Pastoral Deputy Head of Secondary - August 2026

Job Description

• Work in close partnership with the Head Teacher to drive the development of the Secondary School, ensuring consistently high standards of achievement and progress for all pupils.
• Build positive relationships with all stakeholders, building a positive school culture through effective communication.
• Be responsible for the effective day to day running of the school, ensuring that communication between teaching and operational teams is strong.
• Play a key role in developing, implementing, and monitoring the Secondary School Development Plan and the School’s Self-Evaluation. Contribute to establishing policies that support the school’s objectives.
• Lead Academics and accreditation in KS5 alongside the IB, TOK, EE coordinators and the  Careers and University Guidance (CUGC)
• Liaise with parents and the wider community to support the schools mission and vision.
• The Deputy Headteacher will take on delegated responsibilities within the Secondary School and contribute to selected whole-school initiatives through the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). These responsibilities will be agreed collaboratively with the Head Teacher, based on individual skills, experience, and the strategic needs of the school.

Teaching & Learning

• Collaborate with SLT to design and maintain a balanced curriculum across each faculty that promotes high achievement and consitency for all students.
• Ensure high-quality teaching and learning across all subjects and phases, supported by robust data and quality assurance processes.
• Stay informed about current UK educational practices and collaborate with other schools within the network.
• Drive improvements in teaching and learning by:
  • • Demonstrating outstanding classroom practice.
    • Mentoring teachers.
• Work with Whole School T&L DH, Heads of Year, and Heads of Faculty to monitor and enhance assessment systems.
• Use data to track and monitor student progress, implementing student interventions where needed. 
• Implement the ethical and moral use of AI into the curriculum.
• Work with the T+L DH to implement metacognition across the teaching staff. 

Pastoral

• Support the school’s pastoral care arrangements and promote pupil well-being, working with SLT, safeguarding and student support leader.
•  Ensure that safeguarding systems are consistently followed, deputising for safeguarding concerns where needed. 
• Develop and implement a smooth transition program from KS4-KS5.
• Uphold policies on behaviour, discipline, and anti-bullying.
• Encourage high standards of behaviour through clear routines and consistent adult modelling.
• Contribute to the wider life of the school beyond the classroom.

• Lead on the annual residential trips for each year group.
• Line manage the KS4+5 Heads of Year.
• Support the transition of new students into the school.

Staffing

• Actively participate in the recruitment and selection of teaching and non-teaching staff.
• Promote a culture of professionalism and positive school life for pupils and staff.
• Support induction processes for new staff and ensure visitors feel welcomed.
• Assist in creating an environment where staff thrive and pupils experience an enriching education.

Long Description

Operations

• Take delegated responsibility for aspects of day-to-day organization, including assemblies, staff duties, and the meeting calendar.
• Deputise for the Head Teacher when required, ensuring leadership is exercised with confidence and sensitivity.
• Represent the school at PTA functions and other events as needed.
• Lead on implementing equal opportunities policies.
• Identify barriers to school effectiveness and develop realistic, timely strategies for improvement.
• Ensure school improvement strategies are implemented and key documents updated as required.

School Community

• Work with the admissions team to support prospective families and ensure smooth transitions into the school.
• Promote community cohesion by building strong relationships with parents, carers, external agencies, and the wider community.
• Communicate effectively and celebrate school events to strengthen engagement.

Senior Leadership

• Contribute actively as a member of the SLT in shaping and reviewing school policy and practice.
• Model and promote the school ethos, setting high expectations for perseverance, collaboration, responsibility, integrity, respect, and care.

Personal Development

• Proactively set and achieve personal development goals aligned with school priorities, engaging in relevant professional learning.
• Actively support colleagues in achieving their professional development goals by sharing expertise, mentoring, and facilitating access to relevant learning opportunities. 

Required Skills/Abilities

Personal attributes:

As our teammate, here’s what we expect:

• High levels of personal integrity 
• Conscientious and able to focus on completing work to a consistently high standard 
• Flexible and positive approach to work 
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills; high attention to detail 
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and able to prompt others to ensure deadlines are achieved 
• Adaptable to working in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment 
• Ability to work under pressure and remain calm  
• Proactive and willingness to take on multiple tasks 
• Self-motivated and enthusiastic 
• Ability to work independently 
• Must be a team player, willing to help and be flexible 
• Continually strive for improvement 

Qualification/ Training: 

• Qualified to degree level or above – Essential
• Qualified Teacher Status – Essential
• Leadership experience - Essential

Experience:   

• Proven track record with at least five years’ teaching experience – Essential
• Experience of being part of a highly successful department and school – Desirable
• Good classroom practice and interpersonal skills – Essential
• Demonstrable evidence of innovating and adapting curriculum to engage children and enable them to reach their potential – Essential
• Working in partnership with parents – Essential

Skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills – Essential
• Ability to teach different age-ranges and English proficiency levels – Essential
• Ability to engage children and enable them to perform highly – Essential
• Use of iSAMS and Cpoms– Desirable
• Evidence of commitment to continuous professional development – Desirable
• Confident global citizen or a willingness to become one – Desirable
• Understand the complex and demanding environment of an international school community – Desirable

Others: 

• The ability to integrate technology into the classroom experience to enhance and extend the learning of students 
• Successfully teach students using technology in a virtual/hybrid environment
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint for producing reports and presentations.
• Good cross-cultural, interpersonal and communication skills to interact with diverse nationalities and cultures.
• Excellent analytical skills – with the passion and drive to demonstrate and quantify success.
• Results orientated with the ability to consistently map efforts against identified KPIs.
• Excellent time management skills and flexibility in dealing with multi-functional tasks.