Key Role Information

Salary
£100,540.00 - 116,456.00
Job type
Full Time
Contract type
Fixed Term
Closing
22/06/2026 12:00
Interview
29 June 2026
Start
1 September 2026
Contract term
AYR - All year round
Pay grade
Leadership | L28 - L34
Department
Leadership (MAT)
Key stage
Not Applicable
Hours per week
32.44
Weeks per year
52.000
Visa sponsorship
No

Your Role

Pay Range: L28-L34 £100,540.00 - £116,456.00

Full-time, fixed term (from 1st September 2026 to 31st August 2027) 

Are you ready to make a significant impact across Prosper Learning Trust?

Prosper Learning Trust is seeking a passionate, dynamic and experienced leader with a proven track record of success to join our team as Deputy Director of School Improvement.

We are inviting applications from experienced leaders who are ready to take the next step into trust-wide strategic leadership. The successful candidate will work closely with the Director of School Improvement (DSI) to strengthen our school improvement capacity and support school's across the Trust to strive for excellence.

As our school improvement offer continues to grow, we require an exceptional leader who can provide both high-quality support and robust challenge to drive sustained improvement and improve outcomes for pupils across our specialist and alternative provision settings.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key strategic role across the Trust, while also contributing to operational leadership within our schools as and when required.

You will:

• Work alongside the DSI to lead and deliver the Trust’s school improvement strategy

• Support schools in raising standards, improving outcomes and securing strong inspection outcomes

• Provide high-quality support and challenge to school leaders, particularly during periods of improvement

• Lead and contribute to rigorous self-evaluation and school improvement planning

• Play a key role in preparing schools for Ofsted inspections, ensuring they are well-positioned for success

• Contribute to the day-to-day operational leadership at a Trust school site where required

The successful candidate will:

• Be a dynamic, credible and professional leader with substantial senior leadership experience

• Have a proven track record of raising standards and improving pupil outcomes

• Demonstrate strategic thinking and the ability to drive improvement at scale

• Have outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire others

• Be skilled in building strong relationships with leaders, staff, and external partners

• Have expertise in supporting pupils with additional needs.

• Share our commitment to providing a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where every pupil can thrive


Does this sound like the role for you?


What we can offer:

• A unique opportunity to influence and shape school improvement across a growing Trust

• A collaborative and supportive leadership team

• A diverse and rewarding working environment

• Access to high-quality professional development aligned to the role

• Well-resourced schools committed to meeting the needs of all pupils

The successful candidate will join a dedicated, innovative, and focused team of staff who are passionate about ensuring that everyone achieves their full potential. 

Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds.  Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and Kindness.  We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.  

The Trust currently have 5 schools in the region: 

  • Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3-19 years) 
  • Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11-16 years) 
  • Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3-19 years) 
  • Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5-16 years) 
  • Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11-16 years) 

Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust 

The Trust is proud to say that we pay all employees a minimum of the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates: 

  • A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another 
  • Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes 
  • Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group 
  • Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates.  
  • Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace 
  • Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs) 
  • Bike 2 Work scheme

For more information on why we think you should work for us see our Trust website, where you will also find videos of what our current staff think. 


The successful candidate will be welcomed into the Trust, so if this sounds like the role for you, please don't hesitate to apply.


To arrange a visit or request a confidential phone call with the Director of School Improvement, please email admin@prosperlearningtrust.co.uk

Central Team

Gary Wright

admin@prosperlearningtrust.co.uk


Drayton Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne and Wear
NE3 3RU

Safeguarding Information

Prosper Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, as well as vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to apply for Disclosure from the DBS.

 

The Trust actively promotes equality of opportunity with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcomes applications from a wide range of candidates. The Trust selects all candidates for employment based on their skills, qualifications and experience, in comparison against the person specification.

 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If you are invited for interview, you will be required to disclose convictions that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. Certain spent convictions and cautions will be ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed. Full details on protected convictions and information about which convictions must be declared during job applications can be found on the Ministry of Justice website. You will be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure and Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed. This role will include Regulated Activities and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure is required for this post. Please note that in all cases written references will be taken up and made available to interviewers before the final selection stage; even if you indicate otherwise.


Online vetting checks will be carried out for candidates who are shortlisted.


Job roles, specifically for Newcastle Bridges School, that are located within The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust sites, will be subject to an additional layer of safer recruitment / pre-engagement checks managed by the NHS, under their Honorary Contract Policy.  An employee of Newcastle Bridges School may be required to work across more than one site.