What skills and experience we're looking for
In August 2025 our Senior Deputy Headteacher will retire having served the community of Philip Morant School and College for 30 years.
We therefore have a vacancy for a new Deputy Headteacher from September 2025.
Philip Morant School and College was judged as “Good” in all areas by Ofsted in September 2023. We are looking for a Deputy Headteacher who can be a key part in our ongoing improvement journey.
The Role
The successful candidate will be an outstanding senior leader who fully embraces our vision of “A Community where everyone feels they belong and is the best they can be.”
We are looking for:
• Demonstrable evidence of Senior Leadership experience and impact
• An enthusiastic leader, with the ability to inspire, challenge, motivate and empower teams and individuals to achieve high goals
• Ability to develop and sustain good relationships with staff, parents and governors
• Understanding of methods of monitoring and evaluating school performance data, including interpretation and analysis
• A leader of learning who demonstrates, promotes and encourages outstanding classroom practice
• The highest levels of integrity and reliability
Specific responsibilities on appointment in this post will be as Deputy Headteacher, Quality of Education: Delivery and Development.
This will include:
• Curriculum intent and the quality of its Implementation and Impact
• Overview of content of curriculum, schemes of work, sequencing of lessons, cultural capital, overview of all subject content to maximise learning time
• Whole school reading
• Whole school Professional Learning and Development
• Implementation and monitoring of Performance Management
• ITT & ECTs
• Induction and integration of new staff
• Quality of Education Lesson drop ins plans and reviews
• Chair Subject Leaders meetings, department SEF and SIP
(The full details can be found in the attached Job Outline and Person Specification).
What the school offers its staff
As stated in our Ofsted report, staff are proud to work at the school and feel valued. They see the differences that leaders are making.
We are a community where everyone feels they belong and are the best they can be.
We are the largest secondary school in Colchester and students travel from across the City of Colchester to be a part of our community.
We have extensive facilities for science, technology, art, music, sports and fully refurbished classrooms and offices following significant investment in the facilities by the Sigma Trust.
We are the home of Sigma Sixth Colchester, adding the benefit of a sixth form provision to our school.
We are proud of our inclusive school. We are the home of the enhanced provision for deaf and vision impaired students for North East Essex. Our SEN provision, as confirmed by Ofsted, ensures students are very well catered for. We have welcomed refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan, many of our children have come to the UK from non English speaking countries and we are proud of our EAL provision and celebration of culture. As part of the Sigma Trust there are many opportunities to work alongside other senior leaders across our primary and secondary schools and to be fully engaged in professional learning development.
We are driven by our vision and our values and strongly recommend a visit to the school and a conversation with the Headteacher ahead of your application.
As stated in our Ofsted report
“School is a calm and orderly place. Pupils respect staff.”
“Staff are proud to work at the school and feel valued. They see the differences that leaders are making. As one member summed up the views of many, “It is a school that genuinely wants the best for the students.”
We strongly recommend visiting the school and will be offering visits at the following times:
• Monday 13th January 2-3pm, 3:30-4:30pm, 4:30-5:30pm
• Tuesday 14th January 8-9am
• Thursday 16th January 8-9am
• Friday 17th January 2-4pm
Please contact jean.robinson@pmsc.school for further details.
Why work for Philip Morant School and College and the Sigma Trust?
• We can offer you:
• A Competitive Salary
• Robust school CPD training programme that enables you to flourish
• Opportunities to work with colleagues across the Trust to share resources, ideas and build collaborative relationships
Employee benefits include:
• Excellent pension scheme
• A Health Cash Plan
• Free membership to Perkbox, offering discounts and savings
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free and confidential advice
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care plan
• Annual free flu vaccination
• Discounted gym membership at selected local gyms
• Discounted cinema tickets
• Eligible for Blue Light Card
Please note that an integration period applies to all new staff joining the Trust, to support introduction into the organisation.
Further details about the role
Please note that only fully completed application forms will be accepted and any CV’s and accompanying covering letters will be disregarded. A Notes for Applicants document is attached for further information.
Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 19th January
Shortlisting: Tuesday 21st January
Interviews will be held: Week commencing 27th January
The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.
The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision ‘To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts’, where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.