Deputy Director of Primary Education

609012

Email:  [email removed].

Website:  https://www.se-trust.org

• Salary – Competitive (L18-23 £78,702-£88,891 FTE)
• Permanent
• Full Time

Sapientia Education Trust is a successful and ambitious Multi-Academy Trust serving schools across Norfolk and Suffolk. Established in 2016, the Trust has grown to 22 schools, educating almost 9,000 pupils across primary, secondary and sixth form provision. With further schools expected to join the Trust in the coming years, we are entering an exciting new phase of growth, development and opportunity.

Our central teams provide expert support across education, finance, HR, ICT, health and safety, governance and estates. Together, we work in partnership with school leaders to remove barriers, drive improvement and ensure our schools have the resources they need to succeed.

THE ROLE

To help lead primary education across a growing Multi-Academy Trust and drive exceptional outcomes for children and young people.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious and highly effective primary school leader to join one of East Anglia's most successful and rapidly expanding Multi-Academy Trusts.

As Deputy Director of Primary Education, you will play a key role within the Trust's Central Education Team, supporting the Deputy CEO and Director of Education in delivering the Trust's vision for primary education. Working across a portfolio of primary schools, you will provide strategic leadership, support and challenge to headteachers, helping to secure strong standards, effective leadership and sustained school improvement.

Reporting directly to the Deputy CEO/Director of Education, you will oversee school performance, line manage headteachers and contribute to Trust-wide quality assurance, leadership development and improvement activity. You will work closely with school leaders to identify priorities, strengthen leadership capacity and ensure that all pupils benefit from a high-quality education, regardless of background or circumstance.

This role offers an exceptional platform for an experienced primary headteacher or education leader who is passionate about school improvement and developing others. Whether through supporting successful schools to become exceptional, leading rapid improvement in more challenging contexts or helping shape the strategic direction of the Trust, your work will directly influence the education and life chances of thousands of children across Norfolk and Suffolk.

As part of the Executive Team, you will contribute to wider Trust strategy and play a central role in helping Sapientia Education Trust continue its record of growth, improvement and educational excellence.

Pre-Application Discussion

If you would like to visit the Trust or would like an informal discussion, please contact Briony Ridgwell, Executive Assistant to the CEO, by calling [phone removed] or emailing - [email removed].

How to apply

A job description is available from ‘Attachments’.

For this vacancy, if you click on the ‘Apply for Job’ button, you will be redirected to our website to apply via the online application form along with a supporting letter of no more than 800 words, detailing how your experience equips you for the post and what you would bring to us.

Applications are considered on receipt; therefore, early applications are encouraged. We reserve the right to interview before the application closing date, should we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Closing date:    17 August 2025, 12 noon

Interview date:    w/c  24 August 2026

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be required to undergo appropriate safeguarding and pre-employment checks. In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education, references will be sought for shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and you will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced DBS check with barred list. If you have information to declare it may be protected under the Exceptions Orders and you may not be required to declare it. You will be asked to make a criminal conviction declaration if you are shortlisted for the post. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.