Deputy Headteacher - Academic & Pastoral Leadership

Independent School | Surrey
Permanent | Full-time
January 2027, or earlier by negotiation

LTE Search is working with a distinctive independent school in Surrey to appoint two ambitious Deputy Headteachers as it enters an exciting new chapter.

Set within acres of beautiful Surrey countryside, the school offers a genuinely unique environment for young people to learn, grow and thrive. The setting is calm and spacious, with the surroundings providing an important part of the school''s character and atmosphere.

The school provides a calm, nurturing and highly personalised environment for academically able young people who have not always thrived in conventional mainstream education. With small teaching groups, strong relationships and an individualised approach to learning, the school creates the conditions for young people to feel understood, build confidence and achieve highly.

The ambition is high. Alongside strong academic outcomes, the school places real emphasis on independence, resilience, wellbeing and preparing young people for successful futures.

The Roles

We are looking to appoint two Deputy Headteachers across complementary areas of leadership:

Deputy Headteacher - Academic

Leading Teaching & Learning, Curriculum and Pathways, you will play a central role in shaping the academic direction of the school.

You will lead curriculum development, teaching and learning, assessment and quality assurance, ensuring that pupils receive an ambitious, coherent and engaging education across the school.

A particular focus will be Key Stage 4 and post-16, including the development of appropriate qualifications, pathways and destinations.

We are particularly keen to speak with experienced secondary leaders with strong knowledge of GCSE and A-level provision, alongside experience of curriculum, teaching and learning and school improvement.

Deputy Headteacher - Pastoral

Leading pastoral provision across the school, you will have strategic responsibility for behaviour, wellbeing, safeguarding, attendance, personal development and preparation for adulthood.

You will develop a consistent and relational approach to pastoral care, ensuring pupils feel safe, understood and valued while maintaining high expectations.

The role will involve leading and developing pastoral teams, working closely with families and external professionals, and ensuring pupils receive the support and opportunities they need to thrive.

The Person

We are interested in speaking with experienced educational leaders from mainstream secondary, independent, specialist and alternative provision settings.

You don''t necessarily need to have spent your career in a specialist environment. We are looking for leaders who understand young people, build strong relationships and have the experience and judgement to create the conditions in which they can succeed.

For the Academic appointment, strong secondary, GCSE and post-16 experience will be particularly important.

For the Pastoral appointment, we are particularly interested in leaders with experience across pastoral care, behaviour, safeguarding, wellbeing and personal development.

For both roles, you will need to be an ambitious, thoughtful and collaborative leader who can develop people, lead through change and balance high expectations with a genuinely personalised approach.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a school where the environment is deliberately different, but the ambition is not.

For the right leaders, there is genuine scope to shape provision, develop staff and play a significant role in the school''s next stage of development.

If you are an experienced educational leader looking for a Deputy Headship where you can have a genuine influence on both young people and the wider direction of a school, we''d be very happy to hear from you.

The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check. Online searches will be conducted as part of the safer recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.