What skills and experience we're looking for
Main Duties
• Be an excellent classroom practitioner.
• To take the lead on specific roles and responsibilities determined following appointment of success candidate.
• Undertake the professional duties of the Headteacher during their absence.
• Have an impact on educational progress beyond your assigned pupils. • Identify and drive the School Improvement Plan to raise achievement and progress under the overall direction of the Headteacher.
• Line manage and appraise identified staff.
• Ensure Health and Safety requirements are met.
• Assist in the smooth running of the whole school at all times.
• Analyse and interpret whole school data and produce action plans for improvement.
• To manage behaviour effectively in both the classroom and through supporting colleagues with behaviour management.
• Lead and share responsibility for developing and implementing school policies, decision-making and strategic planning.
• Assist and attend events supporting the wider school life e.g. PTA meetings and church events.
Duties and responsibilities of the post will change over time as requirements and circumstances change. The post holder will be required to carry out such other duties consistent with the post and as directed by the Headteacher. These duties and responsibilities are in addition to meeting the Teacher Standards.
Qualities and Knowledge
• Holding and articulating clear values and moral purpose, focused on providing a world class education all for pupils.
• Demonstrating optimistic personal behaviour, positive relationships and attitudes towards all stakeholders. Learn, Love and Achieve, Together with Jesus
• Leading by example - with integrity, creativity, resilience and clarity drawing on own expertise /skills, and that of others.
• Sustaining wide, current knowledge and understanding of education locally, nationally and globally, and pursuing continuous professional development.
• Working with political, business and financial astuteness, within a clear set of principles centered on the school’s vision, ably translating local and national policy into our school’s context.
• Communicate at every opportunity the vision of our school and, empowering all pupils and staff to excel. Pupils and Colleagues
• Demanding ambitious standards for all pupils, overcoming disadvantage and advancing equality, instilling a strong sense of accountability in staff for the impact of their work on pupils’ outcomes.
• Securing excellent teaching through an analytical understanding of how pupils learn and of the core features of successful classroom practice and curriculum design.
• Establishing an educational culture of ‘openness’ as a basis for sharing best practice.
• Creating an ethos within which all colleagues are motivated and supported to develop their own skills and subject knowledge, and to support each other.
• Identifying emerging talent, coaching current and aspiring leaders in a climate where excellence is the standard, leading to clear succession planning.
• Holding all colleagues to account for their professional conduct and practice.
• Attending meetings and prepare reports for the Local Governing Body and the Trust Board as required. Systems and Processes
• Exercising strategic, curriculum-led and affordable financial planning to ensure the equitable deployment of budgets and resources to ensure positive pupil outcomes.
• Ensuring that the school’s systems and processes are well considered, efficient and fit for purpose.
• Providing a safe, calm and well-ordered environment for all pupils and staff.
• Valuing excellent practice by establishing rigorous, fair and transparent systems and measures for managing the performance of all staff.
• Actively supporting the governing board to understand its role and deliver its functions effectively. The Self-Improving System Learn, Love and Achieve, Together with Jesus
• Working and collaborating across the Trust to improve outcomes for all pupils.
• Championing best practice and securing excellent achievements for all pupils.
• Developing effective relationships with colleagues in other schools, further and higher education and public services to improve academic and social outcomes for all pupils.
• Shaping the current and future quality of the teaching profession through high quality training and sustained professional development for all staff.
• Inspiring and influencing others to believe in the fundamental importance of education in pupil’s lives and to promote the value of education. Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment
• Maintain a collective responsibility, and an individual commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and recruitment of staff.
• Ensure that the safeguarding policy is followed where there may be a concern. Additional and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
• Ensure the school holds ambitious expectations for all pupils with additional and special educational needs and disabilities.
• Establish and sustain culture and practices that enable pupils to access the curriculum and learn effectively.
• Ensure that the school works effectively in partnership with parents, carers and professionals, to identify the additional needs and special educational needs and disabilities of pupils, providing support and adaptation where appropriate.
• Ensure the school fulfils its statutory duties with regard to the SEND Code of Practice. General Duties and Responsibilities • Teaching the pupils according to their educational needs, including the preparation and, marking and feedback of work.
• Provide cover teaching when required.
• Lead Collective Worship. •
Assessing, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of all pupils.
• Supporting and promoting the school’s provision of social, spiritual, moral and cultural opportunities.
• Promoting the general progress and wellbeing of individual pupils and of any class or group of pupils assigned.
• Keeping relevant records and writing reports. Learn, Love and Achieve, Together with Jesus
• Maintaining records of and reporting on the personal and social needs of pupils.
• Communicating and consulting with the parents of pupils.
• Communicating and co-operating with relevant persons or bodies outside the school.
• Participating in meetings arranged for any of the purposes described above.
This job description is indicative in the first instance and precise roles and responsibilities will be agreed with the successful candidate at a later date.
What the school offers its staff
We are delighted to announce an exciting opportunity to join St. Thomas' CE Primary School as our new Deputy Headteacher. This role is pivotal in shaping our new senior leadership team alongside our newly appointed Headteacher, from September 2025. Built on a Christian foundation, our mission statement inspires everything we do: Jesus said, "Come, follow me and live your lives the way that God wants you to," equipping our children with core Christian values of Compassion, Thankfulness, Responsibility, Peace, Friendship, and Respect to prepare them for their lives. Underpinning our school are our strong, caring relationships. All the children and staff know each other well, and every individual plays a vital part in the life of the school. We believe that children, families, and staff who are secure and happy are confident to question, explore and learn. Our school is recognised as a high-performing school, ranking in the top 100 schools nationally for KS2 outcomes in 2023. As a result of our exceptionally high standards and excellent reputation, we are consistently oversubscribed. As a proud member of the Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust (LDST), we are part of a vibrant family of 19 schools. This offers a wealth of opportunities for collaboration, professional development, and leadership growth. We are at an exciting time in our journey; following our outstanding judgement in June 2024, we are eager to build on this success. We are seeking an outwardlooking and dynamic individual who is dedicated and committed to helping the school continue to flourish as well as shape an exciting vision for the future which builds on our strong foundations. Prospective candidates are encouraged to visit to our school to experience firsthand the amazing community and environment that St. Thomas' CE Primary School offers.
Commitment to safeguarding
Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to keeping children safe. Any offer of employment will be subject to statutory pre-employment checks including satisfactory references, online checks, Enhanced DBS, and Barred List checks. This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended in 2013 & 2020) and shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any relevant criminal history prior to interview.