Deputy Head

Wetherby Senior School was founded in 2015 and is a member of the Inspired Education Group of Schools. There are 452 boys on roll, all of whom study at least 1 language for 5 years and we regularly add at least 0.5 of a grade at both IGCSE and A Level. Our students achieve grades that allow them to gain places at top UK Universities such as Cambridge, LSE, Imperial, Durham and UCL, and Universities aboard such as the University of Chicago, Pompeu Fabra Barcelona and the IE Business School Madrid. 

The School was founded to offer a progressive education in the heart of London. The School’s focus on providing an all-round education means that high standards are expected of the boys in all areas of school life. The School provides the boys with a broad educational experience, which includes Philosophy and Thinking Skills in the curriculum, to ensure that they are able to think critically and to problem solve but also that they can be creative and collaborative in their approach, so that they develop a sense of social responsibility and respect for others. Our skilled staff, who have a wealth of experience, are preparing to send our pupils to leading universities in the UK, the US and elsewhere. 

At Wetherby Senior School we seek to employ highly professional teachers with the ability and commitment to enhance the life of the School and to work effectively and collaboratively with all members of the School community to further establish and develop the School. Our emphasis on educating the whole boy means that all members of staff are expected to contribute to the pastoral care of a group of students as a Form Tutor as well as contributing to the School’s co-curricular activities. 

The Deputy Head (Academic) is a member of SLT and reports directly to the Headmaster on all matters relating to the development of outstanding, innovative learning and teaching. The role is an opportunity to build on the School’s strong academic programme and involves working closely with the other members of SLT, SMT and the academic Heads of Department to ensure a challenging and stimulating academic progression for pupils and to ensure that the School fulfils its vision statement: to provide an outstanding, progressive all-round education, supporting our pupils to achieve academically and to develop as people, fully preparing them to meet the challenges of being a young man in the twenty-first century and ready to contribute to the communities in which they live.

The Deputy Head (Academic) is responsible for all day-to-day management issues relating to the curriculum as well as developing and improving the quality of education offered to pupils by promoting all aspects of academic, intellectual, and personal development, including the quality of teaching and learning, the nature of the curriculum and the preparation of pupils for academic assessment after school as well as during their time at school.

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibility for high quality, innovative learning across the curriculum, including:

• Leading development and policy making on all curriculum matters in the School, designing and implementing policies that support the School’s vision to prepare its pupils for life in the twenty-first century and helping to improve all elements of pupil learning and achievement.
• Acting as a pioneer in developing new initiatives and innovative pedagogy and ensuring inventive use is made of new technologies and resources.
• Developing with the Head of ICT strategies for the use of technology to support learning and teaching, to promote digital literacy and to enhance the quality of assessment and feedback.
• Furthering the awareness of modern learning and teaching methodologies and strategies and developing Wetherby Senior School as a learning hub for teachers from other schools.
• Monitoring the performance of teaching staff, including the academic element of the appraisal process.
• Undertaking department reviews (with the Headmaster and the Assistant Head: Academic), coordinating the approach to lesson observation, work scrutiny and sharing good practice.
• Training and induction of all staff on academic expectations and systems.
• Managing the generation and analysis of statistics to aid pupil performance tracking through public examination results, CEM value-added data and termly report data.
• Keeping up-to-date with developments in teaching and learning in the Y7-Y13 age group, bringing them to the attention of Heads of Department, and advising the Headmaster and Governors.
• Overseeing the academic enrichment offered by departments.
• Leading curriculum development and academic policy making, including:
• With the Assistant Head: Academic, creating and regularly reviewing the whole School curriculum map so that it provides an appropriate academic and personal progression throughout the School and transition between the different phases of the School.
• Regularly reviewing the structure of the School day in light of the changing needs of the pupils as the School grows.

Full job description will be provided at interview stage.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

Wetherby Senior School is seeking to appoint a teacher with a track record of success in a middle or senior management role in a state or an independent school. This is an important and rewarding position and applicants will need to show their understanding of the challenges that are faced by young people and the human and professional qualities necessary to carry out their responsibilities successfully.

Qualifications:

• A strong academic record with a good honours degree in or closely related to, a subject taught at Wetherby Senior School
• The preferred subjects are English, Chemistry, Economics & Business Studies, Physical Education, Philosophy and Modern Foreign Languages but applicants from all disciplines will be considered.

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Inspired Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.