Senior Assistant Headteacher

Location:             St Thomas More Catholic School, Croftdale Road, Blaydon, NE21 4DD

Grade:                 L21 – L25

Hours:                  Full Time, Permanent [to start January, 2027]

St Thomas More is a successful and thriving secondary school, proud to be part of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. As a school community, we work closely with colleagues across our Trust, our Diocese and the Local Authority to ensure that our pupils and families are supported in every way possible. We value collaboration and partnership and actively seek opportunities to work with others where this strengthens our school and helps our young people to flourish.

At St Thomas More, our mission is central to everything we do. Rooted in the teachings of Christ, our ambition is to enable every member of our community, staff and pupils alike, to reach their full potential. The Senior Assistant Headteacher will play a significant role in bringing this mission to life, working alongside the Headteacher and senior leadership team to provide ambitious, compassionate and highly effective leadership across the school.

We speak openly about the power of love and the importance of every pupil knowing that they are valued for who they are. We warmly welcome colleagues and families of all faiths and none. What matters most is a shared commitment to dignity, kindness, service and respect, alongside an unwavering belief in the potential of every young person.

Community is central to who we are. We focus on building strong, trusting relationships because we know that young people and adults thrive when they feel that they belong. Our Senior Assistant Headteacher will be a highly visible and influential leader within this community, building positive relationships with pupils, staff and families and modelling the values, behaviours and high expectations we want to see throughout our school.

This is an important senior leadership position. We are seeking an experienced, credible and ambitious leader who is ready to take significant whole-school responsibility. Working closely with the Headteacher and wider leadership team, the successful candidate will help shape and deliver our strategic priorities, contribute to school improvement and support colleagues at all levels to continually strengthen the quality of provision for our pupils.

Our ambition is for pupils to leave St Thomas More as happy, confident and successful young people, equipped with the knowledge, skills and character to pursue their aspirations. Our Senior Assistant Headteacher must share this ambition and be committed to ensuring that high expectations, excellent teaching, strong pastoral care and an inclusive culture are experienced consistently by every pupil.

The opportunity to join our senior leadership team is an exciting one. St Thomas More is a school with a strong sense of identity, an ambitious vision and a staff team deeply committed to the young people we serve. We are looking for a Senior Assistant Headteacher who will bring energy, integrity, compassion and ambition to the role; someone who will challenge and support others, make a significant contribution to the strategic leadership of the school and work alongside us as we continue our journey of improvement and excellence.

For an application form and further details about this vacancy please visit our website: Vacancies – Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust where applications can be completed online

School visit opportunities:

• Monday 5th October:  1pm and 3.30pm
• Tuesday 6th October:  9am and 4.00pm
• Thursday 8th October:  9am and 1.00pm

Interested candidates are warmly encouraged to visit the school ahead of submitting an application. To arrange a visit  during one of the available slots below, please contact our School Operations Manager, djamieson@stm.bwcet.com

Deadline for applications: Sunday 11th October, 2026 [midnight]
Interviews: Thursday 15th October and / or Friday 16th October
Start date: January 2027

The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and is subject to an enhanced DBS check. An online search will be completed for all shortlisted candidates.