Deputy Head Teacher– Secondary School

Job Description

We are Hiring a Deputy Headteacher-Secondary School at GEMS Winchester School.

Purpose of the Role

This senior leadership position supports the Executive Head of Secondary in driving academic excellence, operational consistency, and strategic growth within a large and expanding secondary school. The role suits an experienced Assistant Head Teacher or current Deputy Head Teacher with a strong track record of school improvement and the professional gravity to scale leadership capacity in a rapidly growing context.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & School Improvement
• Lead, monitor, and evaluate whole-school improvement priorities in alignment with the Secondary School Development Plan.
• Use high-impact leadership practices to raise academic outcomes, secure high-quality teaching, and improve student progress across key stages.
• Contribute to long-term planning around school expansion and structural reform.
• Data, Assessment & Academic Standards
• Oversee the full assessment cycle from baselines to end-of-year outcomes, ensuring robust analysis and clearly articulated action.
• Lead data-driven intervention models that improve student outcomes, reduce underperformance, and support high achievement.
• Ensure accurate forecasting for IGCSE, BTEC, and A Level pathways, with consistent monitoring of value-added progress.
• Train and support middle leaders in effective use of data dashboards, performance metrics, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Teaching, Learning & Curriculum
• Work with Heads of Department to ensure curriculum sequencing, assessment strategies, and pedagogical approaches meet British curriculum expectations.
• Support quality assurance cycles including learning walks, work scrutiny, lesson observations, and departmental reviews.
• Identify and scale successful classroom practice through coaching, CPD planning, and targeted professional learning conversations.
• Intervention, Inclusion & Student Progress
• Design and lead schoolwide intervention structures for KS3, KS4, and KS5.
• Oversee progress meetings, student tracking reviews, and personalised improvement plans.
• Collaborate with pastoral leads and SEND teams to ensure academic and pastoral intervention are aligned and rapid.
• Day-to-Day Operational Leadership
• Support the smooth daily running of the secondary school, including behaviour systems, cover planning, supervision, student movement, and duty structures.
• Act as a senior presence during transitions, start/end-of-day routines, student arrival, and major events.
• Lead assemblies, parent meetings, and represent the Executive Head of Secondary where required.
• Safeguarding, Compliance & British-Curriculum Expectations
• Uphold statutory safeguarding responsibilities and ensure all staff follow policy and reporting procedures.
• Contribute to compliance processes including accreditation visits, quality assurance reviews, and policy updates.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Build strong professional relationships with students, staff, parents, and governors.
• Communicate clearly and with authority around key academic messages, improvement actions, and student performance.
• Support marketing, admissions, and community-building initiatives.
  
  

Skills

Person Specification

Essential

• Experienced Assistant Head Teacher or Deputy Head Teacher with substantial whole-school leadership impact.
• Demonstrable success in raising academic standards and implementing sustainable school-improvement strategies.
• High-level data literacy and strong understanding of assessment, tracking, and performance analysis across IGCSE, BTEC, and A Level.
• Proven ability to lead large teams and influence practice at scale.
• Strong operational leadership skills suitable for a school of 2200+ students.
• Deep understanding of the British curriculum and its quality benchmarks.
• High professional integrity, excellent communication skills, and the ability to inspire trust.
  
  

Desirable

• Experience in large or rapidly expanding schools.
• Accreditation, inspection, or school-evaluation experience (e.g., with frameworks equivalent to ADEK, DSIB, OFSTED).
• Capacity to step into an Acting Head of Secondary role where appropriate.
• Experience in international settings.
  
  

Opportunities for the Right Candidate

• Pathway to Acting Head of Secondary, with potential permanent progression as the school expands.
• A leadership role at scale in one of the region’s largest British-curriculum schools.
• Influence over strategic direction during an exciting phase of growth.
  
  

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students and staff. A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.