Deputy Head

About The Role

Innovating Education. Empowering Success. Strengthening Our Community’s Future.

EKC Group are seeking to appoint a Deputy Head of Department to be in charge of our Junior College.

You will be responsible for managing the statutory education of the pre‑16 provision and promoting very high standards in a positive and supportive culture that aspires to be outstanding.

As a Deputy Head you will be responsible for improving the quality of teaching, learning and assessment in the department, monitoring key performance indicators and instigating swift and effective intervention.

Your teaching hours will be carried out within our Junior College and could consist of a range of subjects dependent on your specialism and qualification. Our Junior College students currently study:

• GCSE Maths & English
• Vocational routes (Sport or Catering)
• Well‑Being
• Science/STEM
• Personal Growth & Well‑Being (PGW)

In the role of Deputy Head your responsibilities will include supporting the development of the Junior College curriculum, working with the Head of Department to implement the strategic plan for the area, and implementing the department’s quality improvement plan to enhance the student experience. You will also scrutinise and analyse data relating to the department at least monthly, including retention, achievement, attendance and student satisfaction, ensure its accuracy and implement timely and effective measures to drive improvement.

• Generous Annual Leave – 38 days FTE per annum
• Learning and Development Opportunities – 3–4 annual paid group development days, bespoke programmes such as the First Line Manager Development Programme, and strong internal progression (1 in 3 roles are filled internally)
• Flexible Personal Leave – Time off for your child's first day at nursery or school, moving homes and for interviews
• Competitive Pension Scheme – 28%
• Exclusive Discounts & Perks – Includes restaurant, grocery, retail and holiday discounts, as well as car leasing and tech purchasing schemes, and an on‑site nursery
• Wellbeing and Health Support – Generous sick pay, counselling services, discounted gym membership at Canterbury College, free eye tests and glasses vouchers, flexible support for medical appointments and return‑to‑work support
• Culture and Recognition – Participation in Community Days, an Annual Staff Celebration Day, and a commitment to an eco‑friendly organisation dedicated to reaching net‑zero by 2030

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a highly organised and enthusiastic individual to work alongside the Head of Department to oversee the running of our Junior College and full‑time study programmes.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of implementing high standards and improvement within a department. The candidate should adopt a trauma‑informed approach to behaviour management and support our young people to achieve their qualifications while building lifelong skills for their future.

Ideally you will hold a teaching qualification and have a strong background in education. You will also be responsible for completing staff appraisals, teaching and learning observations, staff one‑to‑one meetings, and line‑managing a team of lecturers and support staff.

You will have experience in a further education and pre‑16 environment, supporting lecturing staff to deliver high‑quality teaching to young people, and will be the first point of contact for programme leaders when the Head of Department is off‑site.

No need to spend time updating your CV – just click apply and complete our short application form. You can save your progress as you go, and we’ll review all applications and get back to all candidates after the closing date.

If you are interested in an informal chat about the role, or have any queries, please email us on .

Outstanding Ofsted Provider

East Kent Colleges Group is an Ofsted Outstanding rated provider and the first General Further Education college organisation in the country to receive the Outstanding grade under each strand of the new Ofsted inspection framework. An inclusive provider, our colleagues place our students and the…