Depute Head Teacher - Preston Lodge High School

Vacancy Information

DHT/HT Salary Scale Point 6 (£68,742 per annum)

Temporary until 11th August 2024.
Days and Hours of Work:
Days and hours still to be confirmed.
To start 14th August 2023.

Preston Lodge High School is a non-denominational secondary school serving the communities of Cockenzie, Port Seton, Longniddry and Prestonpans.  Our roll is currently 1050, and the school is very easily commutable from Edinburgh by bus or train.  The strengths of our school are:

• The high morale, sense of belonging and positive ethos of the school community
• The contributions of young people to improvements and our significantly improved attainment
• The nurturing, inclusive work of staff across the school in supporting young people’s learning

Our motivated staff, students, parents, carers and the community we serve have worked hard together to further improve all aspects of our school, and staff seem to genuinely like working at Preston Lodge. Many new staff comment on our welcoming, nurturing and happy atmosphere, and although we face the same challenges as all schools post-covid, our community is strong, we are optimistic, and there is much to celebrate.

This opportunity has arisen because two members of our current Senior Leadership Team are reducing their hours. The remit of the successful candidate will primarily focus on QI 3.2 Raising Attainment and Achievement and QI2.3 Learning, Teaching and Assessment. However, we plan to fully review SLT remits for session 23-24 which will create other remit options for all SLT members. Whatever skills candidates bring, we are looking for a hard working, highly effective and enthusiastic new member for our team, who enjoys what they do, has a good sense of humour and is keen to make a difference to the lives of young people.

Our work as a school is focused on continuously improving our approach to classroom practice, developing student and staff learning, improving our curriculum offer and improving attainment, with a keen focus on our equity gap.  Our PL Learning Cycle ensures staff think hard about the learning that they offer, and staff and students work together to develop an understanding of not just the key skills that should be learned by students, but how they should be learned and why they are important.

Our curriculum fully meets the expectations of Curriculum for Excellence, and we are increasingly exploring alternative awards for young people.  For example, we are a big user of the Open Universities Young Applicants in Scottish Schools scheme and have an increasing number of students participating in Youth Achievement Awards - all S3 students now undertake the Bronze Award of this scheme. Although we have very strong Positive Destinations data (98.5% this February!), we are working hard to diversify our Senior Phase, to better meet the needs of all students.

This is an exciting time for Preston Lodge High School, and the community it serves. Further details about the school can be found on our website at http://www.prestonlodge.net. and although we are currently developing a new website there is a wealth of information about the school and its culture in the Publications section - do take a look at our weekly PLus newsletter to find out more about who we are!

Gavin Clark

Headteacher, Preston Lodge High School, Park View, Prestonpans 

Job Details

The role of a Depute Head Teacher is to assist and, where necessary, to deputise for the Head Teacher as required. The role of the Head Teacher is, within the resources available, to conduct the affairs of the school to the benefit of the pupils and the community it serves, through pursuing objectives and implementing policies set by East Lothian Council under the overall direction of the Head of Education.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job.  You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form.  You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work.  Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours.  Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications
Full GTCS Registration is required.

PVG Membership
This post is considered as Regulated Work with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note: PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UKwebsite.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link:
www.eastlothian.gov.uk/teachinginfo

Please Note - Pay arrangements for those starting after 1st day of school session
In accordance with Teachers Conditions of Service (SNCT - Appendix 2.19), Teachers who commence employment with East Lothian Council after the first day of the school session will have their salary for the remainder of the school salary year (which runs from 1 August to 31 July each year), ; recalculated to reflect how teachers accrue leave and pay.

In these circumstances, a calculation will be carried out upon commencement of employment and leave and pay will be adjusted.  Further information will be provided to the successful candidate should this be applicable.

East Lothian Council Schools:
Further details on all East Lothian Council Primary and Secondary Schools, including individual school websites can be found here:
Primary Schools
Secondary Schools

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail).  All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form.  Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form.