Deputy Headteacher

Unity Primary Academy, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3QJ

10 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  15 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  5 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Deputy headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £60,145.00 - £69,596.00 Annually (Actual) L7-L13

Deputy Headteacher job summary

Safeguarding, Safer Recruitment and Data Protection 

At REAch2 we recognise that those who work in an academy are in a unique position in their care of children. The responsibility for all staff to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare, as stated in Section 175 of the Education Act (2002) is one that is central to our ethos, our policies and our actions. All children are deserving of the highest levels of care and safeguarding, regardless of their individual characteristics or circumstances, and we are committed to applying our policies to ensure effective levels of safeguarding and care are afforded to all our pupils.  

We will seek to recruit the best applicant for the job based on the abilities, qualifications, experience as measured against the job description and person specification. The recruitment and selection of staff will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be requested for all successful candidates, including a Children's Barred List check if the role meets the criteria for regulated activity.

For more information about our safer recruitment processes, please click here for our Safer Recruitment Policy.

 All information is stored securely, and any information supplied by unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed through a confidential waste system six months after the decision has been communicated, in accordance with our information and records retention policy. 

The Trust ensures all applicant data is stored and processed appropriately. For further details on how your information will be managed during the recruitment process please refer to our Privacy Notice for Job Applications.  

Unity Primary Academy is looking for an inspiring, ambitious and highly motivated Deputy Headteacher or senior leader ready for the next stage of their progression to join our vibrant, inclusive school community. You will be at the heart of our Vision and be the driver of continued development securing great outcomes at every sphere of school life. Our Deputy Headteacher is someone that sees opportunity in each day, supported by outstanding teams delivering the best for our pupils built on strong relational foundations.Our school has made incredible progress over the last few years with an excellent reputation in the local community and our new Deputy Headteacher will be working alongside the Headteacher in delivering our key promise: Giving Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day.We are proud of our nurturing ethos, our high expectations for and of every child, and our belief that education transform lives. As we continue to grow and strengthen our provision, we are seeking a leader who shares our passion for excellence and our commitment to unity, kindness, and ambition.

The role of Deputy Headteacher will require you to work with the Headteacher to embed outstanding teaching and learning across the school through the development of the curriculum and staff. You will be required to deputise and lead in the absence of the Headteacher.

In particular, successful applicants should have:

• The relevant degree and QTS
• At least four years experience of teaching in the primary setting
• Experience of successful Ofsted inspections
• Evidence of further effective professional development
• Experience of successfully managing and leading a team
• Be aware and compliant with the monitoring and evaluation process
• Be able to contribute to the SEF and SDP
• Have a proven record of raising educational standards by using data and have the ability to set targets to achieve this

You should:

• Be driven by values and able to articulate significant evidence of relational leadership
• Have strong leadership skills that result in the provision of first-class teaching and learning opportunities for all pupils
• Be able to develop outstanding practice in teaching and learning, setting targets for continuous improvement and provide support through appraisal, coaching, planning and delivering CPD on matters of learning and teaching as required
• Be extremely well organised and able to work independently and able to prioritise accordingly
• Be a supportive member of the team and able to bring out the best in others
• Plan, coordinate and execute school operations based on the needs of the school
• Lead teams that are highly ambitious and have a high presence in and around the school, securing ongoing success and improvements at all levels of school development.

For further information about the role come and visit our school! To book your visit or for an informal discussion, please contact the school office. School visits are encouraged but are by appointment only.

Why work with us

There are over 60 schools within the Trust which means we can offer opportunities including:

▶️Collaboration across other REAch2 schools, both locally and nationally.
 
▶️ Specialist curriculum support and training from our Trust experts - providing a flightpath for professional development
 
▶️ A  support package for staff wellbeing

You’ll be working for a Trust with big ambitions for all our schools to be 'great'. We want to be national leaders in sustainability; to transform our teaching and learning through digital transformation and to ensure social justice is at the heart of what we do.

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 Unity Primary Academy

• School type: Academies, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 449 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Unity Primary Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/unity-primary-academy

Unity Primary Academy is situated within the Greenstead Estate of Colchester with close links to the University of Essex, Colchester Borough Council as well as Essex County Council as well as our cluster REAch2 schools. We are proud of our achievements to date, and we are continually seeking to invest in the futures of our pupils, families and staff. We are embarking on a journey of excellence and have the highest aspirations and expectations in all to help create opportunities to become life long learners for our students.

At Unity we believe in giving every child, every chance, every day and approach this by ensuring we keep the REAch2 Touchstones at the heart of our child centred work. The school is well resourced and has extensive grounds that allow us to provide varied learning experiences to engage and motivate our children and the school has recently been awarded a Learning Outside the Classroom Silver Award and we engage with organisations such as the Countryside Trust to bring learning to life. We are also investing in our outdoor provision and are creating additional opportunities to learn life skills and thrive where ever possible.

We are a caring employer who invests in the future of our employees, as only through their excellence can we deliver excellence for the children and families whom we serve. To see more information about the school, please visit our website Unity Primary academy or the REAch2 Website.

As a member of the REAch2 Trust, a national family of primary academies, Unity Primary Academy is committed to raising standards and achieving excellent for all pupils whatever their background or circumstance. The Trust provides a strong culture of collaboration and support, together with high expectations for staff and pupils alike. Unity Primary Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people / vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory written references.

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