Conducting an Executive Search for Deputy Principal – Head of Secondary School role to Enhance Strategic Leadership and Operational Excellence in a Leading Anglican College
The Brief
A prominent Independent Anglican College partnered with Future Leadership™ to appoint a Deputy Principal – Head of Secondary School to shape the school’s future direction.
The incoming Deputy Principal – Head of Secondary School will be responsible for and dedicated to educating and supporting students to become compassionate, adaptable, global citizens. The role required a dynamic candidate who possesses a strong understanding of the independent school sector and demonstrates experience gained in a large school environment. With an outstanding knowledge and understanding of secondary education, the appointee will lead and deliver best practice initiatives as they relate to curriculum and pastoral care from a national and international stage. The appointee will be supportive of the Anglican Christian values of empathy and respect, reflecting the school’s values.
The Process
Led by Liz Jones and Larissa Langley, the Future Leadership™ Executive Search team undertook a comprehensive search to recruit a Deputy Principal – Head of Secondary School.
To gain a greater understanding of the needs of the College, leading consultant Liz Jones, supported by Larissa Langley, met with the school’s leadership team to compose a strategic search that ensures the future success of the College.
The search focused on:
- Initial Screening: Candidates were initially screened based on their resumes and cover letters to ensure they met the basic qualifications and experience required for the role.
- Preliminary Interviews: Suitable candidates were invited for preliminary interviews to further assess their suitability. These interviews focused on their leadership style, educational philosophy, and ability to innovate. Following these interviews a Shortlist of six candidates was provided to the client.
- Reference Checks: References were checked to verify the candidates past performance and gather insights into their leadership capabilities and interpersonal skills.
- Panel Interviews: Shortlisted candidates were invited for first round panel interviews with the selection committee with three candidates progressing to second round interviews including a school tour and a 10-minute presentation where candidates were asked to present their vision for the future of primary education at the school.
- Final Assessment: The final assessment involved a comprehensive evaluation of each candidate’s performance throughout the process, including feedback from the selection committee and 360 reference checks.
Liz Jones and Larissa Langley offered strategic support to the governing body by participating in panel interviews, conducting thorough reference checks, and advising on the offer and placement process for the successful candidate.
The Outcome
The selection panel chose a candidate who will bring transformational change to the Deputy Principal – Head of Secondary School role. The successful candidate’s strengths lie in their ability to build trust and rapport with their team, creating cohesive and collaborative work environments. This individual’s previous achievements in elevating academic outcomes and fostering excellence positioned them as an exceptional leader for the School.
The successful candidate will continue to build upon their established relationships with all stakeholders across the community.
