Deputy DSL

Icknield Community College, Watlington, Oxfordshire, OX49 5RB

17 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  5 October 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  18 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £25,450.27 - £27,165.15 Annually (Actual) Grade 7 (£30,023 to £32,046 pro rata)

Deputy DSL job summary

Deputy DSL
Grade 7 (£30,023 to £32,046 pro rata)
(Annual salary based on 37 hours per week, term time only: £25,450.27 - £27,165.15)

Icknield Community College is seeking a highly organised, child-centred and solution-focused colleague to join our safeguarding team as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL). This is a non-teaching post. Working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead, the successful candidate will respond to safeguarding concerns, support students and families, liaise with external agencies, maintain high-quality safeguarding records and contribute to a strong safeguarding culture across the school. DDSL/DSL-level training will be provided where required, and the postholder will be trained to the same standard as the DSL.

Our successful candidate will:

be strongly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people;

forge strong, trusting and professional relationships with students, staff and parents/carers;

have excellent spoken and written communication skills, including the ability to maintain clear and accurate records;

demonstrate sound professional judgement and professional curiosity;

be able to remain calm, prioritise effectively and make appropriate decisions when dealing with sensitive or challenging situations;

handle highly sensitive and confidential information with discretion;

have the confidence to challenge and escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately;

show resilience, flexibility and a solution-focused approach;

work effectively as part of a team and with external professionals.

We offer the successful candidate a school which:

exists to serve its students and both support and challenge its staff;

enjoys positive relationships between staff and students;

knows every individual student well because of its size; and

is on an upward trajectory and excited about its future.

In December 2024, Ofsted inspected our school and concluded that:

• Staff are effusive about working in the school and value its mindful approach to workload.
• Pupils are proud to be members of this ambitious and friendly school.
• Pupils value the warm and respectful relationships they have with staff.
• Pupils’ behaviour is calm and orderly.

In March 2025, The Sunday Times named Icknield Community College the happiest secondary school in Oxfordshire. More recently, in October 2025, the Great British Schools Guide (GBSG) ranked the school joint sixth nationally in terms of “safest schools”, based on the latest Parent View feedback for the 2024-2025 academic year. These recognitions reflect our strong commitment to student wellbeing and success, further supported by Ofsted’s Parent View survey, where 98% of parents said they would recommend the school.

To discuss this post informally, please contact Richard Northover (Deputy Headteacher) on richard.northover@icknield.oxon.sch.uk .

We reserve the right to withdraw this vacancy at any time ahead of the closing date if there is a good level of response. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application as early as possible. We also reserve the right to interview shortlisted candidates ahead of the closing date.

Please be advised that references may be requested on receipt of your application. Please state if you wish this to be delayed until shortlisting/interviews have taken place.

Safeguarding Statement:

The Acer Trust and its schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Employment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and online checks.

The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post. All applicants are considered confidentially and according to the nature of the role and information disclosed.

Applications close on: 3rd October 2026

Interview: 7

th

October 2026

Start Date: ASAP

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Icknield Community College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. All staff must have a full DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Enhanced Certificate before commencing employment which the school will process on appointment.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Icknield Community College

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 804 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Icknield Community College website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/icknield-community-college-watlington

At Icknield Community College, we strive for “excellence for all”. In order to achieve this, we aim to:

Create an environment in which all students feel safe and secure
We create a school culture in which all students are valued and in which differences are respected and celebrated. We promote tolerance, mutual respect and kindness. We want all of our students to be thoughtful, considerate and caring towards others both in and out of school.

School location

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