Deputy Headteacher

Salary: L12-L16 

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time 

Location: Leycroft Academy, Gressel Lane, Birmingham, B33 9UH

Start Date – September 2023 or earlier by negotiation

Leycroft Academy is an inclusive and vibrant specialist primary school with 176 pupils on roll. The children all have a diagnosis of ASC with the trend towards an increasingly complex cohort expected to continue. The school is part of Forward Education Trust (FET), an established and developing MAT of 7 special schools in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull. This is an exciting time for the school and the Trust with a new Headteacher just starting, who will provide the strategic and operational leadership which will deliver on the commitment to ensuring the children receive the best possible education, care and life chances.

FET is working through a period of positive change with plans for future expansion. Central to the Trust’s development will be a commitment to ensuring its schools develop individual personalities, recognising their own particular characteristics and celebrating the many good things that happen day-to-day. Alongside this is a belief that its staff and leaders are its most important asset and valuing them and utilising their many talents will deliver the best experiences for pupils. 

We now wish to appoint a new Deputy Headteacher to support the Headteacher alongside two Assistant Headteachers in developing Leycroft’s individual character - there is a fantastic opportunity to work with a committed and talented staff team. You will be empowered to make the right choices and help to develop a long-term vision which ensures the pupils receive the best possible education, care and life chances.

This is an important time for the school and the new Deputy Headteacher must be a skilled and motivated leader who understands the needs of the pupils at Leycroft Academy. The school has benefitted from significant investment in the last year, including a complete internal refurbishment, two new playgrounds, improved sensory & movement rooms and installation of a sensory pathway around school. Further work is planned to improve curriculum resources, in conjunction with a balanced professional multi-disciplinary team providing support around speech & language, behaviour and occupational therapies.

The Trust are committed to fully supporting the new Deputy Headteacher to further enhance the curriculum, explore innovative approaches to develop classroom practice and to raise standards. Your professional development will also be a key priority and you will have the support of a network of highly skilled and experienced senior leaders alongside the opportunities that will inevitably present themselves from being part of a developing trust. 

Candidates should be able to demonstrate recent, successful and sustained impact as a leader along with significant experience of working with children and young people with autism. You will be empowered to make decisions and to be creative and must be committed to the Trust ethos of moving forward together, striving for and achieving opportunities to improve outcomes and providing stability and success for all. You will have a positive attitude which will inspire, enthuse and motivate pupils, staff and the wider school community. Above all, you will share the school’s commitment to ensuring the students are safe and happy and achieve their full potential.

To find out more about this exceptional opportunity please visit: https://webmicrosites.hays.co.uk/web/forward-education-trust-teachers

Contact Jodie Massie at Hays for a confidential discussion, to arrange a visit to the school or to discuss making an application. 

Jodie Massie

Hays Mobile: 07761446571

Email: jodie.massie@hays.com 

Closing date: 9am Monday 27th March 2023 

Interview date to be confirmed 

Start date – September 2023 or in discussion with the appointed candidate

Employee Value Proposition

• Teacher Pension or Local Government Pension – Employer Contribution

• Employee Questionnaire – regular consultation and engagement

• Improved performance and management – including appraisal and development

• Personal and professional learning and development – including FLICK learning

• Staff recognition – e-cards

• Staff recognition – awards throughout the year and at a conference

• FET HUB – information all in one place

• Salary sacrifice – Cycle to Work Scheme 

• Easy purchase scheme – Smart Tech with Currys (salary deduction)

• Access to discounts from Reward Gateway and MYPerks

• Mental Health First Aiders

• Paid for Health Cash Plan (dependent on children included – can add your spouse/partner at your cost)

• Access to the Thrive App – to support mental health and well being

• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme – free, confidential advice

• Occupational Health Service

• Policies to support positive health and well-being: Family Friendly Working, Special Leave of Absence, Flexible Working, Menopause

There’s more we’d like to do – we encourage and welcome ideas.

A commitment to develop new ideas to show to our staff that they are our most important asset and we really value what every staff colleague does for our children.

Please note that only fully completed Forward Education Trust Application forms will be accepted; we will not read accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) or accept them in place of an application form. 

The Trust may review applications upon receipt and may call applicants for interview prior to the advert closing date. Therefore, you are encouraged to make an early application for this role and we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date. 

Forward Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote this ethos. All appointments will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory enhances DBS and pre-employment checks. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Forward Education Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. 

If you do not hear from the Trust within 14 days of returning your application to us, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted.