Deputy Head (Academic)

The Head of Dragon School invites applications for the role of Deputy Head (Academic) from September 2023.

This appointment forms a critical part of a vibrant senior leadership team who are united in their desire to embrace educational change and innovate. Following a highly successful recent ISI inspection, where the School achieved the grading of ‘excellent’ across all categories, the Dragon is now looking to the future with the ambition to create a bold and progressive curriculum which fosters boundless free-thinking and a deep intellectual curiosity in its pupils.

Dragon School is one of Britain’s leading preparatory schools, offering a first-class day and boarding education for girls and boys aged 4-13 years. Located in the heart of the city of Oxford, the Dragon provides a distinctive educational experience that not only celebrates childhood and the joy of learning, but also prepares young people with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world and continue to ‘Reach for the Sun’ (Arduus ad Solem).

Reporting directly to the Head, Emma Goldsmith, the Deputy Head (Academic) will lead and manage academic life at the Dragon with vision, creativity and energy and will be a key leader within the school community. This is a dynamic moment in the School’s rich history, with a series of ambitious projects underway, from launching an endowment for bursaries, to the construction of a new music and performing arts centre. The Dragon’s 150th anniversary in 2027 is an important milestone for the School, providing a further opportunity to recognise the best of the Dragon and accelerate other academic initiatives.

The successful candidate will be a passionate leader with a willingness to innovate and explore, both within and outside the classroom, and a clear educational philosophy rooted in ambition and breadth. They will be aligned to the ethos of the Dragon, supportive of its boarding rhythms and bring a collaborative and enabling style that will help them to bring the best out of others. Previous prep school leadership experience is not a prerequisite and applications are also encouraged from exciting educationalists based in the independent senior, state maintained and international school sectors.

Further information on Dragon School can be found at www.dragonschool.org and a candidate brief is available from www.odgers.com/88123

Letters of application, CVs and application forms should be submitted by the closing date, 9am GMT on Friday 10 March, to Peter Lawrence at Odgers Berndtson. 

Shortlist interviews with the Selection Committee will take place on Wednesday 22 March. Final interviews will take place on Friday 24 March.

Dragon School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.