Deputy Headteacher of Virtual School

Luton Borough Council

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Education

Full time

About the job

Salary: Soulbury
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent

Working alongside the Virtual School Headteacher as the Deputy Head, you’ll play a key role in leading the strategic and operational development of our Virtual School. Your work will be central to helping the council meet its statutory responsibilities for children and young people in care, previously in care, or who have had a social worker.

This is a pivotal leadership role requiring strong decision-making, analytical thinking, and the ability to deliver high-quality services across a wide range of partners. You’ll lead key areas of service delivery to secure positive educational outcomes and help shape strategic plans aligned with national and local priorities.

Collaboration is at the heart of this role. You’ll build effective relationships with schools, social care, carers, and other partners to promote a shared vision, ensuring that children’s voices and aspirations are heard and acted upon.

You’ll offer expert educational advice, drawing on your knowledge of the curriculum and current legislation, and support schools to develop inclusive practices that help every child reach their potential. You’ll also deliver impactful training to a range of stakeholders on effective PEPs, SMART targets, and supporting children with a social worker.

As a leader, you’ll manage and support a team of advisory teachers, ensuring their work contributes to a culture of high expectations, consistency, and continuous improvement across the Virtual School.

About you

You will bring demonstrable experience of school leadership, along with a background in advisory work where you have supported schools and colleagues as a critical friend to drive improved outcomes. Your experience working directly with children in care, as well as those with Special Educational Needs, will be key to understanding and addressing the complex challenges these young people face.

You will have worked in culturally diverse settings and understand the importance of inclusive and sensitive approaches. Strong communication skills are essential—you’ll be able to engage politely, tactfully, and persuasively with a wide range of stakeholders, building collaborative and productive relationships.

As a confident and compassionate leader, you’ll be able to motivate and lead a team of advisory teachers, providing clear guidance and expertise. You’ll be skilled in advising schools and professionals on strategies to raise attainment and promote high expectations for Children in Care and those who have or have had a social worker.

You’ll be highly organised, able to manage your own workload and support others to meet shared priorities and targets. Your knowledge of child development—including the impact of trauma and attachment—will inform your practice, alongside a strong understanding of relevant legislation and national guidance around the education of Children in Care.

A Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is essential for this role.

About us

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough

Application process

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.

Closing Date - 14th of July

Interviews - w/c 21st of July

Additional information

We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:

From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
Friday Funday Socials - One Friday every 2 months where we encourage our staff to get together to socialise after work

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.