Senior Deputy Headteacher

Role: Senior Deputy Headteacher

Salary: Leadership Pay Range, L27, currently £94,332 FTE salary per annum

Start date: As soon as possible

Location: Witton Park Academy, Blackburn

Contract Type: Permanent, Full time

Closing date: 9:00 am 7th April 2025

Interview date: To be confirmed

At Witton Park Academy we firmly believe that every student, regardless of their background deserves an excellent education and an equal opportunity to fulfil their potential. This vision

guides us in creating an environment where every pupil can thrive.

To be considered for this role, you must have the following essential qualifications, experience, skills, and

qualities:

• Extensive experience in education
• Proven track record of successful senior leadership roles within a secondary school setting
• Strong understanding of school improvement strategies:
• Deep knowledge of evidence-based practices, data-driven decision making, and effective interventions

to raise student achievement.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills:
• Ability to build strong relationships with school leaders, staff, and stakeholders, providing constructive

feedback with sensitivity and respect.

• Analytical skills
• Proficiency in data analysis, interpreting complex information, and using data to inform improvement

strategies.

The following qualifications, experience, skills, and qualities are desirable:

• Experience working in a multi-academy trust.
• Experience working in a school with a diverse student body.
• Understanding of the local community and its needs.
• Experience working with external partners for improvements.

In addition to the above, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of and commitment to the values of both Witton Park Academy and the AtC Trust. The appointment is subject to the current conditions of employment of Leaders contained in the School Teachers Pay and Conditions document and other current educational and employment legislation including that of the Department for Education, and the terms of the Achievement through Collaboration Trust contract of employment.

We look forward to your application, we look forward to welcoming a new team member who shares our commitment to excellence in education!

If you would like to enquire about the role please contact: Martin Knowles, Headteacher at mknowles@wittonpark.org.uk.

About the School

We are extremely proud of our school; the achievements of our pupils, the expertise, the dedication of our staff, our outstanding facilities and our reputation as a centre of excellence. Our ultra-modern school buildings allow our pupils to flourish in facilities for learning that truly does enable us to trail blaze innovative learning – from the bright and attractive classrooms to the fully equipped outside play areas, the facilities allow our pupils to fully explore their talents and to shine in those areas that they most enjoy.

A building, however, is only as good as the people working within; we believe we have some of the best students and teachers in the world. Staff and pupils benefit from the investment we place in their development: as well as playing a key part in supporting other schools through the Achievement through Collaboration Trust, we have a variety of external partners from Google, The Schools, Students and Teacher Network, and with University College London. Partnerships like these create opportunities for all members of our team.

About the Trust

Achievement through Collaboration is a Trust with a purpose! We want our children, our staff and our schools to Achieve, Belong and Collaborate.  

To achieve our purpose, we know there are things we need to get right!

Through a clear definition and articulation of the values and beliefs of Achievement through Collaboration, we’ve built an organisation with children at the heart of everything we do. Our schools have the individuality to make the right choices for their pupils, staff and communities within a culture of collaboration.  

Our Trust Board owns the strategic plan, holding the executive team to account to deliver it whilst delegating the correct things to the Local Governing Bodies. LGBs are supported to build their role around the children, parents and staff of their individual school whilst expressing the “we” of the Trust. 

Key to maintaining our successful educational standards is a clear trust wide school improvement strategy/plan that meets the needs of every school wherever they are on their journey. Our Trust Wide strategy for capturing the most effective practice and transmitting it between more classrooms is in place and underpinned by a workforce talent management strategy that facilitates staff development and deployment.  

A strong central team connects the academies enabling leaders and teachers to concentrate on educational delivery. Achievement through Collaboration is financially stable which enables the strategic allocation of resources that enables standards to be maintained and improvements to be achieved.

We believe that all children, staff and schools benefit from belonging to a family of schools within a strong collaborative multi-academy trust. We are an outward organisation, we embrace innovation and opportunities that benefit our pupils. AtC has invested in staff to build capacity to collaborate with other schools and we are now actively looking to grow further.

If you share our values and are committed to ensuring that our children at Witton children have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and character to shape future success for themselves and their world, we look forward to hearing from you.

Jane Chambers 

Chief Executive Officer

Safeguarding Information

AtC Trust and its Schools are committed to safeguarding children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service which will require you to disclose all unspent/unfiltered criminal convictions.

Achievement Through Collaboration Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination, and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.



We understand how important choosing the right school is and so, on behalf of our children and staff, we warmly invite you to visit our school and experience for yourself the quality of education we offer.