Lead, Inspire and Make a Difference!
We are seeking an ambitious, inspirational and highly motivated Senior Deputy Headteacher to join our dedicated and forward-thinking leadership team.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior leader who is passionate about education, committed to achieving the very best outcomes for every pupil, and ready to play a key role in shaping the continued success and development of our school.
Working closely with the Headteacher and wider leadership team, the Senior Deputy Headteacher will provide strong strategic and operational leadership across the school. You will be a visible, approachable and inspirational presence, helping to create a positive culture where pupils and staff are encouraged to thrive.
As Senior Deputy Headteacher, you will:
- Work closely with the Headteacher to provide outstanding leadership and direction across the school.
- Support the Headteacher in delivering the school's vision, values and strategic priorities.
- Be ready and able to deputise for the Headteacher in their absence, providing confident and effective leadership and ensuring the continued smooth running of the school.
- Lead on key areas of school improvement and contribute significantly to raising standards and improving outcomes for all pupils.
- Support and challenge colleagues to secure high standards of teaching, learning, behaviour and personal development.
- Develop and maintain positive relationships with pupils, staff, parents, governors and the wider community.
- Promote a culture of high expectations, inclusion, safeguarding and continuous improvement.
- Use data and evidence effectively to identify priorities and drive improvement.
- Support the development, wellbeing and professional growth of staff.
- Play a key role in maintaining a safe, supportive and positive learning environment for all pupils.
- Contribute to the strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the school.
We are looking for an exceptional leader who:
- Has significant experience of successful senior leadership within a school setting.
- Is an outstanding or highly effective teacher and educational leader.
- Has a proven track record of contributing to school improvement and raising pupil outcomes.
- Has excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
- Is confident in making decisions, managing complex situations and providing strong leadership when required.
- Has the confidence, experience and authority to step up and effectively lead the school in the Headteacher's absence.
- Is passionate about developing both pupils and staff.
- Is resilient, approachable and able to build strong professional relationships.
- Shares our commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Fortis Academy is more than a school. It is a thriving community where ambition, hard work, and opportunity come together. With a brand new, state of the art campus opening in 2030, Fortis is on track to become the largest academy in Birmingham, educating over 2,000 students from Year 11 to Sixth Form.
Our mission is simple: Enriching Lives. We develop confident, capable young people guided by our core values of character, resilience, and aspiration, which shape everything we do.
We offer a challenging, well-structured curriculum from GCSE to post 16 pathways, preparing students for further education, employment, and life beyond school. Every student is equipped with an iPad to support modern, flexible learning in school and at home.
Our success is driven by over 200 dedicated staff who are fully committed to supporting students and improving practice. Student wellbeing is central to life at Fortis, with strong support for mental health, confidence, and personal development. Our Sixth Form is one of Birmingham’s strongest, with a Value-Added score of 0.36 in 2026, enriched by opportunities that broaden horizons and build real world skills.
With outstanding facilities ahead and a growing community, Fortis Academy continues to inspire, support, and challenge every student to succeed.
All candidates are required to provide a supporting statement on the formal application forms which states clearly your reasons for applying, skills and experience for this position.
At
Shaw Education Trust, we believe every role has the power to transform a life.
Whether you’re supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, or
leading with vision, you will be part of something truly meaningful.
Our values— opportunity, integrity, community, and equity —guide everything we
do. Our vision is “Opening doors to the world through the power of
learning.” We bring this to life through our mission: working
together to inspire communities where every school is valued, every voice
matters, and every learner thrives.
We
are a dynamic and growing family of primary, secondary, and special schools,
proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury.
Our
people are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to their development
through high-quality training, apprenticeships, talent development programmes,
and research opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive as skilled,
confident professionals. We champion wellbeing, value every voice, and foster a
culture where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired to make a real
difference.
You
will join a collaborative network of schools where shared expertise and a
strong professional community drive success. Every academy within our Trust has
an equal voice, and every colleague plays a vital role in shaping tailored
learning experiences that raise aspirations and build brighter futures.
If
you have the passion, dedication, and drive to help shape lives and create
futures filled with promise, we would love you to join our team.
Together,
let’s make the remarkable happen.
We
believe every child has the potential to be extraordinary.
Shaw
Education Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching or
Support Staff employment:
- An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support
Staff) / Teachers Pension (Teaching Staff)
- Support Staff only based on working full time,
all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your first day of
employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’
service including Bank Holidays)
- Access to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy
health services designed to support your well-being.
- Free DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support
and Teaching), Exclusive discounts to save money with a wide selection of
discounts and exclusive offers from hundreds of the biggest brands.
- Free Eye Tests
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to our Institute of
Education and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute and
flourish in your role and in the Trust.
We
know our people are the key to our success and so we’re committed to
ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is a rewarding
one.
Colleagues
within the Trust benefit from: Access to a full range of courses both in-house and
professionally accredited. These courses include a variety of the National
Professional Qualifications and the Early Carer Teacher Programme delivered by
Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for Ambition Institute.
- Experienced
leadership and subject-specific support.
- Guidance
from former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.
- Access
to the Trust’s Institute of Education and SCITT.
- Opportunities
to work with different schools within the Trust as a Professional Advocate.
- Participating
in peer reviews.
- Access
to a suite of online courses.
- Placement
projects within our family of schools.
Shaw Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment, click here to review Safeguarding and Pupil Protection Policy https://www.shaw-education.org.uk/our-trust/key-information
This position is subject to robust vetting procedures, including an online search for all shortlisted candidates, successful candidates will be subject to a fully Enhanced DBS check along with other relevant employment checks. You will be asked to disclose all relevant unspent and, where applicable, unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions, and convictions.
As part of our safer recruitment and pre-employment checking process, all shortlisted candidates are required to provide original documentation to verify their identity, qualifications and RTW in the UK. Shaw Education Trust requires all applicants to be eligible to work in the UK with no restrictions as we are unable to offer sponsorship/work visas.
This role involves working with children and young people and therefore carries specific safeguarding responsibilities, details of these responsibilities are set out in the JD. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be required to disclose relevant criminal history information in accordance with current legislation and guidance.
Check if you need to tell someone about your criminal record: https://www.gov.uk/tell-employer-or-college-about-criminal-record/what-information-you-need-to-give
SET is an Equal Opportunities employer, we are fully committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection processes promote EDI at every stage.
In accordance with our safer recruitment policy CVs alone will not be accepted.
We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date as we review applications on an on-going basis and interviews may be arranged as suitable candidates are identified.