k n o w l e d g e a n d p r a c t i c e
w i t h i n . F a i r l a n d s h a s a g r e a t a t m o s -
p h e r e i n w h i c h b o t h c h i l d r e n a n d
s t a f f a r e r e s p e c t e d a n d a r e a b l e t o
t h r i v e . O u r c u r r i c u l u m i s v a r i e d ,
t h e r e f o r e c h i l d r e n e x p e r i e n c e m a n y
m e m o r a b l e , e x c i t i n g l e a r n i n g o p p o r -
t u n i t i e s .
D a i s y , Y e a r 5 N Q T + 1
Teachers
Expert teachers continue to develop their leadership skills through participation
in The Claxton Trust’s Middle Leadership Development Programme. They also
take on responsibility for supporting newly qualified and developing teachers to
improve their teaching, in addition to their subject leadership responsibilities.
Accomplished
Developing
headteachers
Trainees receive a breadth of experience, with opportunity to observe
outstanding practice and to undertake placements across different phases
and settings within The Claxton Trust. External training is also provided from
the University of Hertfordshire and local teaching schools. Trainees are
paired with an experienced mentor and have teaching responsibility for their
class from day 1, taking on increasing responsibility throughout the year.
NQTs and developing teachers receive bespoke training to develop both their
teaching practice and the complementary skills required to become an
outstanding practitioner, such as resilience and communication. As teachers
develop in confidence, they will start to take on whole-school subject
leadership responsibilities.
Accomplished teachers participate in The Claxton Trust’s Middle Leadership
Development Programme, which is designed to support their transition to
middle leadership. Accomplished teachers also take on whole-school subject
leadership responsibilities in addition to their teaching responsibilities.
Senior teachers support their deputy headteacher with phase leadership
responsibilities, including development of staff, modelling outstanding practice
and support with data analysis. Senior teachers take responsibility for
mentoring trainees and NQTs, and they lead on whole-school initiatives.
Deputy headteachers are responsible for the leadership of their phase,
including deployment and management of teachers and education support
staff, outcomes, SEN provision and welfare and wellbeing of children and staff.
They also deputise for the headteacher as required.
Fairlands has a unique staffing structure,
which supports teachers to achieve their
career ambitions. The school has a
strong history of ‘growing talent’ and
many teachers progress rapidly into
leadership positions.
Fairlands is divided into four phases,
each led by a designated deputy
headteacher, who is supported by a sen-
ior teacher. Trainees and developing
teachers receive a wide range support
and professional development, and are
encouraged to take on leadership re-
sponsibilities as soon as they are ready
to do so.
Working within The Claxton Trust pro-
vides additional support and develop-
ment opportunities for teachers.
Trainee
teachers
Accomplished
teachers
Developing
teachers
Senior
teachers
Expert
teachers
Deputy
headteachers
I r e a l l y e n j o y w o r k i n g a t F a i r l a n d s !
T h e t e a m a r e w e l c o m i n g a n d I l o v e
t h a t w e h a v e s u c h a v a s t t e a m w e
c a n s h a r e k n o w l e d g e a n d p r a c t i c e
w i t h i n . F a i r l a n d s h a s a g r e a t a t m o s -
p h e r e i n w h i c h b o t h c h i l d r e n a n d
s t a f f a r e r e s p e c t e d a n d a r e a b l e t o
t h r i v e . O u r c u r r i c u l u m i s v a r i e d ,
t h e r e f o r e c h i l d r e n e x p e r i e n c e m a n y
m e m o r a b l e , e x c i t i n g l e a r n i n g o p p o r -
t u n i t i e s .
D a i s y , Y e a r 5 N Q T + 1
Career pathway:
Teachers
Education support staff Education support staff play a vital role
in outcomes for pupils, as well as in
their social, emotional and behavioural
wellbeing. The school employees a
wide-range of educational support staff
to provide academic and pastoral
support, including:
Cover supervisors
Teaching assistants
Inclusion specialists
Sports coaches
Speech and language specialists
Midday supervisory assistants
All employees are provided with a wide
range of training and support as well as
regular opportunities for professional
development.
T h e r e a r e a v a r i e t y o f w a y s t o h e l p c h i l d r e n l e a r n .
D a n , a g e 1 1 Expert teachers continue to develop their leadership skills through participation
in the Claxton Trust’s Middle Leadership Development Programme. They also
take on responsibility for supporting newly qualified and developing teachers to
improve their teaching by demonstrating outstanding practise, in addition to
their subject leadership responsibilities.
Trainees receive a breadth of experience, with opportunity to observe
outstanding practice and to undertake placements in different phases and
settings across The Claxton Trust. External training is also provided from the
University of Hertfordshire and local teaching schools. Trainees are paired
with an experienced mentor and have teaching responsibility for their class
from day 1, taking on increasing responsibility throughout the year.
NQTs and developing teachers receive bespoke training to develop both their
teaching practice and the complementary skills required to become an
outstanding practitioner, such as resilience and communication. As teachers
develop in confidence, they will start to take on whole-school subject
leadership responsibilities.
Accomplished teachers participate in the Claxton Trust’s Middle Leadership
Development Programme, which is designed to support their transition to
middle leadership. Accomplished teachers also take on whole-school subject
leadership responsibilities in addition to their teaching responsibilities.
Senior teachers support their deputy headteacher with phase leadership
responsibilities, including development of staff, modelling outstanding practice
and support with data analysis. Senior teachers take responsibility for
mentoring trainees and NQTs, and they lead on whole-school initiatives.
Deputy headteachers are responsible for the strategic leadership of their
phase, including deployment and management of teachers and education
support staff, outcomes, SEN provision and welfare and wellbeing of children
and staff. They also deputise for the headteacher as required.
Directors and governors
Directors and governors provide strategic
leadership and accountability at Fairlands
Primary School. They:
Oversee the financial performance of
the school
Hold the headteacher to account for
the educational performance of the
school and its pupils
Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and
strategic direction.
These positions are filled by volunteers
with a range of skills relevant to the role.
If you believe you have the right skills to
become a director or a governor and you
are interested in volunteering, please
contact the headteacher.
Benefits
In addition to extensive professional development opportunities,
Fairlands Primary School provides employees with the following
benefits:
Wellbeing days
Generous release time for PPA and leadership responsibilities
iPad / laptop
Performance related pay
Pension scheme
Child care vouchers
Free eye tests
Free refreshments
Free parking for all staff
Working in The Claxton Trust
The Claxton Trust was founded in 2016 by Fairlands Primary School
and Camps Hill Primary School. Inclusion and collaboration are at the
heart of everything we do.
Each school has its own ethos and identity, but working in The Claxton
Trust provides staff with a wide range of opportunities for shared
professional training and development. Practitioners are also able to
work together to share best practice and working in a trust provides
greater opportunities for progression.
Everything we do has the child clearly and firmly at the centre. We
believe passionately that every child should have the right to a fun,
quality and progressive education which equips them to meet the
demands of tomorrow. We support the family around the child by work-
ing effectively in partnership, providing necessary resources and liaising
effectively with external organisations.