Deputy Headteacher

WELLFIELD INFANT AND NURSERY SCHOOL
Church Road
Ashton-on-Mersey
M33 5QW
0161 962 1828
Headteacher: Mrs Joanne Thirkill

“We Inspire and Nurture Success”

DEPUTY HEADTEACHER - Required for September 2026
NOR: 211 Salary Range: L6 L10

Our outstanding infant and nursery school is a warm, welcoming and vibrant village school at the heart of its community. We pride ourselves on knowing our children and families well, nurturing strong relationships and creating a caring, inclusive environment where every child feels safe, valued and inspired to learn. Rooted in play based, experiential learning, we place children at the centre of everything we do and believe passionately in enabling every child to achieve their very best.

Following the retirement of our substantive Deputy Headteacher in July 2025, the school has been thoughtfully and effectively supported by an acting Deputy Headteacher during a year of stability, reflection and continued success. As we look ahead to the next exciting stage of our school’s journey, the Governing Body is now seeking to appoint a substantive Deputy Headteacher to work alongside the Headteacher, staff and governors to help shape the future direction of our school.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an inspirational, ambitious leader who values the unique strengths of a village school, understands the importance of community partnership, and is passionate about early childhood education. The successful candidate will play a significant role in strategic leadership and school improvement, leading by example with energy, warmth and integrity, and inspiring others through their commitment to excellence, inclusion and continuous professional growth.

The Deputy Headteacher will:
Undertake the normal responsibilities of a class teacher, modelling exemplary practice and a deep understanding of how young children learn
Be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to strategic decision making and whole school improvement
Work in close partnership with the Headteacher to lead, manage and evaluate the effectiveness of the school
Deputise for the Headteacher at meetings and events, and undertake the Headteacher’s duties in their absence as required by the Governing Body
Play a central role in shaping, reviewing and delivering the school’s vision, values and School Development Plan (SDP)
Hold clearly defined areas of strategic leadership responsibility across the school, aligned to SDP priorities
Lead improvement work with ambition and clarity, using evidence and impact to inform next steps
Adapt leadership responsibilities over time in response to the evolving needs and priorities of the school

Key Responsibilities
Leadership responsibilities will evolve over time and may include curriculum leadership, quality of education, behaviour and culture, inclusion, staff development or organisational systems, in line with SDP priorities.

The Deputy Headteacher will:
1. Lead and model the school’s values, culture and professional standards, ensuring they are embedded consistently across the school.
2. Contribute actively to governance, supporting and advising the Governing Body through professional dialogue, reporting and accountability.
3. Build strong partnerships with parents and carers, recognising them as key partners and responding constructively to concerns with clarity, warmth and professionalism.
4. Work effectively with external agencies and professional partners to strengthen inclusion, safeguarding and pupil outcomes.
5. Develop and sustain positive relationships with the wider community, ensuring the school is outward facing, reflective and responsive to local context by:
o Championing a positive and professional image of the school
o Ensuring the curriculum draws meaningfully on children’s lived experiences and the local community
6. Contribute to system leadership by working with other schools and organisations, sharing practice and engaging in professional challenge to secure excellent outcomes for all pupils.

Our Deputy Headteacher will:
Demonstrate a strong moral purpose and an unrelenting commitment to equity and excellence
Be ambitious for every child and every adult within the school community
Lead with excitement, courage, integrity and warmth, particularly when navigating complexity or change
Inspire others through visible leadership, reflective practice and clear expectations
Demonstrate deep and current knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with proven experience of securing high quality continuous provision in Key Stage 1 that builds coherently and purposefully from EYFS principles
Champion a culture where curiosity, creativity and thoughtful risk taking are encouraged, and where children build resilience through exploration, reflection and perseverance
Model a deep understanding of play based and experiential learning, underpinned by strong pedagogical knowledge
Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and the ability to lead, influence and develop others
Be a collaborative, self reflective leader, committed to ongoing professional learning and growth

What We Offer
A warm, welcoming and inclusive school community with strong shared values
A genuine ‘school family’, where staff, parents and governors work in close partnership
A vibrant, forward thinking environment where innovation, reflection and professional trust are encouraged
Delightful children who are curious, enthusiastic and eager to learn
A strong commitment to leadership development, including high quality professional learning to support future headship
A supportive and experienced leadership team who prioritise wellbeing, balance and sustainable leadership
Dedicated weekly leadership release time to enable strategic thinking, collaboration and reflection

Applications must be made using the Trafford Application form which can be found on our school website: www.wellfieldinfants.com

All application forms should be returned directly to school FAO Joanne Thirkill (Headteacher) head@wellfieldinfants.com

Visits to the school are encouraged, tours will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday 12 May 2026 and 9:30 am on Friday 15 May 2026.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check and online searches are required for the successful applicant. In line with safer recruitment, please ensure that your application covers your full employment history and there is a reason noted for any gaps in employment.

Closing Date Monday 18 May 2026 at 9:00 am
Shortlisting - Monday 18 May 2026
Interviews Friday 22 May 2026