Deputy Head (Academic)

St Anthony’s School for Boys is seeking to appoint a well-qualified and highly motivated Deputy Head (Academic) from April 2025. This is a key role overseeing the academic life of the school from nursery up to and including Year 8. St Anthony’s is not super-selective but has managed to secure excellent academic outcomes with a significant uplift since 2020. Offers from London’s most selective senior day schools as well as the traditional public schools have increased many times over in the last few years. This has been matched by the award of various scholarships and success in national competitions. Expectations are high and boys typically present academically at least two years ahead of their chronological age. The Deputy Head (Academic) is supported by the presence of a Junior House Curriculum Lead, a Data Lead, a More Able Lead, and an academic-in-residence.

The role will offer the successful candidate a 360-experience of senior leadership. Whilst focused mostly on teaching and learning, assessment and reporting, and continuing to drive academic outcomes the person appointed will possess a clear vision of education that seeks to develop the potential of each child (and colleagues). They will understand the critical importance of ‘teaching to the top’ whilst ensuring weaker pupils are supported and encouraged to give of their best. The school welcomes applications from practising Catholics but those in sympathy with the ethos of the school, be they Catholic or not, would also be considered. Skills, vision and a determination to put the children first remain paramount. The candidate should also appreciate the commercial imperatives at play in marketing and running an independent prep school. They will be actively involved in the recruitment of pupils and appreciate that all members of staff must offer a first-class service to parents and their children.

The Deputy Head (Academic) role sits alongside the Deputy Head (Pastoral) who together with the Head form the Senior Leadership Team. Flexibility and a sense of humour are essential ingredients for success. The successful candidate should be ambitious with their sight set on Headship in due course. St Anthony’s is a lovely school in which to work blessed with committed and hard-working colleagues. Resources are plentiful and families extremely supportive of the school’s ethos. Come and see for yourself!

Responsibilities include:

• Work alongside the Headmaster and Deputy Head Pastoral to deliver the School Development Plan with specific focus on the academic life of the school
• Oversee the academic policies of the school and their implementation; this includes assessment, tracking and reporting processes; coordinating CPD, Inset and the performance management of teaching staff and the school administrator;
• Induct new members of staff and oversee PGCE students and those completing their NQT year;
• Line manage Heads of Department, Subject Specialist teachers and the SENDco;
• Liaise with the Timetabler to ensure the whole school timetable is constructed each September and amended as required;
• To teach/oversee academic subjects as required by the Headmaster;
• Lead on the Digital Literacy strategy of the school, specifically on how Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality resources can deepen the learning of pupils;
• Assist in the marketing of the school including attendance at open days and conducting tours for prospective families;
• Assist in the recruitment and selection of staff, specifically through the drawing up of job descriptions and advertisements;
• Oversee the production of the school’s Annual Progress and Achievement Report;
• Manage internal and external exams and tests including Common Entrance and scholarship exams, the ISEB Pre-test, CAT4 and MidYIS;
• Manage, monitor and moderate data on pupils’ academic progress; assist staff in the interpretation of data derived from external tests;
• Manage compliance and on-going readiness for inspection;
• Meet with individual parents as necessary to discuss and resolve matters of concern and keep records of meetings;
• Oversee and plan Parents’ Evenings throughout the school;
• Lead the provision of after-school Staff Meetings, including CPD sessions;
• Oversee the use of the academic modules of iSAMS throughout the school;
• Attend relevant Inspired training;
• Any other reasonable requests made by the Headmaster

Requirements:

• The post holder will have high expectations of him or herself, and will be determined to provide a first-class education to all pupils; they will be sympathetic to the Catholic ethos of St Anthony’s and the commitment to an holistic education;
• An outstanding and innovative classroom practitioner who commands the respect of boys and colleagues; they will have an excellent track record in delivering public examination results;
• Strategic understanding in planning and implementing a curriculum (traditional and digital) suited to the twenty-first century;
• Very strong written and inter-personal skills;
• An ability to contribute to whole-school policies, grapple with granular detail whilst keeping an eye on the ’bigger picture’;
• This post would suit someone who is ambitious and keen (in due course) on Headship;
• A good sense of humour and team player