Deputy Headteacher - Wyvern Academy

To start September 2026

Do you believe that true leadership is found in the small, unseen decisions — the ones that help a child cope, a team stay steady and a school hold together on its hardest days?

At Wyvern Academy, where many of our pupils have significant and complex needs, no two days look the same. You might arrive expecting a calm, predictable timetable, only to find that staffing needs to shift, medical support is needed urgently, or a team is struggling and needs your guidance. You’ll adapt, reorganise, breathe… and lead others through it with calm, steady confidence.

And in the middle of that unpredictable reality, you’ll witness the moments that make this work unforgettable.

• A child engaging with an activity that brings them joy.
• A child managing a medical procedure with newfound independence.
• A pupil transitioning calmly because the systems you shaped helped them feel safe.
• A member of staff telling you that your decision-making turned a chaotic day into a manageable one.

Tiny steps. Hard‑won steps. System‑enabled steps. That’s what operational leadership feels like here.

If you lead with humanity, clarity and purpose – if you would find meaning in helping a complex school run safely, smoothly and compassionately – you may find a true sense of belonging with us.

What you’ll be doing:

• Take a substantial lead on day‑to‑day organisation, ensuring the school remains calm, safe and responsive, no matter how quickly priorities shift.
• Support and deputise for the Headteacher, using sound judgement, compassionate leadership and clear communication to keep the school running smoothly.
• Oversee staff deployment, cover, wellbeing and performance, creating a stable and confident workforce across the school.
• Coordinate and monitor operational systems that enable pupils with high medical, sensory and communication needs to access their education safely and effectively.
• Work in partnership with families, external agencies and health professionals to meet medical, safeguarding and accessibility needs with both rigour and empathy.
• Provide steady, supportive leadership to colleagues, guiding them through daily challenges and offering practical solutions when plans change rapidly.
• Monitor and maintain key processes – attendance, transitions, behaviour, communication and medical protocols – ensuring consistency, safety and clarity throughout the school.
• Contribute to wider school and Trust development, using insight from daily operations to inform long‑term improvement.
• Contribute your ideas and creativity to curriculum development, school improvement and the wider life of Wyvern Academy and the Southern Education Trust.

Who we’re looking for:

• A qualified teacher (QTS) with strong, successful leadership experience – ideally in complex or specialist settings.
• Someone who thrives on organisation, problem‑solving and the rhythm of a school where demands change quickly, and whose instinct is to respond with calm determination.
• A steady, reassuring presence – the person teams rely on when the day becomes challenging or unpredictable.
• Practical, resilient and compassionate, able to balance empathy with confident, timely decision‑
• Collaborative, relational and open, building trust with colleagues, families and professionals through honest communication and shared purpose.
• Reflective and inclusive, ensuring pupils’ wellbeing, safety and sense of belonging sit at the heart of every operational decision.

Here’s the honest part: this job will stretch you.

It will ask for your patience, your judgement and your compassion. Some days will be tough. Some will be unexpectedly beautiful. Many will be both.

But if you want a leadership role where your decisions genuinely change the day for pupils and staff – where small wins matter and the impact is real – Wyvern Academy could be where you make your difference.

Closing Date: 19th April 2026

Interview Date: 30th April 2026

Please note: Applications may be viewed on receipt and interviews arranged sooner than the above date.

Become part of our journey by completing our Teacher & Leadership Application Form and returning it to [email protected] if you would like to apply (please see our Deputy Headteacher Job Description and our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy for further information). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Isabel at the recruitment address, who will be happy to assist you.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search including social media platforms of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.

About us:

At Wyvern Academy, part of the Southern Education Trust, we’re passionate about “making lives better” by creating an environment where every child, regardless of their challenges, can shine. We specialise in supporting children and young people aged 2 to 19 years with learning difficulties, including autism, physical and sensory disabilities and healthcare needs.

We are a place where progress is celebrated – even when it looks different from pupil to pupil – and where relationships, patience and perseverance matter just as much as expertise.

Why join us?

• The chance to make a huge difference in the lives of young people, one small victory at a time.
• Comprehensive support, Induction and training package
• Professional development opportunities because we’re all about helping you grow, both as a person and in your ability to juggle six things at once!
• You will be part of an inclusive and collaborative team that, no matter what the challenge may be, are ready to face it head on and are committed to seeing it through.
• The opportunity to develop your career in a School and Southern Education Trust, a growing Trust.