Job Title: Deputy Headteacher

Start Time: August 2025

The Role

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our flourishing school, at a crucial stage, on the path to making SPGSI a truly exceptional school. If you believe that you have the skills and qualities needed to make a contribution as our Senior Deputy Head, then we would love to hear from you. You will have a proven track record of inspiring others to reach challenging goals through effective communication and good judgement. You will be able to work successfully within a team and independently.

The Senior Deputy Head works closely alongside the Principal who is also Head of the Senior School. The Senior Deputy Head shares responsibility for the day to day running of school life and is responsible for supporting a culture of independent learning, academic aspiration and intellectual enquiry. By virtue of their standing, the Senior Deputy Head has the authority to take independent decisions where appropriate and may be called upon to deputise for the Head of the Senior School from time to time.

Job Overview

Strategic

· Ensure ongoing school improvement and strategic development.

· Work in partnership with, and deputise for the School Principal to provide effective strategic leadership and operational management of the school.

· Ensure effective action planning in realisation of the School Development Plan.

· Ensure that the school remains inspection ready at all times including updating and preparing policies and relevant documentation for BSO.

· Work with the School Principal in helping to establish a culture that promotes excellence, equality and high expectations for all members of the school community.

· Embody and promote SPGSI’s core values (Achievement, Community, Creativity, Liberalism, Possibility) in all aspects of your work and interactions.

· Support the School Principal with the internal organisation and management of the school.

· Contribute to the leadership, vision and management across all aspects of the school, to establish a culture of excellence, equality, and high expectations.

· Manage staff and resources to achieve the school’s vision, aims and objectives.

· Monitor and evaluate progress towards achieving the school’s vision, aims and objectives.

· Advise the Head of Junior School, Head of Senior School and Advisory Board on future development of the school

· Have oversight of academic and pastoral aspects and functions of the whole school.

· Contribute to the distributed management and collective ethos within the school.

· Attend meetings of the Governing Board as required

Faculty and Staff Performance Management

· Set and maintain clear expectations for staff and students.

· Ensure effective action planning amongst Departmental Development Plans.

· Line manage the school’s provision of EAL and SEN support

· Lead where appropriate, staff meetings as required including department meetings, staff / curriculum meetings etc.

· Lead, manage and motivate identified senior and middle leaders within the school community to fulfil their potential and challenge underperformance in an effective and timely manner.

· Challenge unacceptable performance amongst staff.

· Delegate tasks within a distributed management culture and develop staff, ensuring appropriate monitoring.

· Work with middle leaders in monitoring, supporting and reviewing self-evaluation.

· Lead and co-ordinate new staff induction, staff appraisal and professional development

· Set professional standards and academic expectations for all staff

· Contribute to the production of clear, evidence-based improvement plans and policies for the development of the school and its facilities.

· Maintain oversight of Senior School department budgets and budgets for academic CPD

· Be consistent in upholding agreed principles and practices.

· Recognise success in achievement and development.

Timetable & Examinations

· Develop and refine the senior school timetable to reflect both the school’s and local government requirements.

· Work closely with the AH Pastoral to develop and refine the junior school timetable to reflect both the school’s and local government requirements

· Maintain an overview of internal exams, ensuring their smooth running

· Work with curriculum leaders to ensure that the school delivers a broad and balanced offer which reflects the development of IGCSE and A Level examination curriculum

Operational

· Work with the Advisory Board providing information, objective advice and support to enable it to meet its responsibilities.

· Work with members of the Senior Leadership Team, providing information, objective advice and support to promote school improvement.

· Assist planning, organising or delivering school enrichment day events and activities (including residential activities) where relevant

· Advise the Head of Senior School on academic budgets and educational spending priorities in line with school policies, practice and procedures

· Advise the School Principal on matters related to academic and pastoral matters arising in the school.

· Plan and oversee the Senior School’s reporting cycle

· Make recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team for the use of teaching spaces and advising on maintenance priorities

· Keep all relevant policies under regular (ordinarily annual) review

Communication

· Liaise with the external partners in order to contribute to the effectiveness of the school.

· Follow SPGS International School Chengdu’s policies regarding communication with parents

· Actively establish good relations and communication with parents

· Promote high quality relationships with all stakeholders.

· Create and maintain an effective partnership with parents and carers to improve every student’s achievement and personal development.

· To attend, support and participate in school events as required.

· To ensure the best possible representation of SPGSI in the community.

· Attend parents’ conferences as required

Working with Others

· Be approachable to all within the school community.

· Develop and promote the school as part of the wider community through partnership and collaboration.

· Work with other leaders, in mutually supportive professional partnerships, which set a model for professional relationships throughout the school.

· Collaborate with colleagues from SPGSI schools.

· Act as a role model for all stakeholders.

· Promote effective relations with other educational establishments, especially schools within SPGSI group.

General

· Teach as directed or timetabled.

· Supervise children during unstructured times as determined by the duty rota.

· Uphold the school’s values and ethos

· Be a good role model in respect of speech, dress, behaviour and care of equipment in line with the requirements laid out in the Staff Code of Conduct

Safeguarding

· Promote the welfare of all students at all times

· Comply with the school’s wellbeing and safeguarding policies and procedures, and the laws of the People’s Republic of China, and any school specific procedures/rules that apply to this role

· Respect and value each child’s social, cultural and religious background and by example, provide mutual respect and tolerance

· Follow SPGS International’s safeguarding policy with regard to the health and safety of children both on and off the school premises when students are under the school’s jurisdiction

· Recognise that Health and Safety is the responsibility of every employee

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

· Bachelor’s degree or above in Education

· Essential: Qualified Teacher Status and Degree

· Desirable: Post-graduate qualifications (e.g. MA, PHD); Further professional study (e.g. NPQH)

LANGUAGE

· Fluent in English.

WORKING EXPERIENCE

· Proven record of impact as a middle leader

· Proven record of impact as a senior leader

· Budgetary management

· Effective positive behaviour management

· Ability to track and monitor student progress and use the information to inform school development priorities

· Ability to build strong working relationships with staff and students

· Experience leading projects or initiatives

· Recent experience leading change

· Proven leadership of a team

· Proven record of good judgement

· Proven record of participation in the wider life of the school

· Proven impact as a classroom teacher in a prep and senior school

· Experience of leading significant whole school initiatives

COMPETENCIE

· Understanding of current developments in education

· Knowledge of school accountability measures

· Understanding of staff appraisal

· Understanding of curriculum planning and timetabling

· Understanding of safeguarding

SKILLS & APTITUDES

· Strong communication skills (both orally and in writing)

· Ability to investigate, solve problems and make decisions

· Strong leadership qualities

· A strong commitment to inclusion

· Clear sense of direction and purpose

· Personal impact, self-confidence and presence

· Energy, determination and perseverance

· Reliability and integrity

PERSONAL QUALITIES

· Be an effective team player that works collaboratively and effectively with others

· Excellent interpersonal skills, communicating (verbally and in-writing) effectively to a wide range of audiences

· Support, motivate and inspire both colleagues and pupils by leading through example

· Suitability to work with children

· Confidence, warmth, sensitivity, reliability and enthusiasm

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES & COMMITMENT

· Commitment to equality of opportunity for all regardless of gender, disability, religion, and ethnic origin

· Demonstrate a commitment to:

· safeguarding and child protection equalities

· promoting the school’s vision, values and ethos

· high quality, stimulating learning environment

· relating positively to and showing respect for all members of the school and wider community

· ongoing relevant professional self-development

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.