Key Role Information

Salary
71,680.00 - 79,089.00
Job type
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Closing
21/06/2026 10:50
Interview
3 July 2026
Contract term
AYR - All year round
Pay grade
Leadership pay scale
Key stage
Not Applicable
Hours per week
32.50
Weeks per year
52.140
Visa sponsorship
No

Your Role

Deputy Headteacher

Required: January 2027

Full time

Leadership pay scale L14 to L18

 

At the heart of education is the ability to transform a child’s life for the better

 

We are building a new specialist school for Essex! Importantly within that, we are now starting to build the incredible team who will shape the vision and culture for this much-needed provision for learners with complex, severe, and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

 

We are looking for a passionate leader who will play a pivotal role in the creation and ongoing success of The Wolsey Park School. Success will be grounded in our shared values of dignity, positivity, collaboration and aspiration, with families at the heart of decision-making. If this is a mission that excites and inspires you, with the understanding that underpinning this will be a myriad of detailed, explicit planning and implementation for exceptional teaching and learning, then please read on.

 

The successful candidate will work collaboratively alongside the Headteacher to build and develop our school: our vision and ethos, our team, and our specialist curriculum. They will play a central role in ensuring learners thrive, and parents are valued, contributing to both the strategic and operational leadership of the school.

On completion, The Wolsey Park School will be a split site, with primary-age learners located at Wolsey Park Rayleigh, and KS3 and 4 at Wolsey Park Woodham (in South Woodham Ferrers). By 2028, there will be two deputy-head teachers. Due to the split-site, for the majority of the week, each Deputy will lead on day-to-day management, staffing and parent support, holding key responsibility and front-facing leadership for one of our two sites.  Both deputies will hold leadership responsibilities over school-wide strategy, details of which to be agreed on appointment according to skill set. We will be opening Wolsey Park Rayleigh, our primary provision, first, however candidates interested in leading either provision are encouraged to apply at this time.

This post begins one term before the school opens, with the successful candidate working alongside the headteacher on recruitment, admissions, curriculum, and assessment, alongside wider practical preparations.


If you are an outstanding teacher and leader, with a detailed knowledge and understanding of curriculum and assessment for learners with SLD and/or PMLD, and you have the desire to build an amazing culture and the wider team to meet those same high standards of teaching and learning, then we need you! Although this role will have only light teaching responsibilities, we want someone who wants to teach, loves to interact with exceptional children and young people, and is passionate about improving long term outcomes alongside the day-to-day experience for all our learners.

 

All learners in our care deserve the very best from our schools, and the successful candidate will share a deep commitment to our mission, aims, and values, which should be clearly demonstrated at both the application and interview stages.

 

Informal visits to look at design plans and have an informal discussion with the headteacher would be warmly welcomed. Please contact Cheryl Allard, Headteacher Designate, cheryla@zmat.co.uk to arrange a visit.


Benefits

Benenden Healthcare
VIVUP Employee discounts & EAP
Teachers Pension Scheme
On site staff counselling programme

Qualifications

Qualified Teacher Statusessential
National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadershipdesirable
Evidence of recent training and experience in whole school leadership and management. desirable
Honours degree qualificationdesirable
Senior leadership or management qualification desirable

Skills

Leadership

Effective leadership and motivational skillsessential
Focused on standards and positive outcomesessential
Adaptable - ability to adapt style to a variery of situations and peopleessential
Strategic thinkeressential
Ability to advance equality and overcome disadvantage
Inspirational leader particularly during challenging times
Strong leader in the delivery of excellence in teaching and learning
Ability to instill a strong sense of belief and accountablility in both staff and students

Personal Attributes

Integrityessential
Ability to work collaboratively and lead a teamessential
Dedicatedessential
Focused

About Us

Wolsey Park School

Leigh Christensen

leichch@zmat.co.uk

Andrewes Way
Rayleigh
Essex
SS6 9UQ

Safeguarding Information

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment. Appointment to this post will be subject to the following satisfactory pre-employment checks:

 

·        Health

·        Identity

·        Relevant work qualifications

·        Right to work in the UK

·        Barred List Check (previously List 99)

·        Disclosure & Barring Service Check (for all staff and volunteers)

·        References

·        Childcare Disqualification Declaration Check (relevant Primary School posts only)