Deputy Headteacher

Location: St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Pemberton Road, Blackhill, DH8 8JD

Grade:    Leadership L6 – L10 (£53,380 – £58,959 per annum)

Hours:    Full time, Permanent

Required from 1^st September 2024.

Applications are invited from practising and committed Catholics for the post of Deputy Headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Blackhill, to lead the school in the next exciting phase of its development.

St Mary’s is proud to be part of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, a family of secondary, middle, primary and first schools in Durham, Gateshead, Northumberland and Sunderland. Bishop Wilkinson is the largest Catholic Education Trust in the North East of England, comprising of 47 schools.

Our Trust is committed to the support and development of all staff. We will ensure that our new Deputy Headteacher is nurtured by the education team so that they feel fully equipped to flourish in their new role.

The governors are looking for an inspirational classroom teacher to work in partnership with the newly appointed Headteacher to take St Mary’s into the next stage of its development. The successful candidate will be warmly welcomed by an incredibly committed staff team into our vibrant and thriving school, situated on the outskirts of Consett in Blackhill.

The children are at the centre of all that we do at St Mary’s. We aim to provide a stimulating learning environment in which each child feels valued and can fulfil their academic potential. We have designed our provision to develop the moral, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs of our children at each stage in their development and we are focussed on living out our mission.

A Christian ethos lies at the heart of St Mary’s Catholic School community, with particular emphasis being placed upon the nurturing in each child of a knowledge and love of the Catholic faith. We foster relationships which reflect our values and attitudes of care, respect and trust between children, staff, governors, parents and parishioners. We strive to enable each child to grow; aspiring to excellence and beyond the limits of potential.

We wish our new Deputy Headteacher to be a great people person. Someone who can lead by example, motivate a team and is driven to make St Mary’s the best possible place to be for our pupils and staff.

In line with diocesan policy, we need our new Deputy Headteacher to work in partnership with the Headteacher to:

• Establish and sustain a Christ centred vision embodied in the school’s Catholic mission, ethos and strategic direction in partnership with the parish and Trust, those responsible for governance and through consultation with the school community and Diocese.
• Establish and sustain high-quality, expert teaching across all subjects and phases, built on an evidence-informed understanding of effective teaching and how pupils learn.
• Ensure high standards of pupil behaviour through the promotion of the virtues and courteous conduct in accordance with the school’s behaviour policy.
• Establish and sustain ethos, culture and practices rooted in the distinctive characteristics of Catholic education that enable pupils to access the curriculum and learn effectively.
• Prioritise the professional development of staff, ensuring effective planning, delivery and evaluation which is consistent with the approaches laid out in the standard for teachers’ professional development.
• Ensure the protection and safety of pupils and staff through effective approaches to safeguarding, as part of the duty of care.
• Work alongside the Headteacher to careful and effective implementation of improvement strategies, which lead to sustained school improvement over time.
• Commit their school to work successfully with other Catholic schools and other schools and organisations in a climate of mutual challenge and support.
• Establish and sustain a professional working relationship with those responsible for governance which is inspired by a Christ centred vision of human formation.
• Be one of the school’s Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.
• Lead teaching and learning as a classroom practitioner with a teaching responsibility.
• Facilitate, support and monitor the overall progress and development of our children, in particular those with additional needs (SEND).

The successful candidate will have:

• Secure understanding of the distinctive nature of the Catholic school and Catholic education.
• Evidence of appropriate professional development for the role of Deputy Headteacher.
• Had active and effective leadership of a team/key stage/curriculum area/department.
• Had experience of and ability to contribute to staff development (e.g. coaching, mentoring, INSET for staff).
• Significant teaching experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

How to Apply:

For an application form and further details about this vacancy please visit our website http://bwcet.com/vacancies/ where applications can be completed online.

Visits to the school are welcome and arranged on request. Please email Mrs S Pinkerton, School Business Manager smb@smb.bwcet.com to request a school visit or, for further information.

Closing date: 7^th March 2024

Shortlisting date: 12^th March 2024

Liturgy and School Based Activities and Formal Interview: 21^st March 2024

The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and is subject to an enhanced DBS check. An online search will be completed for all shortlisted candidates.