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Deputy Headteacher (Attendance and Culture)
Cheney School, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 7QH21 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
4 February 2026 at 7am
Date listed
14 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Deputy headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £80,655.00 - £88,951.00 Annually (Actual) Leadership Scale (19 - 23)
Deputy Headteacher (Attendance and Culture) job summary
This role is about ‘coming to school, and the reasons for coming to school’. The role will encompass attendance improvement (currently not good enough), and all the positive reasons to come to school: enrichment, extra-curricular activities, trips, careers, the House system, personal development and more. A huge amount of excellent things are already in place; this is an opportunity to make them even better.
A deputy head at Cheney must be in tune with the orderly, but liberal ethos of the school; we like each other, and we like the children, especially when they test us. In addition, the successful candidate must be fearsomely efficient, emotionally resilient and happy to make independent decisions; the job will be very busy, but equally rewarding. It is not a job for a bureaucrat, or someone who hides in their office. If you have a track record of effective and efficient leadership at a senior level in schools, and you believe in education with genuine warmth, and minimal jargon, please apply.
Cheney School is thriving. There is a culture of collaboration, support and care throughout the school, leading to higher standards and greater job satisfaction every year. We offer a positive workplace with an exceptionally supportive and open-minded staff body, with relationships rooted in genuine respect between colleagues, and between students and staff. Our school motto is “think for yourself; act for others”; these are not just empty words, but are an essential part of the way Cheney runs. Our CPD offer is second to none, and the career progression for staff at all levels at Cheney is excellent. In particular, we offer the chance to work in a true comprehensive school, with just the right balance of variety, challenge, amazement and joy.
If you would like to have a confidential conversation with the headteacher, Rob Pavey, about the role, prior to application, then please email rpavey@cheneyschool.org or telephone 01865 765726 and ask to speak to Kate Lagden, the head’s PA.
The school reserves the right to consider and interview candidates ahead of the closing date if appropriate. An offer may be made to an exceptional candidate in this instance.
Cheney School is part of the River Learning Trust (RLT)
Education has the power to change lives, communities and society for the better. At RLT we believe that we can achieve more for our pupils, trainees, staff and communities by working together rather than alone. Schools in RLT are united by a common belief in the benefits of working together, and by our commitment to shared principles.
OUR VISION is for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously and sustainably: to be better faster together.
OUR ‘WHY?’ is that children and young people ‘only get one go’ in school and therefore as part of RLT we aim to ensure the best possible ‘go’ for our pupils.
OUR ‘HOW?’ is through the highest support and challenge for our schools and each other, underpinned by our principles.
Our employees benefit from a wide variety of support including extensive continuing professional learning and development opportunities, wellbeing and staff networks and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS) for all staff. For more information on what it is like to work for the Trust, and the benefits you could access, please see our “Working in RLT” guide.
This role includes regulated activity relevant to children.
The River Learning Trust and Cheney School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates. Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link: List of offences that are not filtered.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Cheney School and The River Learning Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism; all staff must ensure that the highest priority is given to following the guidance and regulations to safeguard children and young people. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and obtain any other statutorily required clearance. Employment will also be conditional on the receipt of at least two acceptable references (1 from current/latest employer) and evidence of the formal qualifications required for the role.
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 Cheney School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1704 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Cheney School website
Cheney School is a popular, high-performing school located in the heart of Oxford serving a diverse community of students. We are what a comprehensive school was designed to be; we are very proud of our inclusive ethos and the fact that we provide a liberal, outward-looking education to students from all backgrounds, and a caring and supportive community for staff.
We are committed to continuous professional development and have wide-ranging training and development opportunities.
School location
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