Deputy Virtual School Headteacher (Deputy Service Manager)

Bristol City Council; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol City Council is seeking a passionate and experienced Deputy Virtual School Headteacher to lead a committed team in providing the best educational outcomes for children in care. This permanent full-time role offers a chance to make a significant impact in the lives of vulnerable children, ensuring they receive the tailored support they need to thrive academically and socially.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Membership of the Local Government Pension scheme

Hybrid working arrangements

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing large teams in an educational setting.
• Insight into education, social care, and SEND.
• Strong track record of improving outcomes for children in care.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team promoting educational outcomes for children in care.
• Ensure high-quality Personal Education Plans are in place.
• Drive improvement in children's progress and attainment.

Skills

Leadership

Education Management

Collaboration

Strategic Planning

Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Relevant Higher Education Degree

Job description

Full Time, Permanent

Our fantastic Virtual School (The HOPE) are seeking an experienced senior leader in education for the post of Deputy Virtual School Headteacher (Deputy Service Manager).

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead an experienced team promoting the absolute best educational outcomes of our cherished children in care, previously looked-after children, those in kinship care and children supported by social workers.

As a service we lead with heart and values to support our children to ensure that they can achieve their potential in education.

Our Achievements So Far Include:

• Being in the top 7 local authorities nationally for the percentage of children in care achieving 5+ in GCSE English and Maths in 2024.
• Supporting education settings and social workers to develop Personal Education Plans ensuring every child has an up-to-date plan with the child’s voice at its heart (99% rated Green or Gold).
• Driving significant improvement in children’s progress and attainment through targeted academic support.
• Providing training to over 100 school staff, foster carers and colleagues from other agencies each academic year.
  
  

This is a senior leadership role at the heart of our vibrant and values-led service, working with a passionate team of advocates who champion the educational journeys of our children. You will ensure every child in care has a high-quality, timely Personal Education Plan, is in the right full-time provision, and receives the tailored support they need to thrive and make strong, sustained progress.

We are looking for a compassionate and strategic leader with significant experience managing large teams and working across agencies, always keeping children’s outcomes at the centre.

Your insight into education, social care and SEND will equip you to drive excellence for those who need it most. Most importantly, you will have a strong track record of improving outcomes for children in care and a deep commitment to building trusted relationships with children, carers, and professionals.

With your leadership, we will continue to ensure that every child supported by The HOPE Virtual School is seen, valued, and empowered to succeed.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on the role and the eligibility criteria for application. If you have the knowledge and experience to undertake this role and the vision and ambition to create lasting change in the lives of care-experienced young people, we look forward to hearing from you.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Virtual School Headteacher James Gregory by email

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.

Full Time, Permanent

Our fantastic Virtual School (The HOPE) are seeking an experienced senior leader in education for the post of Deputy Virtual School Headteacher (Deputy Service Manager).

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead an experienced team promoting the absolute best educational outcomes of our cherished children in care, previously looked-after children, those in kinship care and children supported by social workers.

As a service we lead with heart and values to support our children to ensure that they can achieve their potential in education.

Our Achievements So Far Include:

• Being in the top 7 local authorities nationally for the percentage of children in care achieving 5+ in GCSE English and Maths in 2024.
• Supporting education settings and social workers to develop Personal Education Plans ensuring every child has an up-to-date plan with the child’s voice at its heart (99% rated Green or Gold).
• Driving significant improvement in children’s progress and attainment through targeted academic support.
• Providing training to over 100 school staff, foster carers and colleagues from other agencies each academic year.
  
  

This is a senior leadership role at the heart of our vibrant and values-led service, working with a passionate team of advocates who champion the educational journeys of our children. You will ensure every child in care has a high-quality, timely Personal Education Plan, is in the right full-time provision, and receives the tailored support they need to thrive and make strong, sustained progress.

We are looking for a compassionate and strategic leader with significant experience managing large teams and working across agencies, always keeping children’s outcomes at the centre.

Your insight into education, social care and SEND will equip you to drive excellence for those who need it most. Most importantly, you will have a strong track record of improving outcomes for children in care and a deep commitment to building trusted relationships with children, carers, and professionals.

With your leadership, we will continue to ensure that every child supported by The HOPE Virtual School is seen, valued, and empowered to succeed.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on the role and the eligibility criteria for application. If you have the knowledge and experience to undertake this role and the vision and ambition to create lasting change in the lives of care-experienced young people, we look forward to hearing from you.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Virtual School Headteacher James Gregory by email

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.