Deputy Headteacher (St Simon of England Primary)

Overview

An exciting opportunity to join the leadership of a thriving Catholic school. St. Simon’s Catholic Primary School is seeking an inspirational, committed and enthusiastic Deputy Headteacher to join our leadership team. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will work closely with the Headteacher to drive school improvement, uphold high standards of teaching and learning, and strengthen our mission as a Catholic school rooted in Gospel values. This is a reserved post, open to practising Catholics who can actively support and promote the Catholic life, ethos and mission of our school. The role includes some classroom responsibility.

Salary & Benefits

Salary range: L3 - L8 (£56,298 - £63,688 Per Year)

Location

St Simon of England Catholic Primary School
Noakes Meadow
Ashford
Kent
TN23 4RB

About our school and about the role

About Our School

St. Simon’s is a welcoming, nurturing and vibrant school community where every child is known, valued and encouraged to flourish academically, spiritually and personally. As part of Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership (KCSP)—a family of 33 Catholic schools across Kent—we are committed to providing high‑quality Catholic education, underpinned by faith, ambition, love and service.

We are proud of:

Our friendly, motivated pupils and positive learning environment
Our committed staff who work collaboratively and support one another
Our strong partnerships with parents, parish and the wider community
Our ambitious culture of continual improvement

The Role

We are looking for a practising Catholic who:

Is committed to promoting and developing the Catholic life and mission of the school.
Has a proven track record of excellent classroom practice and leadership.
Has high expectations of achievement, behaviour and inclusion for all pupils.
Demonstrates excellent knowledge of curriculum development, assessment and school improvement.
Can inspire, motivate and develop colleagues through high-quality professional support and coaching.
Has a strong commitment to safeguarding, wellbeing and ensuring that every child thrives.
Builds positive and productive relationships with pupils, parents, staff, governors, parish and the wider community.
Leads with integrity, compassion, professionalism and ambition.

At St Simon's, our vision is centred on providing knowledge-rich, skills-led learning with Christ at the heart of all we do. We are proud of our welcoming and inclusive community, our enthusiastic pupils, supportive staff team and strong partnerships with families and the parish. As part of the Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership, you will benefit from excellent professional development opportunities and collaboration across a successful family of schools.

In return, we offer:

A warm, caring and supportive Catholic community.
Enthusiastic children who are eager to learn and succeed.
A committed and dedicated staff team.
High-quality professional development and leadership opportunities.
Strong Trust-wide networks and support through KCSP.
The opportunity to help shape the future of a successful and ambitious school.

This is a reserved post and is open to practising Catholics who can actively support and promote the Catholic life and mission of the school.

If you are an enthusiastic leader ready to make a significant contribution to our school community, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Visits and Enquiries

We warmly encourage prospective applicants to visit St. Simon’s to experience our community and ethos.
Please contact Michelle Keleher via email to arrange a visit: office@st-simons-ashford.kcsp.org.uk

Deadline and how to apply

How to apply - please complete and submit the application documents below by 5pm on 21st October 2026, directly to the school at: office@st-simons-ashford.kcsp.org.uk:

Please send your letter of application and related application documents directly to Michelle Keleher (Office / HR Manager) office@st-simons-ashford.kcsp.org.uk. Your supporting statement should be limited to 2,000 words max. and should outline why you feel you are suited to this role, what you believe you can bring to the school and detail your experience to date, skill set and qualifications.

Safeguarding

St. Simon’s Catholic Primary School and KCSP are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff to share this commitment.

Any offer of employment will be subject to:

Enhanced DBS check
Section 128 check (where applicable)
Online and social media checks
Satisfactory references
Pre‑employment health questionnaire

Equal opportunities

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment where all individuals are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. We actively promote equality across all areas of employment and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, and we are dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of our staff—including a strong focus on mental health, family-friendly policies, and inclusive practices that reflect the richness of our school communities.

Together, we strive to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the children and families we serve.

Job reference: DHTSSA01