Deputy Headteacher - Academic
Colton Hills Community School, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV4 5DG17 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
18 May 2026 at 8am
Date listed
1 May 2026
Job details
Job role
- Deputy headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- LPS - 20-24
What skills and experience we're looking for
WELCOME TO COLTON HILLS
Many Minds, One Mission
A community school which has the ethos of everyone working together as a family towards our shared goals, which can be summarised with our school values:
PRIDE - Participation – Respect – Integrity- Diversity – Excellence
Are you an ambitious, strategic and values‑driven senior leader ready to shape the academic direction of a large, diverse and aspirational secondary school?
Colton Hills Community School is seeking to appoint an exceptional Deputy Headteacher (Academic) to provide strategic leadership of curriculum, teaching, learning and standards across the whole school, including the sixth form. This is a key role within the Senior Leadership Team, deputising for the Headteacher and playing a central role in securing excellent outcomes for all students.
The Role
As Deputy Headteacher (Academic), you will:
- Provide strategic leadership of the curriculum and quality of education across the school, including the sixth form
- Lead whole‑school improvement priorities through robust quality assurance, self‑evaluation and performance management
- Ensure consistently high standards of teaching and learning, underpinned by research‑informed practice
- Oversee curriculum design, timetabling and academic provision to meet the needs of all learners
- Lead and develop senior and middle leaders, coaching them to drive improvement within their areas
- Take a strategic lead on CPD, appraisal, leadership development and staff wellbeing
- Play a full role in safeguarding, inclusion, SEND and EAL provision
- Deputise for the Headteacher as required
The Person
We are looking for a highly credible senior leader who:
- Holds QTS and a good honours degree, with a strong commitment to ongoing professional development
- Has a successful track record of raising standards and improving outcomes across a whole school or significant phase
- Has experience of leading teaching and learning, curriculum development and quality assurance at senior level
- Demonstrates excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills
- Has experience of timetabling and deploying resources strategically
- Is an inspirational leader who motivates staff, builds strong relationships and models high expectations
- Is reflective, resilient, empathetic and committed to inclusive, values‑led education
- Has NPQH (or is willing to undertake it)
Why Join Colton Hills?
- A diverse, vibrant community with a strong moral purpose
- A committed and supportive leadership team and governing body
- Opportunities to shape whole‑school strategy and make a lasting impact
- A strong culture of professional learning and leadership development
Safeguarding
Colton Hills Community School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.
Please complete your application as soon as possible. Full details of the role can be found in the Job Description and Person Specification.
Applications will be considered upon receipt, and we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.
Closing date: Monday 18th May 2026 at 8am
Interview date: Friday 22nd May 2026 (Candidates will be informed on Tuesday 19th May if they are to be invited for interview)
Tours of school available if required:
Thursday 7th May, 8:30am – 10:00am
Friday 8th May, 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Monday 11th May, 8:30am – 10:00am
Thursday 14th May, 4.00pm – 5:30pm
Please contact offficemanager@coltonhills.co.uk to book your slot.
What the school offers its staff
Colton Hills has been judged as a ‘Good’ school in 2015, 2018 and 2023 and we are committed to improving that judgment in future inspections – not for our own glory, but because we know we will be giving our students the best deal possible. The school encompasses a rich, harmonious and multicultural community and is committed to the development of all students, up to and including our growing sixth form.
The school is situated to the south of Wolverhampton’s city centre, on a site surrounded by green space and fantastic views across hills and fields. We also benefit greatly from a wide range of fantastic facilities for our staff and students, including an on-site swimming pool, AstroTurf pitch, dedicated Sixth Form block, flexible breakout spaces across the school and a large theatre often used by groups in our local community for performances. We are a school with a real family feel, with a strong House ethos that underpins our work.
We know that having successful students starts with having happy and well-supported staff. We are very much committed to our teachers having a fulfilling work-life balance, with an email policy that respects family time, careful management of our time budget to eliminate unnecessary meetings, a reduction in the amount of data we collect and an evolving marking policy designed to give teachers their lives back. We have adapted our appraisal system to prioritise professional development over data targets because we want our teachers to be satisfied in their work and judged fairly on their commitment to our school.
Our outcomes show that we are a successful school. We are also a growing school, our student numbers are robust and the whole-school cohort is over 1000 students. With a healthy financial picture and strong school governance in place, we are now seeking to expand our staff to create the best possible experience for our students every day, to develop their confidence and aspiration by surrounding them with inspiring adults delivering an exciting curriculum.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Colton Hills Community School is committed to ensuring the safeguarding of all our staff and students. Successful applicants will undergo an enhanced DBS Check and also an on line and social media check.
Applying for the job
Please complete the online application.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Apply for this jobAdditional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Colton Hills Community School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1131 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Colton Hills Community School website
- Email address
- officemanager@coltonhills.co.uk
- Phone number
- 01902 558420
WELCOME TO COLTON HILLS
Many Minds, One Mission
A community school is one which has the ethos of everyone working together as a family towards our shared goals, which can be summarised with our school values
PRIDE – Participation – Respect – Integrity- Diversity – Excellence
At Colton Hills we believe that every child is entitled to the highest quality learning experience, irrespective of their starting point.
There are no barriers to high achievement and no excuses for not succeeding.
In every lesson students are exposed to powerful knowledge and culturally rich experiences.
Every day we are learning and reflecting on how we have improved ourselves. Through this, we maximise academic attainment so students can go to and through university and thrive in a top profession. All students will leave Colton Hills highly numerate and literate with meaningful qualifications that prove this. They will also leave equipped with both the skills and self-belief to engage with the wider world so that they can change it for the better.
Every Child, Every Lesson, Every Day
We would now like very much for you to become a part of that community.
Colton Hills has been judged as a ‘Good’ school in both 2018 and 2023, and we are committed to improving that judgment in our next inspection – not for our own glory, but because we know we will be giving our students the best deal possible. The school encompasses a rich, harmonious and multicultural community and is committed to the development of all students, up to and including our growing sixth form.
The school is situated to the south of Wolverhampton’s city centre, on a site surrounded by green space and fantastic views across hills and fields. We also benefit greatly from a wide range of fantastic facilities for our staff and students, including an on-site swimming pool, AstroTurf pitch, dedicated Sixth Form block, flexible breakout spaces across the school and a large theatre often used by groups in our local community for performances. We are a school with a real family feel, with a strong House ethos that underpins our work.
We know that having successful students starts with having happy and well-supported staff. We are very much committed to our teachers having a fulfilling work-life balance, with an email policy that respects family time, careful management of our time budget to eliminate unnecessary meetings, a reduction in the amount of data we collect and an evolving marking policy designed to give teachers their lives back. We have adapted our appraisal system to prioritise professional development over data targets because we want our teachers to be satisfied in their work and judged fairly on their commitment to our school.
Our outcomes show that we are a successful school. We are also a growing school, our student numbers are robust and the whole-school cohort is over 1000 students. With a healthy financial picture and strong school governance in place, we are now seeking to expand our staff to create the best possible experience for our students every day, to develop their confidence and aspiration by surrounding them with inspiring adults delivering an exciting curriculum.
Colton Hills Community School has a successful past and every hope of a very bright future – we’re on a journey to being World Class.
Arranging a visit to Colton Hills Community School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email officemanager@coltonhills.co.uk.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Deputy Headteacher Pastoral (Maternity Cover)
Kings Heath Secondary School
Chamberlain Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B13 0QP
Deputy Headteacher - Relationships
The Telford Langley School
Duce Drive, Telford, Shropshire, TF4 3JS
Deputy Headteacher (Quality of Education)
Fortis Academy
Aldridge Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B44 8NU
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Wolverhampton and West Midlands