Deputy Headteacher - The John Hampden School
Location: Wendover
Overview
We are an infant school in the heart of Wendover, where we nurture a love of learning through a broad, balanced and engaging education that celebrates diversity, curiosity and individual potential. We are proud of our warm, inclusive community where every child is known, valued and supported to thrive.
Our recent Ofsted report (2024) recognised that "children get off to an exceptional start in both learning and personal development. Pupils' outcomes at the end of key stage 1 are extremely strong."
What makes us special? Our seven core values, perseverance, respect, good manners, reflection, belonging, collaboration and independence are lived and breathed by our entire school community every single day. We are also deeply committed to developing environmentally aware and responsible citizens who understand their role in caring for our planet and local community.
Term time only: No
Salary Details: Leadership L6 to L10
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Closing date: 01/10/2026
Interviews to be held: 08/10/2026
About us
This is a genuinely exciting leadership opportunity. You will take a major role in formulating our aims and objectives for school development, establishing policies and action plans, managing staff and resources, and monitoring our progress.
You will have a teaching commitment of 2 days per week, allowing you to model outstanding practice and stay connected to the classroom experience, with 3 days for leadership responsibilities.
This role offers the perfect balance of strategic leadership and hands-on impact, where you can see the direct results of your work in children's progress and staff development.
Website: The John Hampden School - Home
About the role
This is a genuinely exciting leadership opportunity. You will take a major role in formulating our aims and objectives for school development, establishing policies and action plans, managing staff and resources, and monitoring our progress.
You will have a teaching commitment of 2 days per week, allowing you to model outstanding practice and stay connected to the classroom experience, with 3 days for leadership responsibilities.
This role offers the perfect balance of strategic leadership and hands-on impact, where you can see the direct results of your work in children's progress and staff development.
About you
We are looking for an inspiring leader who shares our passion for infant education coupled with ability and enthusiasm to see every child fulfil their potential.
You will be an experienced EYFS and KS1 practitioner with expertise in phonics and early reading. Your strategic thinking and data analysis skills will drive school improvement, while your visible, empowering leadership style will develop staff through coaching, mentoring and high-quality professional development.
As an approachable and empathetic leader, you will build strong relationships across our community and champion our seven core values. You'll be committed to inclusion, with ambitious expectations for all pupils including those with SEND.
If you are an ambitious, collaborative leader who believes in the transformative power of early education, we'd love to hear from you.
Other information
We warmly welcome and encourage school visits. Our headteacher or chair of governors will be happy to accompany you on a tour between Monday 21st September and Friday 25th September. Please email Julie Hazel on [email protected] or phone 01296 622629 to arrange this.
Please submit your formal application to [email protected] FAO Mrs S Parkinson Headteacher, by 3pm Thursday 1st October.
The recruitment panel will commence shortlisting on Friday 2nd October and candidates will be notified of the decision by 5pm on the same day as to whether they have or have not been included on the shortlist.
Our appointment panel will call for references for shortlisted candidates via our administrative support staff at the time the invitation to interview is sent.
Interviews will be held at the school on Thursday 8th October.
The John Hampden School Wendover is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation Offenders Act 1974 and amendments to the exemptions order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Any job offer will be conditional on the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service and barred list check.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:
• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).
For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).
It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.
