Senior Deputy Headteacher

Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form, Braintree, Essex, CM7 1WY

23 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  15 May 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  22 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Deputy headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time: Full time, Permanent
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: Leadership 19 - 23

What skills and experience we're looking for

Are you heading for headship?

This role will get you there.

We are looking for an ambitious senior leader who wants to run a school — not just support one. If headship is your goal within the next two to four years, this is the role that will prepare you for it.

The opportunity in one sentence:our Headteacher holds a trust-wide executive role across our secondary schools, which means you will lead Notley day to day with the authority, visibility, and accountability both alongside the Headteacher and deputising for him.

What you will actually do:

You will have operational leadership of a secondary school of 1,300 students — behaviour, attendance, pastoral systems, safeguarding, daily decision-making, and staff leadership. You will deputise formally for the Headteacher. You will present to governors. You will be the face of the school.

This is not a supportive number two role. It is substantive, stretching, and genuinely preparatory for headship.

About the school:

Notley has been on a deliberate improvement journey since 2024 — 100% subject specialist staffing, curriculum redesign, a new school identity, and a culture built around belonging and achievement. There is real work still to do, and we want a leader who is energised by that, not deterred.

Who we’re looking for:

You are probably already a deputy headteacher with proven impact. You lead confidently, think strategically, and are ready for more responsibility than your current role offers. NPQH underway or completed is a strong advantage. Experience in behaviour and culture, attendance improvement, or pastoral leadership is particularly relevant.

What you will gain:

Direct mentorship from a Headteacher and Trust Executive Leader. Exposure to trust-wide school improvement across four schools. A role that makes headship applications genuinely compelling. And a school community that will know your name.

What the school offers its staff

To find out more, have a confidential conversation or to arrange a visit to the school, please contact our retained consultant Ross Laird at Academicis on 01223 907979 or 07901 585959 or via email atrlaird@academicis.co.uk.

Bridge Academy Trust may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

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

This Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, medical clearance and satisfactory references. Bridge Academy Trust welcomes applications from those of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnic groups.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 19
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1255 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form website
• Email address: hunterr@bridgeacademytrust.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/notley-high-school-and-braintree-sixth-form

At Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form, we are an ambitious inclusive 11-19 mixed comprehensive school that places the journey of the child at the centre of everything we do - learning together and succeeding together to be the best that we can be.

Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form is part of the Bridge Academy Trust: a collegiate and collaborative Trust, where, first and foremost, each school is a place of (high quality) learning, where young people ENJOY, ENRICH & ACHIEVE. The core purpose is to provide high quality continuity of every child’s journey through education from 3 to 19, with a community and school-led school improvement approach and long-term sustainable strategy.

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