Deputy Head (Teaching and Education Development)

An outstanding individual is sought to be Deputy Head (Teaching and Education Development) at this leading co-educational school. 

With a strong track record in leadership and management, the successful candidate will have significant input into the school’s strategic development, with particular responsibility for ensuring the school’s educational provision continues to develop and innovate. They will work closely with the Head in further fostering a culture of excellence and innovation in teaching & learning, and in supporting staff professional development. 

PGS has an excellent record in the development of senior leaders and the post will provide excellent preparation for headship in due course.

Further information on The Portsmouth Grammar School can be found at www.pgs.org.uk 

An overview of the responsibilities of the post is given below and full details are provided in the candidate brief.

Closing date: Tuesday 29 January

Interview dates: 6 and 14 February

Job Description Overview 

The Deputy Head (Teaching and Education Development) will have responsibility for ensuring continued excellence, reflection and development of teaching practice within the teaching staff body.  They will ensure that staff have access to excellent professional development opportunities and support, and will oversee staff welfare. They will have responsibility for ensuring that the school’s educational provision continues to develop and innovate in response to need, in connection for instance with aspects of the curriculum, pupils’ skills and dispositions for learning, and the use of technology in support of teaching and learning. The post holder will work closely with other members of the Senior Management team, and will have a significant input into the school’s strategic development. 

The post is likely to include responsibility for the following areas. This role description is designed to be indicative rather than restrictive, and will be subject to review.

•       Ensuring that the school’s education provision develops in response to internal needs and external challenges

•        Maintaining and developing a culture of excellence, reflection and innovation in teaching and learning

•       Celebrating and sharing good classroom practice, and ensuring that all staff have access to opportunities to develop their professional practice, as teachers and leaders

•        Supporting the effective use of assessment to support teaching and learning

•       Ensuring that staff have access to latest educational research, and supporting engagement with research through school-based initiatives

•        Developing and implementing a strategy for equipping pupils with the skills and attributes they need to flourish at school and in the workplace

•        Ensuring the most effective use of technology to support teaching and learning (and co-chairing the Digital Learning Committee) 

•        Overseeing and supporting teaching staff welfare, working with the HR Manager

•        Developing and delivering a strategy for the effective professional support of teaching staff, through INSET, Twilight Training, Appraisal, and regular professional reflection and dialogue

•       Overseeing the Probation and Appraisal processes, and carrying out Appraisal and Probationary Reviews

•       Overseeing the school’s programme of lesson observation and work scrutiny, and other methods for monitoring and sharing good practice

•        Co-ordinating INSET days

•        Overseeing Initial Teacher Training and support for UQTs, NQTs and RQTs, and directing the work of the ITT Coordinator

•        Leading the induction programme for teaching staff

• Responsibility for relevant policies and procedures

In addition, as a member of the Senior Management Team, the postholder is expected to:

-        Attend school events as appropriate (e.g. concerts, fixtures, talks)

-        Assist with the recruitment of new staff, for instance through lesson observation and interviewing

-        Attend results days and assist with the preparation for them and duties arising from them

-        Contribute to inspection preparation, the strategic plan and operational plan

-        Support pupil admissions processes

-        Lead processes connected with school policies e.g. the Complaints policy and Capability policy, as directed by the Head

-        Lead workshops for parents on relevant matters

-        Undertake other reasonable duties as directed by the Head 

The postholder will have line management responsibility for a number of areas, including: a cluster of academic departments; the Learning Support Department; Initial Teaching Training; Library. They will report to the Head, and will attend relevant meetings of the Governors.

The Portsmouth Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.