Deputy Head Teacher

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council; Dudley; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a Deputy Head Teacher to provide strategic leadership for the Virtual School, championing the needs of children in care and those with social workers. You will work across education, social care and partner agencies to remove barriers to learning and drive improvements in attendance and engagement.

The role requires strong leadership, safeguarding knowledge, and a data-driven approach to secure positive outcomes for vulnerable learners, with

Qualifications

• Significant experience of working with vulnerable children and young people, including children in care and those with social workers.
• Experience leading initiatives that improve educational outcomes, attendance, inclusion or engagement for disadvantaged learners.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, corporate parenting responsibilities, SEND and multi‑agency working.
• Experience working strategically with schools, colleges, and partner agencies to secure positive outcomes.
• Excellent leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence practice and provide support and constructive challenge.
• Strong analytical skills to use data to identify priorities, measure impact and drive improvement.
• Experience leading projects, service development and improvement initiatives.
• A degree-level qualification or equivalent professional qualification, with evidence of CPD and leadership expertise.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Dudley Virtual School and champion educational needs of children in care.
• Collaborate across education, social care and partner agencies to promote inclusion and high achievement.
• Use data and evidence to identify needs, target support and drive improvement.
• Lead initiatives and partnerships to raise aspirations and outcomes for vulnerable learners.
• Deputise for the Head Teacher as required and support statutory responsibilities of the Local Authority.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Data analysis

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Safeguarding

Education

Degree-level qualification

Job description

The Deputy Head Teacher will support the Head Teacher in providing strategic leadership for the Virtual School, championing the educational needs of children in care, previously looked after children, and children with a social worker. Working across education, social care and partner agencies, they will promote high aspirations, inclusion and achievement, ensuring education remains central to planning and decision-making for vulnerable learners. The role will use data and evidence to identify need, target support and drive improvement, working collaboratively with schools, colleges and professionals to remove barriers to learning, improve attendance and engagement, and secure positive outcomes for children and young people. As a senior leader, the postholder will contribute to the ongoing development of Dudley Virtual School by leading initiatives and partnerships that raise aspirations and improve outcomes. They will also deputise for the Head Teacher as required and support the delivery of the Local Authority's statutory responsibilities.

Job Requirements

• Significant experience of working with vulnerable children and young people, including children in care, previously looked after children and/or children with social workers.
• Experience of leading initiatives that have improved educational outcomes, attendance, inclusion or engagement for disadvantaged learners
• A strong understanding of safeguarding, corporate parenting responsibilities, SEND and multi-agency working.
• Experience of working strategically with schools, colleges, alternative provision settings and partner agencies to secure positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Excellent leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence practice and provide both support and constructive challenge.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use data to identify priorities, measure impact and drive service improvement.
• Experience of leading projects, service development and improvement initiatives.
• A degree-level qualification or equivalent professional qualification, alongside evidence of continuing professional development and leadership expertise.

About Dudley Council

It's an incredibly exciting time to work in Dudley Council as we embark on numerous multi-million pound regeneration schemes which will be real game-changers for the borough. In addition to the exciting schemes such as the Midland Metro we also have the ongoing and very serious challenges of ensuring vulnerable people across the borough receive the services they deserve. At Dudley Council we have a 'one council' ethos that builds an effective and dynamic organisation which grows the economy and creates jobs, creating a cleaner and greener place and supports stronger and safer communities. We are rightly proud to be the historic capital of the Black Country and, working with our partners, Dudley Council is also committed to looking forward and helping to deliver our borough vision of 'Forge a Future for all' www.dudleyboroughvision2030.org.uk We ensure communities influence council decisions and are committed to delivering services in partnership with communities. We provide flexible and responsive service in partnership and help communities help themselves. In joining a local authority that serves 320,000 residents you will become an integral part of a council that:

• is ready to embrace change, providing an environment in which you will be encouraged to make your mark
• is aware of its key challenges and the need for a new energy to innovate the council, in order to find cost effective ways of delivering services
• has aligned its political and managerial leadership structures and is committed to protecting, securing and transforming the lives of children, families, the vulnerable and older people
• wants borough residents to have their say through our community forums
• dedicates time to meaningful consultation and listen to the views of our residents
• is working with the community to encourage active involvement of our residents