Deputy Headteacher/SENCo - Maternity Cover

Springmead Primary School, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 2HB

16 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  8 July 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  22 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Deputy headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £61,801.00 - £68,104.00 Annually (FTE)

Deputy Headteacher/SENCo - Maternity Cover job summary

This role is line-managed by the Headteacher working in partnership with the Local School Committee to:

Assist the Headteacher with the management and organisation of the school in seeking to achieve the highest standards of pupil achievement and school efficiency. To work with the Headteacher to develop and promote the vision, mission, values and core purpose of the school;

Establish the strategies through which they are to be achieved;

Manage staff and resources towards their achievement;

Monitor progress towards their achievement;

Lead, manage and oversee the strategic and day-to-day operation of the school SEND policy in line with the SEND Code of Practice.

The deputy head is required to liaise with the headteacher to assist in the leadership, organisation and management of the school:

To deputise for the headteacher in their absence

To lead key aspects of the development of the school including behaviour, mental health and wellbeing.

Shaping the future

Ensure the vision for the school is clearly articulated, shared, understood and acted upon effectively by all;

Motivate and work with others to create a shared culture and positive climate;

Work with individual staff and teams to translate the school vision into agreed objectives and operational plans which will promote and sustain school improvement;

To contribute to the School Development Plan by identifying appropriate priorities and targets; which ensure pupils make progress and achieve high standards, are safe and enjoy their learning and work.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection (including online safety and understanding the filtering and monitoring systems and processes in place);

To provide advice and support to other staff on child welfare, safeguarding and child protection matters, taking part in strategy discussions and inter-agency meetings, and/or supporting other staff to do so, and to contributing to the assessment of children;

Fulfil the requirements of the current Keeping Children Safe in Education Annex C.

Leading teaching and learning

Be an excellent role model to all teaching staff within the school and reflect a high level of professional practice in all aspects;

Demonstrate and articulate high expectations;

Monitor and evaluate classroom practice to identify improvement priorities;

Analyse and interpret school data to inform classroom practice across the school;

Take overall responsibility for the co-ordination of teaching support and monitoring the quality and standards of teaching and learning for pupils with SEND;

Encourage good working practices and provide leadership, direction and support to both teaching and support staff;

Ensure the effective transition of pupils new to the school and for those going to new settings, communicating with other SENCos to ensure continuity and progression.

Developing self and working with others

Manage positive working relationships with all staff;

Motivate and challenge all staff to maintain high expectations of learning and behaviour;

Develop and maintain effective strategies and procedures for staff induction, professional development and performance review;

Provide support to all staff, including but not limited to trainees, ECTs, supply teachers, teachers and teaching assistants;

Collaborate and work with colleagues and other relevant professionals within and beyond the school.

Managing the School

Assist in managing the day to day organisation of the school;

Implement evidence-based school development plans and policies for the organisation and its facilities;

Ensure that policies and practices take account of national and local policies and initiatives;

Assist in co-ordinating, facilitating and monitoring Continuing Professional Development throughout the school in line with identified school improvement priorities;

Produce and co-ordinate timetables throughout the school;

Assist the Headteacher in developing systems that support positive behavior;

Direct, supervise and provide support to support staff assigned to them and, where appropriate, other teachers;

Contribute to the recruitment selection appointment and professional development of other teachers and support staff.

Securing accountability

Manage staff roles and ensure that responsibilities are clearly defined, understood and agreed;

Work with the Local School Committee to enable them to meet their statutory responsibilities;

Present the school's performance and other school initiatives to a range of audiences; parents, Local School Committee members, school improvement officers and other external agencies;

Monitor quality and standards of resources delegated to them.

Strengthening the community

Work with other agencies to ensure learning experiences and opportunities for pupils are integrated into the wider community;

Build the reputation of the school with the wider community;

Create and maintain partnerships with parents and carers to support and improve pupils' achievement and personal development;

Support the school by regular attendance at fundraising and social events for pupils and families.

Safeguarding

Work with the Headteacher to ensure that the child protection policies and procedures are fully implemented and followed by all staff;

Ensure that sufficient resources and time are allocated to enable staff to discharge their child protection related responsibilities effectively.

Additionally

To deputise for the Headteacher in the event of their absence;

To undertake such tasks as may be reasonably required by the Headteacher for the benefit of the school, subject to consultation;

Contribute to and support the overall aims and ethos of the Trust, and provide best outcomes for pupils.

This job description will be reviewed at least annually as part of your Performance development programme.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and staff and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants must declare even "spent" convictions and cautions as this roles could involve working with a vulnerable group. Successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Check. Please note that we are required to carry out social media checks on all candidates who are invited for interview.

It is our policy to consider applications as they arrive; we therefore recommend that applicants submit applications as soon as possible as posts may be filled before the closing dates.

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 Springmead Primary School

• School type: Academy, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 263 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Springmead Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/springmead-primary-school

Springmead Primary School is a vibrant and caring two-form entry primary school set on the outskirts of leafy Welwyn Garden City. The school has its own nursery provision as part of its Early Years Setting. It is a member of the Spiral Partnership Trust group of schools. We are committed to high academic standards, high expectations and high aspirations which drives our belief in “Believe, Achieve, Succeed”. We pay above the national rate of pay, invest heavily in training and development and offer addition benefits, such as personal days to take during term time, private health care options and nursery vouchers. We would welcome an application from interested candidates who wish to become part of Springmead and the 'Spiral’ family.

School location

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