Deputy Headteacher

We are looking for an experienced and committed leader to become our new Deputy Headteacher at Little Heaton CE Primary School. Little Heaton is a one-form entry primary, set in an area of some disadvantage and deprivation. The school has unfortunately had a chequered history in Ofsted terms, with a series of 'requires improvement' judgements and changes in leadership. In March 2024, the school transferred into The Cranmer Education Trust (CET), and since May, the CET has brought in experienced school leaders who have been working together with school staff to stabilize and improve the quality of education, addressing the SEN and behavioural issues with which the school was struggling. The trust has also made a major investment in the buildings and school environment for the children, providing a stimulating and nurturing setting. Parents are already commenting positively on the changes. We have now appointed a substantive Headteacher who will take up post after Easter. They will lead the school's future development, reinforcing the foundations that have been put in place and continuing the professional development of staff to create the best possible provision for our children, who both need and deserve the very best. Our Deputy Headteacher will help lead on the journey of improvement. We are looking above all else for someone who is ambitious for our children and our school and staff. They should seek to understand the context and what is needed to help all our children have a really positive and happy experience of school, where they grow to become the best versions of themselves and learn how to learn more, remember more, achieve more, and be ready to progress confidently when they move to secondary school. We can tailor the Deputy Headteacher responsibilities to build on the strengths and experience of the successful candidate. The most important requirement is that they are a strong teacher, able both to inspire all our children to learn and progress, and to model excellent practice for other staff through mentoring and coaching staff to become the teachers the children need them to be. The Deputy Headteacher will share responsibility for a class; we need the expertise on the front line, with the children, and as an example for others. The teaching commitment will be equivalent to half a week's timetable, probably in the mornings, with improvement work and leadership responsibilities in the afternoons. The Cranmer Education Trust is growing and leadership in our primaries is growing with it. The opportunities to collaborate and learn from others in the family are increasing through carefully planned systems to enable learning, access expertise, moderate and benchmark. Our new Deputy Headteacher will be supported in Little Heaton by their Headteacher, developed with the support of an Executive Headteacher and through the trust's teaching leadership communities., Start Date : We would like the successful candidate to start as soon as possible, and by Summer Term 2025. The Cranmer Education Trust is an equal opportunities employer and will provide reasonable support to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process.

Little Heaton is on a journey, and our Deputy Headteacher will be able to see the impact of their work every day in the difference we can make together to the lives of our children.

• A competitive salary.
• Membership of the Teachers' Pension Scheme.
• Generous leave entitlement.
• A professional working environment and the support facilities and resources of the Cranmer Education Trust and its family of Primary and Secondary Schools, which are very accessible, both electronically and in person.
• Free parking on site.
Little Heaton is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Cranmer Education Trust follows safer recruitment practices. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020 and appointment is therefore subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service. For further information please refer to :
• The Cranmer Education Trust's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy Trust Policies | Cranmer Education Trust
• The Trust's statement on the employment of ex-offenders, in the vacancy Documents section.