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Deputy Headteacher

Medina Primary School, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 3NH

27 days remaining to apply

Start date details
Spring term 2027
Closing date
6 October 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
9 September 2026

Job details

Job role: Deputy headteacher
Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2
Working pattern: Full time: Full time
Contract type: Permanent
Pay scale: Leadership Scale 5 - 12

What skills and experience we're looking for

Job description: deputy headteacher

Medina Primary School is committed to creating a diverse workforce. We’ll consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, religion, belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership.

Job details

Closing Date : 6th October 2026

Interview Date 13th October 2026

Salary: Pay range leadership scale 5 - 12

Contract type: Full time permanent

Reporting to: Headteacher

Responsible for: Deputy Headship with inclusion

Main purpose

The deputy headteacher, under the direction of the headteacher, will take a major role in:

Formulating the aims and objectives of the school
Establishing policies for achieving these aims and objectives
Managing staff and resources to that end
Monitoring progress towards the achievement of the school’s aims and objectives

If the headteacher is absent, the deputy headteacher will deputise, as directed by the governing board.

The deputy headteacher will also be expected to fulfil the professional responsibilities of a headteacher, as set out in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD).

Qualities

The deputy headteacher will:

Uphold public trust in school leadership and maintain high standards of ethics, behaviour and professional conduct
Build positive and respectful relationships across the school community
Serve in the best interests of the school’s pupils

Duties and responsibilities

Key areas of responsibility will include:

Overview of inclusion
Relational practice
Curriculum
Safeguarding as Deputy DSL
Assessment

School culture and behaviour

Under the direction of the headteacher, the deputy headteacher will:

Work alongside the senior leadership team (SLT) and other staff members to create a culture where pupils experience a positive and enriching school life
Uphold educational standards in order to prepare pupils from all backgrounds for their next phase of education and life
Ensure a culture of staff professionalism
Encourage high standards of behaviour from pupils, built on relational practice, rules and routines that are understood by staff and pupils, and clearly demonstrated by all adults in school
Use consistent and fair approaches to managing behaviour, in line with the school’s behaviour policy

Teaching, curriculum and assessment

Under the direction of the headteacher, the deputy headteacher will:

Establish and sustain high-quality teaching across all subjects and phases, based on evidence
Ensure teaching is underpinned by subject expertise
Effectively use formative assessment to inform strategy and decisions
Ensure the teaching of a broad, structured and coherent curriculum
Establish curriculum leadership, including subject leaders with relevant expertise and access to professional networks and communities
Use valid, reliable and proportionate approaches to assessing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum
Ensure the use of evidence-informed approaches to reading so that all pupils are taught to read

Additional and special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities

Under the direction of the headteacher, the deputy headteacher will:

Promote a culture and practices that enables all pupils to access the curriculum
Have ambitious expectations for all pupils with SEN and disabilities
Make sure the school works effectively with parents, carers and professionals to identify additional needs and provide support and adaptation where appropriate

Organisational management and school improvement

Under the direction of the headteacher, the deputy headteacher will:

Establish and sustain the school’s ethos and strategic direction together with the governing board and through consultation with the school community
Establish and oversee systems, processes and policies so the school can operate effectively
Ensure staff and pupils’ safety and welfare through effective approaches to safeguarding, as part of duty of care
Manage staff with due attention to workload
Ensure rigorous approaches to identifying, managing and mitigating risk
Allocate financial resources appropriately, efficiently and effectively
Identify problems and barriers to school effectiveness, and develop strategies for school improvement that are realistic, timely and suited to the school’s context
Make sure these school improvement strategies are effectively implemented

Professional development

Under the direction of the headteacher, the deputy headteacher will:

Ensure staff have access to appropriate, high standard professional development opportunities
Keep up to date with developments in education
Seek training and continuing professional development to meet needs

Governance, accountability and working in partnership

Under the direction of the headteacher, the deputy headteacher will:

Understand and welcome the role of effective governance, including accepting responsibility
Ensure that staff understand their professional responsibilities and are held to account
Ensure the school effectively and efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties
Work successfully with other schools and organisations
Maintain working relationships with fellow professionals and colleagues to improve educational outcomes for all pupils

Other areas of responsibility

To lead on the relational practice journey of the school
To support and line manage teaching assistants across the school

Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the deputy headteacher will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role.

What the school offers its staff

What Medina Primary School can offer you

Medina Primary School is committed to maintaining an ethos that supports staff health and wellbeing, treating all employees fairly and consistently.
Support includes measures such as no expectation to receive or reply to emails outside of work hours, dedicated staff rooms/offices, and quiet working spaces.
Further support offers access to confidential emotional counselling, such as a free 24-hour helpline provided by the Education Support Partnership.
We also provide staff with training to ensure they have the necessary skills and competencies, and encourage staff to look after their own wellbeing.
Additionally, every member of school staff is able to take one Wellbeing Day (or 2 half days) out of school in the academic year, as a token of thanks for everybody’s hard work and dedication.

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

Please complete the online application.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Apply for this job

About Medina Primary School

Organisation type: Local authority maintained school, ages 4 to 11
Education phase: Primary school
Size: 204 pupils enrolled
Age range: 4 to 11
Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
Website: Medina Primary School website
Email address: admin@medina.portsmouth.sch.uk
Phone number: 02392375475
See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/medina-primary-school

Are you ready to lead with connection and make a transformative impact?We are seeking an exceptional Deputy Head Teacher to join Medina Primary School at an extraordinarily exciting phase in our journey. As a small 1-form entry school with a strong, close-knit community, this key leadership role offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of our school.At Medina Primary School, we place relational practice at the heart of everything we do. We believe that strong, trusting relationships foster the ideal environment for high academic achievement, personal well-being, and mutual respect. As our school continues to develop, our commitment to an inclusive, relationship-centered culture remains unwavering for our children, staff, and families.This is a thrilling time of development for Medina, offering a vibrant landscape for an ambitious leader to make a meaningful mark starting in January 2027.Working collaboratively across the leadership team, you will champion our relational ethos, inspire colleagues, and nurture positive connections across our expanding school community. We are looking for an empathetic, forward-thinking leader who models relational practice and strives for excellence in all aspects of school life.If you possess the vision, passion, and relational leadership skills to empower our growing school, we would love to receive your application!
As the new Deputy Headteacher you will:

Have an effective leadership style that develops a positive culture amongst staff and children

Possess a dedication to providing children with the best education possible based on research evidence and have the vision, passion and proven track record in school improvement to ensure significant improvements in performance across the school

Be someone with the ability to motivate and inspire children, staff and parents with a strong sense of teamwork and can lead by example, influencing decision-making and shaping policies

Be aspirational, with an uncompromising commitment to improving educational outcomes for all children

Key areas of responsibility will include:

Overview of inclusion

Relational Practice

Curriculum

Safeguarding as Deputy DSL

Assessment

Whether you are seeking your first Deputy Headteacher post or an experienced school leader looking for the next challenge in your career, if you are committed to championing excellence for all, we want to hear from you.To find out more about our school, please visit www.medina.portsmouth.sch.uk
School tours are warmly welcomed, and interested candidates are encouraged to contact the school office to arrange a visit.

Arranging a visit to Medina Primary School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email admin@medina.portsmouth.sch.uk.

School location

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