Deputy Headteacher

Job Title: Deputy Headteacher - Primary

Job Location: The Grange School, Thatcham

Salary: Between £50,000 and £55,000 based on working 40 hours per week, 39.2 weeks of the year.

Contract Type: Permanent – Term Time Only

As Deputy Headteacher (Primary), you’ll work closely with the Headteacher to help shape the vision and direction of our school, creating a positive impact on the lives of our pupils.

Your leadership will ensure that every pupil receives the care and support they need from our dedicated team. You’ll play a vital role in guiding and inspiring staff, contributing to important decisions, including selecting teachers who will nurture and educate our pupils within a collaborative and supportive environment.

Our school is committed to supporting children in Key Stages 2 to 4 who face challenges related to autism, social and emotional development, speech and language needs, or have experienced trauma. We provide a dynamic and engaging curriculum that nurtures curiosity and creativity, empowering our pupils to flourish both academically and personally.

We’re looking for a passionate leader who is motivated to make a genuine difference in a school that prioritises pupil wellbeing and growth. You’ll help create a nurturing learning environment that not only meets Ofsted standards but is also tailored to the unique needs of each child.

You’ll be essential in nurturing our core values—Honesty, Empathy, Aspiration, Respect, and Teamwork—into every aspect of school life, fostering a culture that reflects these principles and supports the well-being of our school community.

A day in the life of a Deputy Headteacher will involve:

• You’ll work closely with the Headteacher to shape the school’s vision and ethos, leading the primary provision and ensuring everything aligns with Ofsted standards and the school's development goals.
• You'll oversee and adapt the primary curriculum to meet both Ofsted expectations and the unique needs of pupils, especially those with SEMH and complex learning challenges.
• You'll play a critical role in maintaining high expectations for pupil outcomes, ensuring safeguarding protocols are followed, and acting as the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for the primary phase.
• Leading staff development will be central to your role, where you’ll mentor and inspire your team, fostering collaboration across Education and Therapeutic Services, while building strong relationships with pupils, parents, and external agencies.
• Operationally, you’ll manage resources, oversee staff performance, and ensure the school provides a safe, engaging, and high-quality learning environment that encourages pupil growth and personal development.

To be a successful Deputy Headteacher you’ll need:

• A degree and Qualified Teacher status, with at least 2 years of management experience in an educational setting, particularly working with SEMH/SEBD/Autism.
• Strong understanding of the primary curriculum, safeguarding procedures, and knowledge of Ofsted/KCSiE standards.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire staff, with excellent communication skills and a track record of managing resources effectively.
• Confidence in using data for self-evaluation, setting targets, and problem-solving, paired with strong analytical skills.
• A motivated, empathetic, and flexible mindset, aligned with the core values of Honesty, Empathy, Aspiration, Respect, and Teamwork.

In return for your time, you’ll get:

• Holidays – You’ll only work term time (39.2 weeks), and get paid the additional 12.8 weeks whilst you’re off.
• Pension scheme– Our pension scheme is based on you paying in 5%, and us adding 3%.
• Learning & Development Opportunities – We provide comprehensive learning opportunities for team members to develop themselves.
• Discounts – You’ll have access to brilliant discounts through the Blue Light Card and our own employee benefits platform.
• Wellbeing Support – Your wellbeing is always our priority. You’ll have access to mental health and wellbeing support. On top of this, our therapies team offers a monthly confidential check in clinic, and group reflective practice sessions.
• Cycle2Work -The cycle to work scheme enables you to buy a bicycle at a discounted rate.
• DBS – As this role required you to have an enhanced DBS carried out, we will cover this cost.

After 12 months service you’ll also be eligible for our Medicash scheme which covers a wide range of medical, health and wellbeing expenses (Including immediate access to a GP). You’ll get life assurance paid at x2 your annual salary, and even more high street discounts.

Please note that as part of our safer recruitment processes, successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check, and online and social media checks, and reference validation.

At Phoenix Learning and Care, we pride ourselves on our diverse workforce, and ensuring we have an inclusive environment for all our team members. We remain committed to ensuring our teams can bring their true selves to work without risk or fear of discrimination.