Deputy Headteacher - Achievement and Student Experience
Sir John Thursby Community College, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2AT25 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
20 April 2026 at 9am
Date listed
26 March 2026
Job details
Job role
- Deputy headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L19-L23
What skills and experience we're looking for
DEPUTY HEADTEACHER -Achievement and Student Experience (Pastoral strategic lead)
“We are characterised by how we treat our people”
We are incredibly proud of our ambitious, curriculum focused, research-driven school. Our vision is built around the principles of ambition, respect and belonging and we have a strong commitment to the development of our staff as outstanding professionals.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a proven and experienced leader to make a difference as Deputy Headteacher. We are looking for an outstanding leader who is ready to work as part of an excellent and established team to drive our strategic vision. The specific responsibilities in the post are around strategic leadership of student experience, pastoral support and achievement but we are keen to hear from outstanding leaders who can continue to drive us forward. The role arises due to the expansion of the existing team and will join a second deputy with strategic responsibility for Teaching, learning, research and continuous improvement. It will involve supporting the Headteacher in the oversight of the strategic vision for our school as well as the development and leadership of our talented team of Assistant Headteachers and wider leadership team.
We are looking for a driven and passionate leader with the inspiration, motivation, vision and expertise to:
- Continue to develop, communicate and deliver the strategic vision for the school
- Provide dynamic and professional leadership and management of the school
- Ensure that achievement rises across all subjects based on the support of an achievement-focused structure for student support and student experience
What the school offers its staff
It is our ambition to become a beacon of excellence where our learners don’t just achieve great results but also grow and develop into successful and caring young people. We believe that all our students and staff should be known, valued and loved and our success as a school is built on strong positive relationships between all members of our community. We value our staff and invest in their professional development, believing that everyone has the ability to become great at what they do. This post would be ideal for anyone considering Headship. We are an oversubscribed secondary school and we are fortunate to work in a modern and well resourced learning environment. Our students are at the centre of all we do and our staff have a passion for improving the life chances of the young people and the community we serve.
Further information about the job
Further details and application form are available from the school website or Lynsey Clayton (on behalf of the Headteacher) as detailed below.
We welcome visitors to the school. To arrange a time to visit and meet with the headteacher please contact his PA Susan Rigg-s.rigg@sirjohnthursby.lancs.sch.uk or telephone 01282 682313 ext: 21006).
For application information please:
- download from the ‘vacancies’ section on the college website: www.sirjohnthursby.lancs.sch.uk
- or emailrecruitment@sirjohnthursby.lancs.sch.uk
- or telephone 01282 682313
Send your completed Application form to: recruitment@sirjohnthursby.lancs.sch.uk
Closing date: 9am Monday 20th April 2026
Shortlisting will take place Monday 27th April 2026
Interview process date: Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th May 2026
Commitment to safeguarding
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure and a range of other recruitment checks. Please note that in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 an online search will be carried out as part of our due diligence on shortlisted candidates.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Sir John Thursby Community College
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1118 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Sir John Thursby Community College website
- Email address
- l.clayton@sirjohnthursby.lancs.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 01282 682313
Background Information and Introduction from the Headteacher
I am incredibly proud to be leading a committed team of staff in our vibrant, ambitious and progressive community School.
We are characterised by how we treat our people. Everything we do is driven by our strategic vision and our ambition to be a beacon of excellence for our students and families. We are research driven and our work is linked to our core values of Ambition, Respect and Belonging. We are passionate about learning and we have a genuine commitment to ensuring our staff have autonomy, within a framework of a respectful, professional environment.
Sir John Thursby Community College is a mixed 11-16, multi-cultural, fully inclusive school which values all students, staff and our community partners. We have over 1,100 students on roll and over 150 staff enjoying working together to provide the best for everyone. In our latest Ofsted report in April 2023, the school was graded ‘good’ in every area and inspectors commented that the pupils ‘enjoy attending this thriving and popular school'
People and relationships are at the heart of what we do. One of our key values is that all members of our school community are known, valued and loved. We are firmly committed to ensuring that all our staff have a positive work/life balance and we give all our teaching staff a minimum of 20% non-contact time. In our 2025 staff survey, 97% of our staff said they would recommend SJT as a great place to work.
We have a highly ambitious curriculum with over 70% of students following the EBacc subjects. Our results are consistently strong, and students make excellent progress from their starting points. Our behaviour system is built around the principles of relational practice and students behave well.
I would encourage you to come and visit SJT to see why we all believe that it is a special place to work. I am always keen to show people around our school so would welcome any contact for an appointment to see us in action.
Mr Matt Renshaw - Headteacher
SJT is committed to safeguarding and expects all applicants to share this commitment. All staff are required to adhere to our safeguarding policies and procedures and regularly undertake a full enhanced DBS check.
Arranging a visit to Sir John Thursby Community College
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email l.clayton@sirjohnthursby.lancs.sch.uk.
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