Headteacher

City of Derby Academy, Derby, Derbyshire, DE24 3AR

24 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  20 April 2026 at 1pm

• Date listed

  27 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £103,030.00 - £119,350.00 Annually (FTE) Leadership Pay Range L29 to L35 (£103,030 to £119,350)

Headteacher job summary

This role is far more than a leadership position; it is an opportunity to shape the future of a vibrant community and make a lasting impact. You will play a pivotal role in embedding our values, aligning our vision with daily practice, and ensuring that the school continues its journey of improvement with ambition, purpose and clarity.

As Headteacher, you will lead with visibility, integrity and strategic focus. You will work with the Trust, staff, students and families to drive improvement, build a culture of excellence and ensure that City of Derby Academy remains a place where every child is supported to thrive.

Your responsibilities will include

• Leading the school with integrity, ambition and moral purpose
• Setting clear strategic direction and ensuring consistent implementation
• Building a culture where inclusion, aspiration and strong relationships drive success
• Working collaboratively with the Trust and wider partners to strengthen the school’s offer
• Ensuring every child benefits from an ambitious curriculum, strong teaching and meaningful enrichment

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking a Headteacher who:

• Leads with integrity, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to excellence
• Is prepared to embrace the challenges and rewards of leading a diverse, high-profile school
• Sets and sustains high standards every day, ensuring that strong practice becomes the norm
• Is driven by a moral purpose to meet the needs of every child, especially those who are most disadvantaged and those with SEND
• Values and champions personal development, character and wellbeing, recognising their importance alongside academic achievement
• Has the presence, emotional intelligence and skill to unite, motivate and empower staff across a wide-ranging team
• Embraces collaboration with the Trust, families, external partners and wider community
• Brings the clarity, resilience and ambition needed to drive improvement and secure exceptional outcomes for all students

About City of Derby Academy
City of Derby Academy is a school where every student and every member of staff is encouraged and supported to realise their full potential. Our culture is grounded in high expectations, strong and respectful relationships, and a deep commitment to inclusion.

Serving a wonderfully diverse community with more than 40 home languages, our vision is simple yet profound: to improve the life chances of every child.

We offer an ambitious curriculum, exceptional pastoral support and a wide range of enrichment opportunities, from educational visits and clubs to our thriving Combined Cadet Force.

Students develop academically, personally and socially, gaining the knowledge, skills and character they need for the next stage of their education, employment or training.

City of Derby Academy is a school where:

• Diversity is celebrated, and inclusion underpins everything we do
• Students feel safe, supported and able to thrive
• High expectations drive achievement, ambition and pride
• Relationships are strong, respectful and purposeful
• Staff wellbeing and professional development are valued, and colleagues are proud to work here

City of Derby Academy is a place of possibility; a community united by the belief that every child deserves the very best opportunities, every single day.

Why Join Tapestry?
As part of our Trust, you’ll benefit from:

• A supporting network of professionals who share your commitment to excellence
• High-quality professional development and career progression opportunities
• A caring, inclusive organisation that values staff wellbeing and work-life balance
• Access to a range of employee benefits designed to promote health and wellbeing

This is your chance to be part of something special. Help us shape the future and make a lasting impact.

Tapestry Learning Partnership reserves the right to close this vacancy early than the date advertised.

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 City of Derby Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 913 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: City of Derby Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/city-of-derby-academy-derby

At the City of Derby Academy, we believe that academic outcomes are important and our expectation is that we will achieve national progress standards. However, we do not measure the success of our students by their examination results alone. Students access a balanced curriculum and we continually strive to develop characteristics such as self-confidence, self-belief and self-esteem so our students are fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

We believe that when the school, parents/carers and students share high expectations every child will achieve great things. This includes having an excellent attitude centred on respect, high standards of appearance, good manners, full attendance and punctuality.

School location

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