Job Description

Job description
Darwen Vale High School



Blackburn Road



Darwen



BB3 0AL

Job Title:

Lead Practitioner of Geography

Grade/Salary:

SCP 31 - 35, 36,600 - 40,430 Actual Pro Rata Salary

Contract Type:

Permanent

Contract Terms:

37 hpw, Full Time (Term Time + Inset Days + 2 Weeks = 41 Weeks)

Closing Date:

Sunday, 12th October 2025

Interview Date:

Week Commencing Monday, 20th October 2025

TO APPLY FOR THIS VACANCY

PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW

About the Role

Be the Right Hand to Our Leadership Team!



We are seeking a professional and efficient Personal Assistant to provide essential administrative and organisational support to our leadership team. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are skilled at managing multiple priorities with discretion, this role offers an exciting opportunity. You will manage diaries, appointments, and correspondence with accuracy, organise meetings, events, and travel arrangements, prepare reports and communications, act as the first point of contact for both internal and external stakeholders, and handle confidential information with the utmost professionalism and tact.

Who We're Looking For

Managing diaries, appointments, and correspondence with precision Organising meetings, events, and travel arrangements Preparing reports, presentations, and communications Acting as a first point of contact for internal and external stakeholders Handling confidential information with professionalism and tact

About the School

Darwen Vale High School (DVHS) is an 11-18 academy, with a newly evolving sixth form which sits as part of collaboration with the two other Aldridge Education schools in the town: DACA and DAES. The school's students are drawn not only from Darwen, but also from neighbouring Blackburn, and around 30% of students qualify for free school meals.




DVHS opened in redesigned and refurbished buildings in September 2012, and has grown from year groups of 150 to 240. It is widely recognised as a school which has seen rapid improvements in recent years: student achievement has improved significantly and as a result, the school has been oversubscribed for the past several years.




In addition, following a recent Ofsted inspection, Darwen Vale has been given a 'Good' rating in all areas; a great achievement, and one which Aldridge and the whole DVHS team are very proud of. The school's motto - We aim high. We work hard. We care. We are Vale. - embodies the commitment of the community of staff, students and parents to ensuring the school continues to go from strength to strength.

Apply via:

https://candidates.every.education/Vacancies/Details?advertKey=50235d07-ca5d-4e63-a6ad-3543e8df58dd

Disclaimer

Any unsolicited CV's sent to any member of our HR team on a speculative basis will not be recognised nor will we accept liability for any fee or commission should we subsequently employ a candidate who applied to us directly or was introduced by an instructed agency that may also have been submitted speculatively by an uninstructed agency.

Key Benefits of working for Aldridge Education

Join the Aldridge Education Family!



Looking for a fulfilling career with great benefits? Here`s why working for Aldridge Education is the right choice for you:


Aldridge Benefits Scheme in Partnership with Sodexo- Enjoy exclusive offers and discounts tailored just for you! Cycle to Work Scheme - Save money and stay fit with our bike-friendly benefits. Employee Assistance Programme - Your well-being matters! Access free, confidential support whenever you need it. Flexible Working Opportunities - Balance work and life with flexibility that suits you. Free On-Site Parking - No more hunting for parking, we've got your spot covered. Good local transport links - Local train and bus links Staff Recognition - Aldridge Appreciates Pension Schemes - Secure your future with access to the Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme Refer a Friend Scheme - Know someone who would love it here? Earn rewards by bringing them on board!

Operating Norms

We believe that the way we operate at all times and with all partners is of paramount importance.

Our agreed operating norms are as follows:


We are Aldridge Education The standard is excellence We champion equality We're in the work together We behave with integrity We lead by example We use time well

References

In line with our safer recruitment policy and KCSIE 2025 we cannot accept personal email addresses for referees in all cases two professional references are required. We cannot accept two references from the same employer. Please provide your current or most recent employer.





Candidates are advised that references will be taken up immediately after shortlisting. Candidates are asked to ensure that their referees are aware of the need to respond within the timescale set. In all cases two professional references are required.

Safeguarding Statement

Aldridge Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.




A copy of Aldridge Education's Child Protection policy is available on our website at www.aldridgeeducation.org.





Following successful application, Aldridge Education will conduct the necessary prohibition checks for all teaching staff, as well as for all candidates undertaking regulated activity.





If you are shortlisted for the position you are applying for, you will be required to complete a Declaration giving details of any relevant criminal offences and other relevant information relating to our safeguarding duty. Further information will be provided on that form.





Given the nature of the Trust's activities and the regulatory framework it is subject to, any offer of employment will be made conditional upon a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and barred list check conducted by the Trust (where applicable to the role in question). It is an express condition if you are appointed to the role that you join the DBS update service.





This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that while some spent convictions and cautions are considered 'protected' and do not need to be disclosed, others may still need to be declared. If a conviction or caution is protected, you do not need to share it, and if you do, it will not be considered. For more details, please see the Ministry of Justice guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975.





Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.





More information on The Disclosure & Barring Service can be found at www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check.

Online Social Media Checks

If you are shortlisted for the position, Aldridge Education will carry out online searches, including a review of your social media presence, in line with our safeguarding responsibilities. These checks are conducted in accordance with the statutory guidance outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025. The purpose of this process is to identify any publicly available information that may present potential safeguarding concerns and to ensure that appropriate due diligence is undertaken.

Data Protection Notice

In accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, Aldridge Education will process any personal data provided as part of the recruitment process lawfully, fairly, and securely. Such data will be used solely for the purpose of assessing an applicant's suitability for the role and will be retained only for as long as is necessary to fulfil that purpose. Once the retention period has expired, the data will be securely and irreversibly destroyed in accordance with Aldridge Education's data protection policies.





For any queries regarding the role please contact kathy.shaw@aldridgeeducation.org.

Job details

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Job reference
REQ04331
Date posted
22/09/2025
Application closing date
12/10/2025
Location
Darwen Vale High School
Salary
SCP 31 - 35 36,600 - 40,430 Actual Pro Rata Salary
Package
Blank
Contractual hours
37
Basis
Full time
Job category/type
Schools