Deputy Head

The Grange School comprises both a Junior School and a Senior School, each with its own leadership team, while sharing a clear vision, strong values and a common ethos. This structure supports a seamless transition between phases, allowing students to benefit fully from the continuity and breadth of a through-school education.

The School is led by the Executive Head, who leads the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). The ELT provides strategic leadership across the whole School and comprises:

• Executive Head
• Chief Operating Officer (COO)
• Head of Junior School
• Head of Senior School

The Junior School, educating students aged 3–11, is located on a separate, purpose-built site approximately one-third of a mile from the Senior School. The Junior School Leadership Team (JLT) leads the Junior School and comprises:

• Head of Junior School
• Deputy Head (Academic)
• Deputy Head (Pastoral)

At the Senior School, the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of students aged 11–18 and comprises:

• Head of Senior School
• Deputy Head (Pastoral)
• Deputy Head (Academic)

This leadership structure provides clarity of responsibility and strong strategic oversight, supporting high standards and a positive, collegiate working environment for staff.

We are seeking an energetic, forward-thinking and values-driven leader to join the Senior School leadership team as a Deputy Head. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who combines ambition with kindness, and who is motivated by making a positive difference to young people, colleagues and the wider school community.

The successful candidate will be a compassionate and collaborative leader with excellent interpersonal skills, able to build strong, trusting relationships with students, staff and parents. They will bring clarity, professionalism and warmth to their leadership, and will be confident working as part of a close and supportive senior team.

The specific area of responsibility — Academic or Pastoral will be shaped around the individual’s strengths, experience, interests and passions. We are open to appointing the right person and then aligning the role to where they can have the greatest impact, whether that is in driving teaching and learning, curriculum development and academic outcomes or in leading pastoral care, wellbeing, behaviour and student support.

Above all, we are looking for a leader who shares our values, embraces a holistic approach to education, and is excited by the opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking independent school that combines high standards with a strong sense of community.

Deputy Head Roles

Person Specification - Core Requirements (All Deputy Head Roles)

• Recognised teaching qualification (Degree plus PGCE or equivalent).
• Excellent and experienced classroom practitioner, able to teach to advanced (A Level) standard.
• Significant leadership and management experience (at least Head of Department level or equivalent).
• Strong evidence of continuing professional development, including leadership and management training.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire and manage teams with initiative, imagination and strategic vision.
• High levels of emotional intelligence, empathy and warmth.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to build and sustain strong relationships with pupils, parents, staff and the wider community.
• Sound judgement and ability to take difficult decisions under pressure.
• High levels of organisation, integrity, discretion and professionalism.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding, child protection and pupil wellbeing.
• Commitment to inclusive education and a broad, balanced curriculum.
• Ability to manage a high workload and competing priorities.
• Commitment to effective use of current and emerging technologies.
• Resilience, energy, enthusiasm and a positive, can-do attitude.
• Willingness to participate fully in the wider life of the School.
• Clear commitment to the mission, ethos and values of The Grange School.

Deputy Head (Academic) Role Purpose

The Deputy Head (Academic) is responsible for leading academic excellence at The Grange School, ensuring that teaching, learning and curriculum provision enable every pupil to fulfil their potential. Working closely with the Head of Senior School and fellow Deputy Heads, the postholder shapes an ambitious, inclusive and intellectually rich academic culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the academic programme and curriculum.
• Champion outstanding teaching, learning and assessment.
• Analyse examination outcomes, progress and value-added data.
• Oversee assessment, reporting, tracking and interventions.
• Line manage Heads of Faculty and academic leaders.
• Lead academic inspection preparation and compliance.
• Liaise with the Junior School to ensure curriculum continuity.

Person Specification – Role Specific

• Significant experience in senior academic leadership.
• Strong track record of improving teaching quality and academic outcomes.
• Excellent data analysis skills and experience of whole-school performance tracking.
• Up-to-date knowledge of curriculum and public examination developments.
• Experience of timetable construction and options processes.
• Ability to promote evidence-informed teaching and learning.

Deputy Head (Pastoral) Role Purpose

The Deputy Head (Pastoral) leads safeguarding, wellbeing and pastoral care at The Grange School, ensuring every pupil feels safe, known and supported. The role sustains a calm, consistent and compassionate pastoral culture underpinned by high expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding and act as Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Senior School.
• Oversee behaviour, attendance, wellbeing and pastoral systems.
• Line manage Heads of Year and pastoral leaders.
• Lead disciplinary processes and pupil support strategies.
• Maintain pastoral policies and statutory compliance.
• Prepare pastoral documentation for inspection and audits.

Person Specification – Role Specific

• Extensive experience of senior pastoral leadership.
• Up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation and best practice.
• Proven experience of managing behaviour, wellbeing and attendance.
• Experience leading complex disciplinary processes.
• Ability to act as Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Capacity to exercise sensitive judgement while maintaining professional distance.
• Ability to create a caring, nurturing and orderly culture.

At The Grange, the curriculum is more than a list of subjects. It reflects the full range of experiences through which students learn, develop and prepare for life beyond school. Students learn through their academic studies, but also through the relationships they build and the experiences they share. Co-curricular activities, strong partnerships between students and staff, leadership opportunities, and both successes and setbacks all play an important part in shaping confidence, resilience and character.

For this reason, our curriculum is designed in a joined-up and holistic way, bringing together three closely connected elements:

• The Academic Programme, which sets high expectations and supports strong outcomes
• The Enrichment Programme, which encourages curiosity, creativity and wider interests
• The Personal Development Programme, which supports wellbeing, values and personal growth

As a forward-thinking independent school, The Grange combines the best of traditional educational values with contemporary practice. Learning is underpinned by a strong sense of community, where individuals are known, supported and challenged. We also embrace the thoughtful use of emerging technologies to enhance learning and to ensure students develop the skills, adaptability and digital confidence they will need for the world they will enter when they leave school.

Together, these strands ensure that learning at The Grange is purposeful, balanced and relevant, equipping students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed at school and beyond in a way that feels meaningful, supportive and grounded in real experience.

Our Values

At The Grange School, our values shape how we learn, work and treat one another. They underpin our culture, guide our relationships and inform the decisions we make every day. Our key aims are to be World Class, One School and Inclusive. These aims are brought to life through our shared values, which are reflected across all areas of school life.

We encourage our community to be:

• Open-minded – curious, innovative and positive, embracing new ideas and opportunities
• Aspirational – ambitious, resilient and adventurous, striving to be the best we can be
• Kind – caring, understanding and forgiving, with strong relationships at the heart of our community
• Sensitive to others – respectful, truthful and inclusive, valuing difference and acting with integrity

Together, these values create a warm, supportive and forward-thinking environment in which students and staff feel known, valued and empowered to grow. They help ensure that The Grange is not only a place of high standards and aspiration, but a community built on trust, respect and shared purpose.