Deputy Headteacher

St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 9PY

31 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  23 February 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  23 January 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 Deputy Headteacher
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: L7 (£60,144) to L11 (£66,368)

What skills and experience we're looking for

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

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 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
• Make sure the school fulfils statutory duties regarding the SEND code of practice.

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

What the school offers its staff

Employee Assistance Programme

Telephone counselling and mental health support is available through our EAP

app with Sonder.

24/7 GP Service

Instant and 24/7 medical advice from registered nurses and access to virtual GP

appointments and prescriptions

Excellent Professional Development Opportunities:

Grow your skills and advance your career with our commitment to

providing outstanding professional development opportunities.

Supporters of the Blue Light card :

Enjoy a range of big savings on a whole variety of brands and services through

membership of the Blue Light card scheme.

Excellent Pension Scheme:

Secure your future with our excellent pension scheme, ensuring

financial stability in the long term.

Regular Learning Days:

Networking with peers off site with a range of inspirational, external speakers on

a termly basis.

Positive Work Environment:

Experience a positive work culture that values your contributions

and fosters a sense of belonging and fulfilment.

Opportunity to Make a Difference:

Be part of something meaningful by contributing to projects and

initiatives that have a positive impact on our community and beyond.

Staff Awards

Annual Staff Awards where outstanding performance and acknowleged and

awarded.

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

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all members of staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments will be made subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks, and the receipt of satisfactory references.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

St Columba's Deputy Headteacher (2).pdf - 2.82 MB (opens in new tab)

Deputy Headteachre job description.docx - 545 KB (opens in new tab)

About St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

• School type: Academy, Roman Catholic, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 414 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy website
• Email address: lena.matthews@bcwcat.co.uk
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-columba-s-catholic-primary-school-a-voluntary-academy

St. Columba’s prides itself in having a strong and supportive community with wonderful, enthusiastic children, who are well behaved. The school provides extensive professional development opportunities through the Blessed Christopher Wharton Catholic Academy Trust, the Diocese of Leeds and regional Teaching School hubs. Through our carefully planned provision for staff wellbeing, we demonstrate a genuine commitment to listening to the views of all. You will be fully supported in your chosen pathway for future career development.

St. Columba’s is an exciting place for anyone who is passionate about improving the life chances of young people. As a Class Teacher working in this school, you will have the opportunity to make a significant difference to the lives of our children and the community we serve.

Arranging a visit to St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email lena.matthews@bcwcat.co.uk.

School location

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