Deputy Headteacher

As Deputy Headteacher at Maiden Erlegh School, you will lead in a number of areas which may include pastoral provision, behaviour, attendance, safeguarding, curriculum, teaching and learning, outcomes and inclusion with a focus on improving student outcomes and reducing barriers to learning for disadvantaged and vulnerable students. You will work alongside the Co-Headteachers, lead delegated areas of school improvement and deputise in their absence.

Your leadership will connect high expectations with coordinated student support. Through rigorous monitoring, effective provision and colleague development, you will strengthen the school’s organisation and management and support a safe, inclusive learning environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Improve outcomes for disadvantaged and vulnerable students through rigorous monitoring of progress, attainment and achievement, ensuring provision addresses barriers to learning and narrows attainment gaps in English and mathematics.
• Maintain effective safeguarding training, qualified deputy leadership capacity and online safety arrangements.
• Secure high standards of behaviour, attendance and punctuality through consistent whole-school systems, visible leadership and effective responses to behaviour and bullying patterns. Lead strategies to reduce suspensions and exclusions while maintaining high expectations.
• Lead coordinated pastoral and inclusion provision for disadvantaged and vulnerable students, including students with SEND, medical or behavioural needs, looked-after children and persistent absentees. Oversee alternative provision and modified timetables, ensuring appropriate checks and service level agreements.
• Ensure statutory and Trust compliance across delegated areas, including safeguarding, attendance and website content. Maintain a published three-year Pupil Premium Strategy informed by budget planning and student achievement, and provide annual reports, policy reviews and timely information to the Headteacher and governors.
• Lead delegated school improvement priorities and PSHE and PSMSC programmes, evaluating delivery, student engagement and impact to inform self-evaluation and improvement planning.
• Line manage designated teams and academic departments, supporting effective colleague deployment, induction, professional development and performance management, including consistent practice in behaviour, safeguarding and inclusion.
• Lead on whole staff professional development including the management and leadership of CPD, teaching and learning and quality assurance processes.
• Support the overall organisation and management of the school, manage delegated budget responsibilities and deputise for the Headteacher. Maintain effective relationships with families, governors and external agencies, support collaboration across Trust schools and provide lesson cover in exceptional circumstances.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

You will hold an honours degree, Qualified Teacher Status, a postgraduate qualification, further management and/or assessor-related qualifications, and appropriate safeguarding training or qualification for the designated child protection leadership responsibility. You will demonstrate continuing professional development and a proven track record of successful teaching.

You will bring experience of planning and organising major areas of curriculum, pastoral and academic provision, with the ability to lead colleagues, manage change and deliver responsibilities within budget and operational constraints. You will understand education from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 4, evaluate teaching and learning, and use value-added approaches and data analysis to support student progress and school improvement.

You will be able to develop and evaluate whole-school behaviour strategies, strengthen attendance and punctuality, and assess the impact of provision for disadvantaged and vulnerable students. Your knowledge will include SEND, pastoral support, alternative provision, modified timetables and pupil premium planning.

You will provide safeguarding leadership and professional support to colleagues, with an understanding of child protection, online safety, filtering and monitoring systems, and appropriate responses to NetSupport DNA alerts. You will understand relevant statutory, Trust and school requirements, including health and safety, data protection and acceptable use.

Clear communication, effective working relationships, strong organisation and problem-solving ability will underpin your leadership. You will demonstrate professional integrity, flexibility and the ability to motivate and support colleagues, including senior leaders. You will be willing to attend evening meetings, support collaboration across Trust schools and participate in appraisal and professional development.

Appointment is subject to satisfactory employment checks, including references, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and a Section 128 check.

ABOUT MAIDEN ERLEGH TRUST

Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 850 staff and 5,000 students across eleven schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise.
We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference, a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning.

Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise - it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.

You can learn more about working with us and hear from colleagues across our Trust here on our website.

BENEFITS

Further information about working at Maiden Erlegh Trust can be found on our website here. Staff wellbeing and professional development are central to how we work, and colleagues across our Trust benefit from a range of opportunities and schemes designed to recognise their contribution and support their growth.

Pension Scheme: Generous employer contributions, with auto-enrolment into either the Teachers Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme, both Career Average Earning Schemes.
Annual Leave: We offer a generous holiday entitlement, which increases with length of service.
ME Day: Colleagues may request one additional day’s leave each year to attend a special personal event, such as a child’s sports day or graduation, or a family celebration.
Professional Development: We offer a comprehensive programme of professional learning through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, including opportunities to both attend and deliver CPD. Colleagues also take part in our annual Conference, a full day of workshops, networking and learning for all staff.
Colleagues can also access a range of professional development opportunities using Apprenticeship Levy funding, and benefit from professional development networks.
Hybrid Working: For eligible roles, we support a flexible approach to working arrangements, balancing remote and office-based work where appropriate.
Perkbox: Colleagues have access to Perkbox, which offers a wide range of discounts and wellness resources and receive 25 Perk points each month which can be exchanged for goods and services.
Wellbeing and