Deputy Head
St Helen's Primary School, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2LT9 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As Soon As Possible
Closing date
12 November 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
29 October 2026
Job details
Job role
- Deputy headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £57,699.00 - £66,956.00 Annually (FTE) Leadership 4 to Leadership 10
Deputy Head job summary
- Achieving Excellence and Equality through Equity and Empowerment
Are you an inspiring educational leader driven by moral purpose? Do you believe that every child—regardless of background or starting point—deserves an exceptional education that prepares them to thrive in an ever-changing world?
At St Helen’s Nursery and Primary School, we are a vibrant, multicultural, and deeply community-driven school where diversity is celebrated and potential is limitless. We are seeking an exceptional Deputy Headteacher to join our amazing school family and dedicated leadership team who wants to play a transformative role in our journey towards excellence.
As part of the ASSET Education Trust, we believe in equipping and empowering children to create a more compassionate, equitable, and sustainable world. We view our cultural wealth as our greatest strength, helping our pupils build deep global understanding, empathy, and resilience, while encouraging them to question the world around them and speak out when needed.
Our vision is clear: we aim to inspire curious and creative thinkers to explore the world with confidence. We cultivate resilient and reflective learners who embrace challenges, while fostering articulate and empathetic individuals who make a positive impact.
The RoleAs Deputy Headteacher, you will hold strategic oversight of Inclusion, Attendance, and Community Engagement, while taking a pivotal leadership role in driving high-quality Teaching and Learning across the school.
You will lead with empathy and high expectations, ensuring that equity is at the heart of our practice so that every pupil leaves us fully prepared, confident, and ready for the next stage of their learning journey.
Key ResponsibilitiesDrive Inclusive Practice: Lead our inclusion vision, ensuring robust, compassionate provision for SEND, EAL, disadvantaged, and vulnerable pupils.
Champion Attendance & Engagement: Develop innovative, proactive strategies that improve pupil attendance and deepen connections with our families and wider community.
Elevate Teaching & Learning: Partner with staff to refine pedagogical practice, develop a dynamic curriculum, and raise standards of achievement across all key stages.
Empower Staff & Pupils: Build a culture of collaboration, continuous professional development, and shared accountability grounded in our core values.
We are looking for a leader who:
Is an outstanding classroom practitioner with a proven track record of senior or middle leadership success.
Deeply understands equity-driven leadership and is passionate about dismantling barriers to learning.
Has experience using data and evidence-based strategies to improve attendance, inclusion, and classroom outcomes.
Possesses exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage, inspire, and build strong partnerships with staff, parents, and community stakeholders.
Demonstrates a deep, authentic commitment to educational equity, ensuring no child is left behind.
A welcoming, culturally rich, and genuinely supportive school community set in a distinctive, characterful historic building.
Motivated, creative, and respectful pupils who are eager to learn, succeed, and share their unique perspectives.
The opportunity to work closely with a warm, interconnected family of 16 Suffolk primary schools within the ASSET Education Trust, sharing expertise, networks, and resources.
A supportive leadership team and governing body dedicated to your work-life balance and personal wellbeing, backed by ASSET’s evidence-informed Complete Human Strategy.
Access to high-quality CPD, mentorship, and clear pathways for career development.
Possible opportunity to apply for a Head of School post within the next two years, driven by potential school/ trust-wide leadership restructuring.
Strong partnerships with vibrant local cultural institutions—such as DanceEast on the Ipswich Waterfront, local museums, and green spaces—that bring our bespoke curriculum to life.
The platform and agency to shape the future direction of our school, mentor developing staff, and make a profound, positive impact on our children and families.
We would strongly recommend a visit to the school so you can see for yourself why our school is so unique. Tours and phone conversations with SLT can be booked through Jo Lovett, Senior Administrator, who can be reached by calling 01473 251333 or emailing her on j.lovett@sthelensprimary.net
ASSET Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the job description and will be subject to pre-employment checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and children's barred list check, health check, online search and satisfactory references. Copies of our safeguarding and safer recruitment policies are available on request.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About St Helen's Primary School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 3 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- Size
- 439 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
A two form culturally diverse primary school in the centre of Ipswich. Part of ASSET Education, St Helen's is the lead school in the Trust for Initial Teacher Training and Early Careers.
School location
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