Deputy Headteacher
West Lakes Academy
Cumbria
- £79,475 - £87,651 per year
- New
- Salary:
- L20 to L24
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- Negotiable
- Apply by:
- 5 February 2025
Job overview
Changing Lives Learning Trust is looking for an outstanding Deputy Headteacher to lead West Lakes Academy in Cumbria on the next critically important phase of its improvement journey. This is a career-defining opportunity to rapidly help turn around this 11-18 academy for 1200 students, situated on the edge of the beautiful Lake District.
Like all learning communities, our young people faced significant challenges during the pandemic – and the ripples of that time continue. This has been compounded by a period of instability at a leadership level, and whilst the Trust has collectively rallied to support the school, it’s been a stretching time for all involved. We’ve deployed significant school improvement resources to bolster capacity, in addition to a highly experienced interim leadership team. Each are having impact, but the school and learning community urgently require stability for the longer term. This is where we’re hoping you’ll decide to play your part.
Changing Lives Learning Trust is a supportive, growing organisation of three secondary and six primary schools and the One Cumbria Teaching School Hub. While there is work to be done for West Lakes Academy to be the high-achieving school that the staff and students deserve, it has a clear vision to succeed in ‘Changing Lives through Learning’.
The next Deputy Headteacher of West Lakes Academy will need to be a resilient, inspirational senior leader. You will need to be motivated by the current challenges at the school and share our ambition to ensure that every child there can access the highest quality of education in a productive and caring environment. Rest assured that you will have the full support of the team at Changing Lives Learning Trust, as we collectively drive to move the school positively forward. In parallel, we are recruiting a new Headteacher, making this an exciting time to be part of the team that shapes the future of the academy.
If this opportunity appeals, and you have the track record, ambition, and grit to be a critical part of the next stage of transformation, we would love to hear from you. A generous relocation package will be available, and the wider Lake District region offers much to its inhabitants: community spirit, rural idyll, rich history, and some of the most affordable house prices in the country.
More information can be found here: changinglives.our-careers.co.uk.
To discuss this role in more detail please contact our recruitment partners at Propelo by emailing changinglives@propelo.co.uk or calling 01273 222877 to arrange a confidential conversation.
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 5th February, 9am
Interviews: Week commencing 10th February 2025
Changing Lives Learning Trust values equality and diversity and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. We may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
About West Lakes Academy
West Lakes Academy in Egremont, Cumbria, provides education to children from 11 to 18 years old. We opened in September 2008 and moved into our brand new building in March 2012. As an academy, we are independently governed but state funded and free to all children. Like other schools, we are subject to normal OFSTED inspections and work with the Local Education Authority in relation to issues such as admissions.
Our vision is to succeed in ‘Changing Lives through Learning’ by providing the very best possible educational opportunities for young people in West Cumbria. We have extremely high hopes for all of our students and our highly skilled and enthusiastic members of staff encourage children to have high ambitions and to work hard to achieve these.
Students and staff benefit from fantastic facilities, outstanding IT resources, a £300k engineering facility, performing and expressive arts suite and a brand new eco science lab in our brilliant £26m building. All this makes West Lakes Academy one of the best possible places in which to study. Our excellent environment helps keep motivation and morale high and allows us to deliver modern approaches to learning using the latest technologies.
We are sponsored by two of the most important energy organisations in the UK and two of Cumbria’s largest employers; The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Sellafield Ltd. They provide invaluable resources and industry support to our specialism in Science. We also receive excellent higher education expertise from our education partner, the University of Central Lancashire.
The academy was last inspected by Ofsted in March 2017 and was judged ‘Outstanding’ in all areas of the inspection. We have a strong record of academic excellence and our standards are high; our GCSE results are in the top 20% nationally, whilst our A Levels are in the top 10%. We are never satisfied however and are always looking for improvements and evidence-based best practise to build on these outstanding results. We have an ambitious and inspiring curriculum, delivered by subject experts in the classroom and enhanced by a strong tradition of extra-curricular activities. We frequently achieve county and national success in many areas such as performing arts and a variety of sports. All students at West Lakes Academy access a broad and balanced curriculum, learning knowledge that empowers them to take their place in society once they leave us.
The hard work of our pupils and the dedication of our skilled members of staff enable us to provide students with the education they need for a successful and happy future.
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