Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral)

East Midlands Councils/East Midlands Jobs; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tapestry Learning Partnership is seeking an exceptional Deputy Headteacher to join City of Derby Academy. You will lead and shape pastoral provision, safeguarding, and student welfare, ensuring a safe, inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

Working with the Headteacher, you will drive whole-school improvement and develop robust pastoral systems. The role requires strong organisational skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead teams with clarity, consistency and

Qualifications

• Senior leader with strong organisational skills and a proven track record in pastoral care, safeguarding, behaviour, attendance and welfare.
• Excellent communicator; builds positive relationships with staff, students, parents, governors and external agencies.
• Experience leading teams and developing effective pastoral systems using data and school systems.
• Deep commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and student wellbeing, with clear, consistent leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead pastoral provision and safeguarding across City of Derby Academy to ensure high standards of welfare and student safety.
• Provide strong line management for safeguarding team and ensure robust safeguarding practices.
• Drive whole-school improvement through pastoral systems, data-informed decision making and consistent approaches.
• Inspire staff to maintain high expectations and a culture of inclusion and wellbeing.

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Safeguarding

Behaviour management

Data-driven decisions

Team leadership

Job description

Join us on an exciting journey of transformation and excellence.

At Tapestry Learning Partnership, we believe in the power of education to change lives. Formed in January 2026 through the merger of two strong trusts, QEGSMAT and Djanogly Learning Trust, we are building a future where every child succeeds and flourishes. Now, we are looking for an exceptional Headteacher to lead our diverse, inclusive, and ambitious school community. Serving over 1,000 students and a richly multicultural population with more than 40 home languages, we are a school committed to improving the life chances of every child.

About the Role

The Deputy Headteacher is a key strategic leader at the heart of City of Derby Academy. In this role, you will lead and shape the school's pastoral provision, ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding, behaviour, attendance, and student welfare so that every student feels safe, supported, and able to thrive.

Working closely with the Headteacher, you will drive whole-school improvement through the development of effective pastoral systems and a strong culture of care, inclusion, and high expectations. You will lead and inspire colleagues to deliver consistent approaches to behaviour, attendance, and student support, using data and systems effectively to inform decisions and secure positive outcomes for all students, particularly the most vulnerable.

You will provide strong and effective line management for the safeguarding team, including the Safeguarding Leader and Child Protection Officers, ensuring that robust safeguarding practices are embedded across the school and that a culture of vigilance and accountability is consistently maintained. Through modelling professional integrity and developing trusted relationships with students, families, staff and external agencies, you will help create a positive, values-led environment in which every member of the school community can flourish. This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious leader to make a lasting impact and play a central role in shaping the school’s future.

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for an exceptional senior leader with strong organisational skills, the ability to manage complex and sensitive priorities, and a proven track record of contributing to whole-school improvement, particularly in pastoral care, behaviour, attendance, and safeguarding.

The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator who can build positive and professional relationships with staff, students, parents, governors, external agencies, and Trust colleagues.

They will bring significant experience of leading teams and developing effective pastoral systems, with the ability to use data and school systems to inform decision-making and secure positive outcomes for all students, especially the most vulnerable. A deep commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and student wellbeing is essential, alongside the ability to lead with clarity, consistency, and integrity.

The successful candidate will demonstrate high expectations, resilience, and emotional intelligence, remaining calm and solution-focused under pressure. Above all, we are seeking someone who is passionate about ensuring every student feels safe, supported, and able to succeed, and who is committed to continuous professional development and exemplary professional conduct.

About City of Derby Academy

City of Derby Academy is a school where every student and every member of staff is encouraged and supported to realise their full potential. Our culture is grounded in high expectations, strong and respectful relationships, and a deep commitment to inclusion.

Serving a wonderfully diverse community with more than 40 home languages, our vision is simple yet profound: to improve the life chances of every child.

We offer an ambitious curriculum, exceptional pastoral support and a wide range of enrichment opportunities, from educational visits and clubs to our thriving Combined Cadet Force.

Students develop academically, personally and socially, gaining the knowledge, skills and character they need for the next stage of their education, employment or training.

City of Derby Academy is a school where:

• Diversity is celebrated, and inclusion underpins everything we do
• Students feel safe, supported and able to thrive
• High expectations drive achievement, ambition and pride
• Relationships are strong, respectful and purposeful
• Staff wellbeing and professional development are valued, and colleagues are proud to work here

Why Join Tapestry Learning Partnership?

As part of our Trust, you’ll benefit from:

• A supportive network of professionals who share your commitment to excellence
• High-quality professional development and career progression opportunities
• A caring, inclusive organisation that values staff wellbeing and work-life balance
• Access to a range of employee benefits designed to promote health and wellbeing

This is your chance to be part of something special. Help us shape the future and make a lasting impact.

Tapestry Learning Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. It is a criminal offence to engage or seek to engage in regulated activity or regulated work with children, if you appear on the DBS barred list. All appointments are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and be eligible to work in the UK.

Further information about our commitment to Safeguarding can be found at:

Tapestry Learning Partnership

Please be aware, the Trust may also consider performing an online presence check as part of their pre-employment checks.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and thereforeshortlistedapplicants are required to declareall unspent cautions or convictions,and any adult cautions or convictionsthat are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020).

If you are interested and wish to have an informal conversation to discuss the role, or would like to visit the school, we would be happy to arrange this. Please contact Libby Morrell (PA to the Headteacher) on 01332 270450 or

Further details about our school can be found on our website:

City of Derby Academy - Home