Deputy Headteacher - Quality of Education

We became a converter academy on 1st August 2012 and joined with Ocklynge Junior School on the 1st December 2017 to form the South Downs Learning Trust. The aim of our trust is to provide an outstanding educational experience for all learners in our schools. We want both schools to retain their own identity whilst working together to support the learning of everyone in the Trust community. Our aim is to develop a sustainable and exciting educational experience that places our students at the centre of all that we do and develop a community of primary and secondary academies that are the first choice for students and families in Sussex, with an outstanding reputation for high aspiration and high achievement. 

Our senior leaders are expected to lead by example and maintain high standards across the school community, supporting our vision to be relentlessly ambitious about a curriculum that leads to excellent outcomes and experiences for our students. You will need to be organised, dynamic, collaborative and inclusive, with a relentless focus on achieving the best outcomes for our students and will use your initiative to inspire, motivate and encourage a climate of learning where expectations are high, clearly communicated and consistently reinforced.

This is a strategic role with lead responsibility for the quality of education across the whole school. The successful candidate will be driven by moral purpose and a passion for learning, able to demonstrate a track record of excellent leadership with impact and be able to demonstrate a strong knowledge of how to improve key components of Quality of Education. Our journey to ensure improved whole school progress and attainment outcomes for all learners is ongoing, which was evidenced during our OFSTED inspection in June 2022, which highlighted our commitment to continued and rapid improvement across the school.  

We offer NPQH to all our senior leaders and would welcome applications from leaders who aspire to headship in due course. We are committed to developing all leaders and give them the expertise to enable them to take the next step. 

We are looking for a leader who can inspire and influence a range of stakeholders and who:

·        Has a proven background in raising aspirations and leading whole school initiatives.

·        Is an outstanding classroom practitioner.

·        Has a proven history of improving standards.

·        Has experience of successfully leading, managing and developing teams (including middle leaders)

·        Has recent evidence of planning and leading whole school improvements, which have a demonstrable impact on student attainment

·        Has experience of whole school self-evaluation and improvement planning  

·        Has experience of strategically developing the curriculum and approaches to teaching and learning in order to support high levels of progress and attainment

To help you learn more about our school and this role please see the job description and person specification in this job pack. The person specification contains the criteria that the panel will use in the selection process, and they will be particularly interested in the unique qualities that you possess.

We offer an incentive package which includes:

• A comprehensive induction programme for new staff to the academy.
• On-going investment into your career development through appropriate CPD.
• Support and mentoring by a strong Senior Leadership Team and other experienced leaders.
• Access to the Bike 2 Work scheme allowing up to 42% discount on the cost of bikes and equipment.
• Full use of an employee assistance programme supporting wellbeing. 
• Staffroom with complimentary tea and coffee.
• Subsidised membership of Benenden Healthcare (affordable alternative to private health insurance).
• On-site parking.
• Free Breakfast Club/After School Club place for staff children at Ocklynge Junior School.
• Enviable setting and extensive grounds.