DEPUTY HEADTEACHER

Leadership Scale points L23 – L27

To start September 2023

(Agreed salary will depend upon the level of experience of the successful applicant)

The Governors of Sydenham School wish to appoint a talented Senior Leader with substantial senior leadership experience, to join our vibrant and successful school community.   

We have the highest aspirations for all of our students and our school motto is ‘Aim High’. We are a diverse, comprehensive, inclusive school rooted in the local community. Sydenham School is a well-regarded and oversubscribed 11-18 school.

We are proud to be a High-Performance Learning School (HPL). We believe that all students can achieve highly regardless of their starting points. Our commitment to this belief underpins all aspects of our work with students, staff and families.

Our last OFSTED Inspection in June 2022 confirmed that Sydenham is a ‘good’ school with the capacity to continue to improve. We are committed to providing the very best education for our students and we are seeking to appoint an outstanding candidate to this role who has the right skills set, values, attributes and experience.

You should share an unswerving commitment to raising standards across all areas of the school for all groups of students. You should be able to deliver on the full brief of a Deputy Headteacher and you should understand that your role will change over time according to the needs of the school.

Your track record to date will clearly evidence the impact that you have had as a senior leader in shaping whole school culture, as well as in raising achievement.

We are actively working to create an inclusive and diverse Senior Leadership Team.  The successful   candidate will have responsibility for a number of key strategic whole school areas as well as be required to effectively carry out the full range of day-to-day operational duties.

You will be expected to readily build excellent relationships with students and to relish working alongside them and their families in order to ensure that they thrive and achieve. You should genuinely revel in working with young people. Outstanding learning and teaching lie at the heart of every successful school and we place a high premium on this. You will be required to teach as part of your role.

We are seeking to appoint a person who:

• Has a strong track record in educational leadership with proven success and demonstrable impact
• Is able to think strategically, analytically and creatively about learning and teaching and who has the personal authority and communication skills to make a positive difference
• Has the vision, imagination and commitment to be part of a team that takes the school to ‘outstanding’ and beyond
• Is committed to their own continuous improvement and that of people and systems.

To apply, please complete and submit an application form with a supporting statement on no more than 2 pages font size 12. You will need to state clearly how you meet the requirements described in the Job Description. Please include your educational philosophy and demonstrate how this has informed your work to date.

Do let us know which subject you would prefer to teach on an interview date.

An application pack can be downloaded from our website at:

Vacancies - Sydenham School

Alternatively, further details can be obtained from Allison Costello (Head of Human Resources): 0208 699 6731 ext 476

You are very welcome, and encouraged, to visit the school before applying.

School visits will be taking place on:

22^nd March, between 11:30am – 12:15pm

29^th March 2023 between 2.30pm-3.15pm by arrangement.

Please email Allison Costello, Head of Human Resources at a.costello@sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk or phone 0208 699 6731 ext 476 to arrange a school visit

Closing date for applications is 10am on Monday 17^th April 2023

Interviews will take place at Sydenham School on Tuesday 25^th and Wednesday 26^th April 2023

The school is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity. We have a clear commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Safeguarding is the ‘golden thread’ that runs throughout the school. The successful applicant will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure for the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as the Criminals Records Bureau).

Original evidence of the right to work within the United Kingdom will be required prior to commencement of employment i.e. National Insurance Number, Work Permits or Indefinite Leave to Remain. If the applicant has lived/worked overseas for 12 months or more since the age of 18, they will also be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct from the country (ies) they lived/worked in at their own expense and provide these for our records.