Deputy Headteacher – Leading Whole School Improvement

Castleford Park Junior Academy, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 4BB

15 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  13 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  28 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Deputy headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £61,534.00 - £67,898.00 Annually (FTE) Leadership Scale L8 - L12

Deputy Headteacher – Leading Whole School Improvement job summary

We are seeking an outstanding Deputy Headteacher - Leading Whole School Improvement to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our Academy. Are you an ambitious, compassionate, and strategic leader with a relentless commitment to inclusion and excellence for every pupil?

We are looking for a leader who can champion high expectations, remove barriers to learning, and ensure that all pupils achieve exceptional outcomes academically, socially and personally.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and inspirational senior leader to drive excellence across Key Stage 2. The successful candidate will have a strong track record of raising standards through high-quality teaching, effective coaching and robust quality assurance.

You will play a key role in shaping and evaluating a broad, ambitious curriculum, supporting inclusive and adaptive practice, and strengthening teaching and learning for all pupils, including disadvantaged learners. With strong emotional intelligence and a commitment to staff development, you will provide clear direction, uphold high levels of accountability and contribute to a nurturing, aspirational school culture aligned with our vision and values.

We are looking for someone who can:

• Drive improvement in standards, lead rigorous quality assurance and deliver educational excellence
• Support a commitment to research into school improvement and implementing high-quality pedagogy through coaching
• Continue to research, implement and model good practice to encourage improvements in pupil behaviour and independence
• Develop and deliver a well-balanced and ambitious curriculum, supporting subject leaders to accurately evaluate its success
• Review, understand and communicate educational legislation, innovation and developments.
• Support Pastoral Team’s and Support Staff to achieve excellence, advance teaching and learning, and promote learning and emotional resilience
• Support the SEND Team to achieve consistently high levels of inclusive and adaptive practice that raises the achievement of disadvantaged pupils
• Provide strategic advice and support to the safeguarding team as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Provide clear direction and shared purpose for all pupils, staff and stakeholders, in accordance with the Academy’s vision and values
• Commit to personal development for all staff, including themselves

You will be:

• An experienced senior leader with a proven track record of improving outcomes for all pupils but specifically able to implement strategies that secure progress for pupils with SEND and additional needs
• Knowledgeable in national inclusion policy, Ofsted requirements, safeguarding, and SEND legislation
• An excellent communicator who can build strong relationships with staff, governors, families and external partners
• A strategic thinker with the ability to inspire, challenge and empower colleagues
• A tenacious, values-led leader committed to excellence for all.

What can you expect from us?

As a valued leader within our Trust, you can expect:

• Unwavering support and a culture of collaboration: you will benefit from exceptional support from our executive leaders, leadership teams, and dedicated Trust specialists across key areas including curriculum development, safeguarding, inclusion, governance, HR, finance, estates, IT, and compliance. At Castleford Trust, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do - your success is our shared success.
• Wellbeing and Community: from Day 1 your wellbeing matters to us. You will have access to our Employee Assistance Programme for you and family members. Throughout our local community, you will be able to join local fitness and swimming facilities at a discounted rate, and each year be able to take advantage of our onsite health checks. We regularly review and update our services to meet the needs of colleagues at all stages in their life and careers.
• Working together to achieve excellence for all: all the academies within the Trust have a strong moral purpose and seek to have a positive impact on the communities that they serve and to support families to overcome any social disadvantage. We are deeply committed to our values of Care, Aspire and Succeed and have very high expectations and aspirations for pupils and colleagues alike.

Closing Date for Applications: Wednesday 13th May 12:00pm

Shortlisting and Interviews: Shortlisting will take place following the closing date, with a target to interview w/c Monday 18th May 2026.

References: References will be taken up shortly after shortlisting and prior to interview using the contact details you supply on your application.

Equal Opportunities: Castleford Trust is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnership. Castleford Trust welcomes applications from anyone who meets the criteria for the role.

Safeguarding and DBS Clearance: Castleford Trust are committed to promoting safeguarding and the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Therefore, all appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks and an enhanced DBS check.

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

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.

About Castleford Park Junior Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 7 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 414 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 7 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Castleford Park Junior Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/castleford-park-junior-academy

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