Deputy Headteacher

Dovelands Primary School; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A primary school in the East Midlands is looking for a Deputy Headteacher to lead educational initiatives and support the Head Teacher. The successful candidate will oversee staff management, pupil progress, and contribute to strategic planning. Ideal candidates will have a robust teaching background, experience in school management, and a commitment to safeguarding children. This full-time role offers the chance to impact the school positively and work within a supportive community.

Qualifications

• Strong track record of exemplary teaching and leadership.
• Experience of managing and implementing whole school change.
• Secure understanding of primary curriculum design.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Head Teacher when necessary.
• Oversee school’s educational provision and pupil assessment.
• Lead and monitor pupil attainment and progress.

Skills

Exemplary teaching

Leadership

Staff wellbeing

Innovative thinking

Education

QTS or teaching degree

PGCE

Job description

Deputy Headteacher Job Description

Leadership Scale 11-16

Full time / Permanent

As Deputy Headteacher, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our school, collaboratively ensuring that our vision, values, and ethos are embedded in every aspect of school life. This is an opportunity to work closely with a dedicated team of staff, supportive families, and an engaged community to build on our successes and continue to serve our pupils with enthusiasm, commitment and compassion.

The school :

Dovelands Primary School is a large, diverse, inner‑city, maintained school with 19 classes, including a Nursery. We strive for excellence in all that we do and have a committed staff team. Our families are very supportive and we have fabulous children. We are outward looking and are active members of School Improvement Leicester (SIL) and the Challenge Partners Network. Through the Leicester Primary Partnership, we engage with all networks which includes a city‑wide Deputy Headteacher network.

Main Purpose

• To deputise and undertake overall responsibility for the school in the absence of the Head Teacher and on any other occasions which are deemed necessary.
• To further the aims of the school and support the Head Teacher in ensuring the vision of the school is communicated, clarified and implemented.
• To share with the Head Teacher a responsibility for providing quality assurance in all the school’s activities.
• To support the Head Teacher to constantly improve the school and ensure appropriate compliance.
• To contribute to the overall leadership and management of Dovelands with specific responsibilities identified.

Duties and responsibilities

• Act as a deputy designated safeguarding lead (DDSL)
• To hold strategic responsibility for the school’s educational provision, including pupil assessment – their attainment and progress and curriculum planning
• To ensure that staff and the deployment of staff carry out their organisational responsibilities.
• Work in line with statutory safeguarding guidance (e.g. Keeping Children Safe in Education, Prevent) and our safeguarding and child protection policies
• Promote the safeguarding of all pupils in the school
• To be a line and performance manager in the appraisal process of teaching and support staff
• To lead, monitor, evaluate and report on the content and effectiveness of the school curriculum in partnership with other key members of staff.
• To lead and monitor pupil attainment and progress.
• To co‑coordinate the work of lunchtime staff and to deliver training to this group of staff.
• To assist the Head Teacher in the strategic deployment of staff.
• To share with the Head Teacher the responsibility for supporting and promoting the wellbeing of all staff.
• To work with the Head Teacher to ensure that the aims, values and objectives of the school are achieved through an effective School Development Plan.
• To support the Head Teacher in the evaluation of the School Development Plan.
• To develop a clear knowledge of the administrative and financial matters related to Dovelands Primary School and to support the School Business Manager in monitoring the curriculum expenditure.
• To meet with the Head Teacher and / or the school leadership team on a regular basis to discuss matters of policy, organisation and development.
• To analyse performance data and set school targets.
• To develop opportunities for enrichment and creativity across the school.

This role requires a leader with :

• A strong track record of exemplary teaching and leadership
• The ability to inspire and empower pupils and staff
• Kindness, a sense of humour, resilience, positivity, high levels of confidentiality and be open to innovative ways of thinking
• A moral imperative to ensure that all children succeed and harness their potential
• A positive and solution‑focused approach to school improvement that is impact driven
• A commitment to developing a culture of high expectations and continuous improvement
• The skills to support the Headteacher in delivering strategic goals and raising standards across the school.

A successful candidate should have :

• Suitable education qualifications such as QTS, a teaching degree or degree and PGCE.
• Experience of managing and implementing whole school change
• A secure understanding of primary curriculum design and the importance of tracking progress and attainment accurately
• Strong managerial skills with a commitment to staff wellbeing.

Dovelands is an Equal Opportunities Employer and is committed to Safeguarding and protecting the young people and service users within our care. All candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and reference checks.

Dovelands will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

This job description sets out a summary of the key features of the role. It is not intended to be exhaustive and will be reviewed and amended periodically to ensure it remains appropriate for the role.

Safeguarding Statement

Dovelands Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undertake pre‑employment checks which will include an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and a declaration that you are not a disqualified person under the Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations (2009). Other necessary checks will also be undertaken.