Deputy Head Academic

Deputy Head Academic (Senior School)

Start Time: August 2026

Job Purpose

The Deputy Head Academic (DHA) is the senior leader responsible for securing high academic standards, curriculum coherence, assessment integrity and strong examination outcomes across Years 7–13.

The DHA holds strategic accountability for academic standards. Operational implementation is delivered through Heads of Department and relevant Assistant Headteachers, including the Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning, who will lead the operational execution of key areas within this framework.

In a context where approximately 80% of students do not have English as their first language, the DHA holds explicit strategic accountability for ensuring that academic progress and examination performance are fully supported by high-quality and strategically aligned EAL provision.

The DHA also holds oversight of the Senior School admissions testing programme and line management responsibility for examinations administration, ensuring compliance, integrity and operational capacity.

The role is strategic, systemic and focused on standards. The DHA owns academic accountability; operational delivery is led through delegated senior and middle leaders.

Reporting Line

Reports to: Principal

Line manages:

• Heads of Department (Senior School subjects)

• Head of EAL

• Academic Data/Assessment Lead (if applicable)

• Timetabling Manager

• Examinations Officer (internal and external exams)

Works closely with:

• Vice Principal (Operations)

• Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning

• Director of Upper Senior and Sixth Form

• Director of Pastoral Care and Parental Communication

• DSL/SEND

Core Responsibilities

1. Academic Standards & Outcomes (Years 7–13)

The DHA holds ultimate accountability for academic outcomes at IGCSE and A Level.

The DHA will:

• Lead post-results analysis and strategic improvement planning.

• Ensure credible and accurate predicted grades.

• Oversee department performance review structures.

• Monitor value-added performance across ability streams and departments.

• Identify staff or departmental underperformance and ensure structured improvement plans are implemented.

• Ensure standards remain ambitious yet realistic within a mixed-ability, EAL-heavy context.

Operational monitoring and follow-through may be delegated to the Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning, but accountability remains with the DHA.

The DHA is the single point of accountability for examination standards.

2. Curriculum Strategy & Coherence (Years 7-13)

The DHA designs and safeguards the academic framework. Operational implementation is led through Heads of Department and the Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning.

The DHA will:

• Ensure progression and alignment across KS3, KS4 and KS5.

• Oversee the integrity of the three-stream IGCSE pathway model.

• Ensure EAL considerations are embedded in pathway decisions.

• Approve curriculum changes and subject pathway decisions.

• Advise on subject viability in partnership with the Principal.

• Ensure curriculum provision aligns with university ambition and financial sustainability.

• Ensure a rigorous super-curricular programme is strategically aligned to high-attaining pathways.

3. Strategic Oversight of EAL Provision (Years 7-13)

The DHA holds strategic responsibility for ensuring linguistic development directly supports academic standards.

The DHA will:

• Ensure EAL provision is strategically aligned to curriculum and examination demands.

• Line manage the Head of EAL.

• Ensure EAL staffing levels are sufficient to support academic pathways.

• Align EAL curriculum planning with subject-specific academic vocabulary and examination language requirements.

• Ensure EAL intervention models support IGCSE and A Level success.

• Monitor the impact of EAL provision on examination outcomes.

• Ensure departments embed academic literacy within subject teaching.

• Ensure appropriate linguistic readiness for KS4 and KS5 progression.

Operational coordination may be supported by the Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning; strategic accountability remains with the DHA.

4. Assessment & Data Systems (Years 7-13)

The DHA owns the strategic design and integrity of academic tracking and monitoring systems.

The DHA will:

• Design, refine and embed academic tracking systems and reporting cycles.

• Ensure consistency of departmental assessment practice (including homework schedules).

• Chair whole-school academic standards meetings.

• Lead predicted grade moderation and sign-off.

• Oversee reporting quality and accuracy.

• Ensure appropriate use of tracking data by staff and mentors.

• Ensure data systems integrate EAL progress indicators.

Operational data routines and monitoring processes may be overseen by the Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning, under DHA direction.

No parallel academic systems should operate outside DHA oversight.

5. Quality Assurance of Teaching & Learning (Years 7-13)

The DHA holds strategic oversight of academic quality assurance. Day-to-day operational leadership of teaching and learning is led by the Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning.

The DHA will:

• Set the academic expectations for review cycles.

• Oversee departmental review frameworks.

• Ensure subject-specific teaching supports academic language development.

• Hold Heads of Department accountable for curriculum delivery and outcomes.

• Contribute to academic components of performance management and appraisal.

• Align professional development priorities with academic standards.

The Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning will lead operational delivery of review cycles, lesson observation processes and classroom practice development within this strategic framework.

6. Senior School Admissions Testing Programme

The DHA holds strategic responsibility for the integrity and alignment of admissions testing.

This includes:

• Designing or approving academic components of entrance assessments.

• Ensuring assessments measure subject readiness and English proficiency appropriately.

• Aligning admissions criteria with curriculum pathways and EAL capacity.

• Ensuring fairness, consistency and integrity in procedures.

• Overseeing moderation and standardisation.

• Reviewing admissions data against academic strategy and staffing capacity.

• Working with Admissions and the Principal to ensure thresholds are defensible.

Operational coordination of admissions testing may be delegated, but standards and integrity sit with the DHA.

7. Examinations Oversight (External and Internal)

The DHA holds line management responsibility for the Examinations Officer and is accountable for examination integrity and compliance.

A. External Examinations (IGCSE and A Level)

• Ensure compliance with examination board regulations.

• Oversee entry, access arrangements and security.

• Monitor deadlines and regulatory requirements.

• Lead post-series reviews.

B. Internal Examinations

• Ensure internal processes reflect whole-school assessment policy.

• Oversee mock examinations.

• Ensure consistency of exam standards across departments.

• Monitor integrity of internal examination data.

Operational logistics are managed by the Examinations Officer; accountability rests with the DHA.

8. Parent and External Academic Communication

• Present examination outcomes and academic strategy.

• Articulate how EAL provision supports academic success.

• Lead academic components of IGCSE and Sixth Form information evenings.

• Contribute to the school’s academic marketing narrative.

9. Leadership Contribution

• Support whole-school strategy.

• Hold responsibility for the academic budget.

• Participate in senior leadership structures.

• Ensure EAL provision is financially sustainable.

• Advise on academic implications of recruitment profiles.

• Review and update academic policies.

• Model high expectations and intellectual credibility.

• Contribute to staff induction.

• Produce Board papers and attend meetings as required.

• Represent the academic direction of the school publicly.

Measures of Success (Indicative – within 2–3 years)

• Improved IGCSE and A Level outcomes.

• Greater predicted grade accuracy.

• Stronger EAL-supported academic progress.

• Consistent assessment practice.

• Clear accountability structures.

• Improved university destinations.

• Increased parental confidence in academic credibility.

• Increased parental confidence in academic credibility

Professional Profile

The DHA will be:

• A credible academic leader with A Level experience.

• Experienced in mixed-ability and EAL-heavy contexts

• A disciplined systems embedder.

• Skilled in examination systems and regulatory compliance

• Calm, politically astute and collaborative.

• Committed to high academic standards, raising them steadily and sustainably

SPGS International School Chengdu is committed to ensuring and promoting the health and safety of children. Successful applicants will:

1. Participate in the school's regular training on child protection, and sign the code of conduct

2. Immediately report to the designated or acting safeguarding lead for any potential risks for the children

3. Strictly abide by the school's policies on information confidentiality and protection

4. Play the role of safeguarding members to promote and ensure the health and safety development of all students in the school

5. Report any students concerns to the designated or acting safeguarding lead

6. Report any unsafe behavior on campus to the designated or acting safety lead in accordance with the school's "whistle blowing" policy

7. Maintain a professional relationship with students and respect and maintain personal boundaries

SPGS International School Chengdu is committed to safe recruitment and child protection, relevant qualifications and police clearance of applicants will be verified

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities for the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified, especially in the context of a school which requires flexibility in all of its employees.

This job description is current at the date shown but, in consultation with the post holder, may be changed by the Principal to reflect or anticipate changes in the job commensurate with the grade and job title.