Please Note: Interviews will take place on 13th and 14th October 2025.

About us and the role

Are you an ambitious and experienced senior leader ready to take the next step in your career? If so, this could be the opportunity to make your mark at a forward-thinking school that is reimagining the purpose of education.

The Deputy Principal will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our school and driving forward a culture of excellence. This is a rare opportunity to join a thriving, values-driven community in a role where you will have significant responsibility for the operational running and strategic direction of the school, working to raise attainment, champion outstanding teaching, and shape an inspiring curriculum.

Working closely with the Head of School, you will contribute to the school’s strategic vision while ensuring that every student achieves their full potential academically and flourishes personally. As a visible and influential figure, you will model exemplary classroom practice, mentor and develop colleagues, and embed a culture of safeguarding, wellbeing, and high expectations across the school.

If you are ready to take on significant responsibility, inspire others, and make a measurable difference to the lives of young people and the wider community, we would be delighted to hear from you.

School visits are warmly welcomed and encouraged. Please contact us to arrange a suitable time.

Avanti Grange is Bishop’s Stortford’s newest secondary school, already recognised as Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted (2025). Our state-of-the-art campus serves families across Bishop’s Stortford and neighbouring villages, and is home to a vibrant, ambitious and supportive community. The school is heavily oversubscribed, reflecting its strong reputation locally and the demand to be part of our journey.

We are a co-educational community school, part of the Avanti Schools Trust, with a clear vision to inspire spiritually compassionate changemakers. Our staff are motivated by a shared purpose: to deliver exceptional teaching, foster character formation, and nurture wellbeing. As one colleague put it: “Working at Avanti Grange feels like being part of a family with a shared, values-driven mission.”

We are equally committed to the growth of our staff as to the success of our students. In 2024, we were awarded the Teacher Development Trust Gold Award for the quality and culture of our professional development – recognition held by only a small number of schools nationally. Through education-leading CPD and coaching, colleagues at Avanti Grange thrive in an environment where “better never stops.”

Students benefit from a rigorous, knowledge-rich curriculum, underpinned by yoga, mindfulness, and an exceptional co-curricular programme. Our pastoral system is a defining strength: impeccable behaviour supports high-quality learning, while wellbeing is woven into daily life through practices that allow both staff and students to flourish.

With more than 660 students on roll and growing each year towards a full secondary and sixth form, Avanti Grange offers a rare opportunity to help shape one of the most exciting schools in the region.

What will you do?

• Provide strategic leadership to raise academic outcomes at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, ensuring high standards of progress and attainment across all subject areas.
• Monitor and evaluate the standard of teaching and its effectiveness in securing individual and school targets, identifying and organising professional development and training needs as required.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of the National Curriculum and effective use of data tools such as FFT, ASP and SISRA Analytics to inform strategic decision-making.
• Support the Head of School in meeting responsibilities; prepare reports and collate evidence, support the drafting of self-evaluation documents, devise objectives and evaluate progress towards those objectives.
• Work with the Executive Principal, Head of School, School Stakeholder Committee, Avanti Schools Trust, colleagues and parents to review the values and vision for the school.
• Share and support the corporate responsibility for the wellbeing, safety and discipline of all children in accordance with the values, culture, ethos, equal opportunities and inclusion policies of the school proactively promoting anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-discriminatory behaviours.

Why should you apply

Avanti exists to help each person become a well-rounded human being through intellectual, moral and spiritual growth, and so make the world a better place.

You will be working in a fantastic environment, with:

• Great opportunities for professional development
• Teacher pension scheme (subject to eligibility)
• O2 discounts, Specsavers corporate eye test vouchers
• Eligible for NUS Card and CSSC membership
• Well-being programs (retreats, yoga, wellness apps)
• Cycle-to-work Scheme

What are we looking for?

• Qualified Teaching Status or equivalent.
• Proven experience in a leadership role within a secondary school.
• Strong understanding of curriculum development, teaching methodologies, and assessment practices.
• Experience in managing staff and supporting their professional development.
• Experience in building effective relationships with staff, parents and carers, governors, and the wider school community.
• Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all students.

Please view the full Job Description for more information on the responsibilities and essential criteria required for this role.

Further information

Pre-employment checks

Avanti Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates are required to have an Enhanced DBS check unless internally appointed and still within the cycle of DBS re-checks.

Any appointment subsequently made will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks.

Diversity and Inclusion

We want to make sure we are attracting the widest possible range of people and ensure that they are accepted, understood and treated equally when they work here. This means we will work hard to understand that each employee is unique and ensuring that individuals or groups are not treated differently or less favourably on the basis of specific characteristics.

Such characteristics include (but are not limited to) age, disability, gender including transgender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, and how the school supports pregnant women and new parents.