Deputy Headteacher - The John Hampden School

Buckinghamshire Council; Wendover; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The John Hampden School in Wendover (UK) is seeking a Deputy Headteacher to lead school development, policy formation, and performance monitoring. You will balance strategic leadership with a continuing teaching commitment of two days weekly, while dedicating three days to leadership duties.

You will be an experienced EYFS/KS1 practitioner with strong phonics and reading expertise, capable of data-driven improvement and coaching staff to excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience as an EYFS and KS1 practitioner.
• Expertise in phonics and early reading.
• Strategic thinking and data analysis to drive school improvement.
• Empowering leadership with coaching and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead school development aims and objectives, policies and action plans; manage staff and resources; monitor progress.
• Maintain teaching commitment of 2 days per week while dedicating 3 days to leadership responsibilities.
• Balance strategic leadership with hands-on impact to improve pupil outcomes.

Skills

EYFS

KS1

Phonics

Early reading

Leadership

Data analysis

Coaching

Job description

Deputy Headteacher - The John Hampden School

We are an infant school in the heart of Wendover, where we nurture a love of learning through a broad, balanced and engaging education that celebrates diversity, curiosity and individual potential. We are proud of our warm, inclusive community where every child is known, valued and supported to thrive.

Our recent Ofsted report (2024) recognised that "children get off to an exceptional start in both learning and personal development. Pupils' outcomes at the end of key stage 1 are extremely strong."

What makes us special? Our seven core values, perseverance, respect, good manners, reflection, belonging, collaboration and independence are lived and breathed by our entire school community every single day. We are also deeply committed to developing environmentally aware and responsible citizens who understand their role in caring for our planet and local community.

Term time only: No
Salary Details: Leadership L6 to L10
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Closing date: 01/10/2026
Interviews to be held: 08/10/2026

About us

This is a genuinely exciting leadership opportunity. You will take a major role in formulating our aims and objectives for school development, establishing policies and action plans, managing staff and resources, and monitoring our progress.

You will have a teaching commitment of 2 days per week, allowing you to model outstanding practice and stay connected to the classroom experience, with 3 days for leadership responsibilities.

This role offers the perfect balance of strategic leadership and hands-on impact, where you can see the direct results of your work in children's progress and staff development.

This is a genuinely exciting leadership opportunity. You will take a major role in formulating our aims and objectives for school development, establishing policies and action plans, managing staff and resources, and monitoring our progress.

You will have a teaching commitment of 2 days per week, allowing you to model outstanding practice and stay connected to the classroom experience, with 3 days for leadership responsibilities.

This role offers the perfect balance of strategic leadership and hands-on impact, where you can see the direct results of your work in children's progress and staff development.

About you

We are looking for an inspiring leader who shares our passion for infant education coupled with ability and enthusiasm to see every child fulfil their potential.

You will be an experienced EYFS and KS1 practitioner with expertise in phonics and early reading. Your strategic thinking and data analysis skills will drive school improvement, while your visible, empowering leadership style will develop staff through coaching, mentoring and high-quality professional development.

As an approachable and empathetic leader, you will build strong relationships across our community and champion our seven core values. You'll be committed to inclusion, with ambitious expectations for all pupils including those with SEND.

If you are an ambitious, collaborative leader who believes in the transformative power of early education, we'd love to hear from you.

Other information

Interviews will be held at the school on Thursday 8th October.

The John Hampden School Wendover is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation Offenders Act 1974 and amendments to the exemptions order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Any job offer will be conditional on the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service and barred list check.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that 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 2020).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled 'Exceptions Order'). It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.