School: Swanlea School
Location: Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, London
Salary: L25–29 (£103,211–£112,822) plus R&R £581
Contract: Full time, permanent
Closing date: Monday 27 April 2026, midday
Selection dates: Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 May 2026
Start date: September 2026
Swanlea School is an outstanding secondary school in the heart of Tower Hamlets, consistently ranked among the highest-performing schools nationally for KS4 progress. We serve one of the most deprived communities in the UK, and we are driven by an absolute conviction that disadvantage is no barrier to achievement. Our pupils are remarkable, kind, determined and ambitious for their futures, and our staff are equally exceptional in their commitment to making a difference.
We are seeking a Deputy Headteacher to lead our Key Stage 4 raising standards work and hold whole-school strategic responsibility for personal development, wellbeing, ethos and culture. This is a broad and genuinely exciting brief for an exceptional leader who is ready to make a significant and lasting contribution to one of London's leading schools.
The successful candidate will:
- have substantial leadership experience at Assistant Headteacher level or equivalent in a secondary school setting
- have a strong track record of sustaining high standards of pupil achievement, particularly at Key Stage 4
- have experience of working in a school serving a diverse community, including securing strong outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and vulnerable groups
- have the ability to lead, develop and constructively challenge middle and senior leaders to secure the best outcomes for pupils
- have the drive, integrity and moral purpose to make a real and lasting difference to young people's lives
In return, we offer:
- a collegiate and deeply supportive staff team
- a genuine commitment to professional learning and staff wellbeing
- a school at the heart of one of London's most vibrant, diverse and historically rich communities
- the satisfaction of working in a school where the impact of great leadership is visible every single day
- pupils whose potential, energy and ambition will drive you to make a real difference
Visits to the school will take place on Wednesday 15 April and Monday 20 April at 4pm. Please email
recruitment@swanlea.co.uk to register your interest.
This appointment is supported by
ASCL's Leadership Appointment Service. If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sam White at
sam.white@ascl.org.uk.
Full details of the role, including the Job Description, Person Specification and information on how to apply, can be found in the Applicant Pack available
here.
Apply here
Swanlea School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and online checks as part of the process. We welcome applications regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity or religion.