Virtual school Deputy Headteacher

Deputy Virtual School Headteacher (Deputy Service Manager)

Job Description

Full Time, Permanent

Start date: 1st May 2025 (dependent on the individual's notice period).

The HOPE Virtual School is seeking an experienced senior leader in education for the post of Deputy Virtual School Headteacher (Deputy Service Manager). This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work with an experienced team promoting the educational outcomes of children in care, previously looked-after children, those in kinship care, and children supported by social workers.

What will I be doing?

You will take operational responsibility for the HOPE Virtual School's statutory duties for children in care. You will undertake a senior leadership role in managing the team of advocates, ensuring that all children in care have an up-to-date high-quality Personal Education Plan, are accessing suitable full-time provision, and that support is in place (including through the effective use of Pupil Premium Plus) to help all children make accelerated progress and achieve excellent outcomes.

You will also support the Virtual School Headteacher in the additional responsibilities of the Virtual School for children in other key groups and deputise as necessary.

What do I need to have?

You will hold significant senior leadership experience in managing a large team and working in effective multi-agency arrangements ensuring that children's outcomes remain at the centre of your practice.

You will hold an excellent working knowledge of all statutory and non-statutory guidance related to the role of virtual schools and the experience and ability to help school leaders translate this into impactful practice in promoting children in care's best outcomes. In addition, you will have a comprehensive knowledge of education and social care legislation and guidance and a thorough understanding of the SEND Code of Practice and how this relates to children in priority social care groups.

You will have a proven track record of improving the educational outcomes of children in care and the ability to foster excellent working relationships with young people, education settings, and carers. You will have the strategic vision to develop the service and identify the actions and oversight required to support improved outcomes that are sustained throughout a young person's time in education.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on the role and the eligibility criteria for application. If you have the knowledge and experience to undertake this role and the vision and ambition to create lasting change in the lives of care-experienced young people, we look forward to hearing from you.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment that is fast-moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles, hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you'll receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you'll be working in a supportive environment where you'll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

Application closing date: 12th March 2025
Interviews currently scheduled for w/c 24th March 2025.

To be shortlisted for interview, you'll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion, we will receive high numbers of applications; we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.