Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

Durham School provides a first-class all-around educational experience. All pupils, from age 3 through to 18, enjoy the equality of opportunity necessary to fulfill their potential, are well-prepared for further education and have the confidence to face an ever-changing global environment. To ensure this, Durham School provides a broad and balanced curriculum of GCSEs, iGCSEs and A-Levels and places great emphasis on giving pupils the flexibility to choose the curriculum which best suits them. We are recruiting to fill the following positions below:

Responsibilities or duties

The Deputy Head Academic is a key member of the Prep Senior Leadership Team, responsible for leading and managing the day-to-day academic provision of the Prep School and promoting excellence in teaching and learning, in line with the School’s values, ethos and educational philosophy.

Working collaboratively with the Head of Prep, Year Group Leads, Learning Enrichment Team and teaching staff, the Deputy Head Academic will oversee curriculum, assessment and pupil progress from Little Durham to Year 6, promoting clear progression across Prep and effective transition into Senior School.

The Deputy Head Academic will combine excellent academic organisation with an in-depth understanding of curriculum, assessment and effective pedagogy. They will play a key role in curriculum development, the effective use of assessment and data, professional learning, and developing the capacity of middle leaders as the School continues to grow.

Strategic Direction

Provide professional leadership and guidance on academic matters across the Prep School, promoting the highest standards of teaching, learning, curriculum and assessment.Contribute to Prep and whole-school strategic planning, self-evaluation and the School Development Plan, working closely with the Head of Prep and Prep Senior Leadership Team.

Oversee curriculum, assessment and reporting from EYFS to Year 6, promoting clear progression across Prep and effective transition into Senior School.

Develop and review academic and assessment policies, ensuring they meet BSO minimum standards and support the School’s readiness for inspection and accreditation, including ISI inspection.

Promote academic excellence, intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Remain informed about current educational research, developments and effective practice to support the continued development of the Prep School

Leadership and Management

Lead academic self-evaluation and improvement, monitoring the quality of teaching and learning and identifying priorities for continued development.

Oversee pupil progress, assessment and academic tracking, ensuring the effective use of internal and standardised assessment, including GL assessments and comparative judgement, to inform teaching and improve pupil outcomes.

Work closely with the Deputy Head Pastoral and Learning Enrichment Team to identify appropriate academic interventions and support adaptive teaching and appropriate accommodations.

Coordinate key academic systems and processes, including timetabling and specialist teaching across the School, the assessment and reporting calendar, academic tracking and the effective use of iSAMS.

Lead and coordinate professional learning in response to School priorities and identified needs, working with Year Group Leads and HR to support continued improvement in teaching and learning.

Develop the capacity of middle leaders, supporting and empowering them to lead improvement within their areas of responsibility, and contribute to preparation for the academic aspects of inspection and accreditation.

Curriculum Development

Provide vision and leadership for the continued development of an ambitious, innovative and engaging curriculum from EYFS to Year 6, informed by the EYFS framework and English National Curriculum as appropriate, while making meaningful use of the School’s Kenyan context to enrich learning.

Lead curriculum design, planning, implementation and evaluation, using assessment information and evidence of pupil progress to inform continued curriculum development and improvement.

Develop clear curriculum maps and planning frameworks that support continuity and progression across Prep and, in collaboration with Senior School colleagues, curriculum coherence across the whole School.

Promote inclusive and adaptive approaches to teaching and learning, ensuring appropriate support and challenge for pupils with SEND, EAL and high academic potential.

Work collaboratively with Year Group Leads and subject leaders to develop curriculum provision and support them to lead effectively within their areas of responsibility.

Promote the purposeful use of digital technology and ensure that curriculum resources effectively support high-quality teaching and learning.

Remain informed about relevant Kenyan, British and international developments in curriculum, assessment and educational practice.

Communications

Build positive and professional relationships with pupils, parents, colleagues and the wider school community.

Communicate clearly and effectively with parents about curriculum, assessment, pupil progress and other academic matters.

Present and articulate the School’s academic provision, performance and priorities to staff, parents, Governors, inspectors and other stakeholders as appropriate.

Safeguarding and Wellbeing

Promote and safeguard the welfare of all pupils, fulfilling safeguarding responsibilities in accordance with School policies and procedures.

Work collaboratively with the Deputy Head Pastoral, Learning Enrichment Team and teaching staff to ensure that academic provision supports pupils’ individual learning needs and wellbeing.

Promote an inclusive learning culture in which high expectations, appropriate challenge and effective support enable every pupil to make progress and flourish.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Experience needed

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

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• Provide professional leadership and guidance on academic matters across the Prep School, promoting the highest standards of teaching, learning, curriculum and assessment.
• Contribute to Prep and whole-school strategic planning, self-evaluation and the School Development Plan, working closely with the Head of Prep and Prep Senior Leadership Team.
• Oversee curriculum, assessment and reporting from EYFS to Year 6, promoting clear progression across Prep and effective transition into Senior School.
• Develop and review academic and assessment policies, ensuring they meet BSO minimum standards and support the School’s readiness for inspection and accreditation, including ISI inspection.
• Promote academic excellence, intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.
• Remain informed about current educational research, developments and effective practice to support the continued development of the Prep School
• Lead academic self-evaluation and improvement, monitoring the quality of teaching and learning and identifying priorities for continued development.
• Oversee pupil progress, assessment and academic tracking, ensuring the effective use of internal and standardised assessment, including GL assessments and comparative judgement, to inform teaching and improve pupil outcomes.
• Work closely with the Deputy Head Pastoral and Learning Enrichment Team to identify appropriate academic interventions and support adaptive teaching and appropriate accommodations.
• Coordinate key academic systems and processes, including timetabling and specialist teaching across the School, the assessment and reporting calendar, academic tracking and the effective use of iSAMS.
• Lead and coordinate professional learning in response to School priorities and identified needs, working with Year Group Leads and HR to support continued improvement in teaching and learning.
• Develop the capacity of middle leaders, supporting and empowering them to lead improvement within their areas of responsibility, and contribute to preparation for the academic aspects of inspection and accreditation.
• Provide vision and leadership for the continued development of an ambitious, innovative and engaging curriculum from EYFS to Year 6, informed by the EYFS framework and English National Curriculum as appropriate, while making meaningful use of the School’s Kenyan context to enrich learning.
• Lead curriculum design, planning, implementation and evaluation, using assessment information and evidence of pupil progress to inform continued curriculum development and improvement.
• Develop clear curriculum maps and planning frameworks that support continuity and progression across Prep and, in collaboration with Senior School colleagues, curriculum coherence across the whole School.
• Promote inclusive and adaptive approaches to teaching and learning, ensuring appropriate support and challenge for pupils with SEND, EAL and high academic potential.
• Work collaboratively with Year Group Leads and subject leaders to develop curriculum provision and support them to lead effectively within their areas of responsibility.
• Promote the purposeful use of digital technology and ensure that curriculum resources effectively support high-quality teaching and learning.
• Remain informed about relevant Kenyan, British and international developments in curriculum, assessment and educational practice.
• Build positive and professional relationships with pupils, parents, colleagues and the wider school community.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with parents about curriculum, assessment, pupil progress and other academic matters.
• Present and articulate the School’s academic provision, performance and priorities to staff, parents, Governors, inspectors and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of all pupils, fulfilling safeguarding responsibilities in accordance with School policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with the Deputy Head Pastoral, Learning Enrichment Team and teaching staff to ensure that academic provision supports pupils’ individual learning needs and wellbeing.
• Promote an inclusive learning culture in which high expectations, appropriate challenge and effective support enable every pupil to make progress and flourish.

• Excellent academic organisation
• In-depth understanding of curriculum, assessment and effective pedagogy
• Effective use of assessment and data
• Professional learning coordination
• Capacity building of middle leaders
• Monitoring and developing the quality of teaching and learning
• Effective use of internal and standardised assessment
• Coordination of academic systems and processes
• Curriculum design, planning, implementation and evaluation
• Promoting inclusive and adaptive approaches to teaching and learning
• Purposeful use of digital technology
• Clear and effective communication
• Safeguarding responsibilities
• Strong organisational skills
• Strategic thinking
• Effective day-to-day academic leadership
• Confident use of digital technologies
• Inspirational, collaborative and approachable leadership
• High expectations for self and others
• Passion for excellent teaching and learning
• Commitment to child development and inspiration
• Innovative, adaptable and forward-thinking
• Excellent communicator and relationship-builder
• Commitment to developing others
• Empowering colleagues
• Building leadership capacity
• Commitment to school values, ethos and educational philosophy

• UK Honours degree or equivalent
• Recognised teaching qualification
• Teaching experience within the primary age range
• In-depth understanding of children’s learning and development across Early Years and primary phases
• Successful leadership experience at middle or senior leadership level
• Ability to lead, inspire and develop colleagues
• In-depth understanding of curriculum development, assessment and effective pedagogy
• Experience of monitoring and developing the quality of teaching and learning
• Experience of using assessment information and data effectively to improve teaching and pupil outcomes
• Experience of developing and supporting colleagues
• Experience contributing to high-quality professional learning
• NPQH or relevant postgraduate qualification would be advantageous