Deputy Principal - Ethos Lead

We are looking to appoint a committed and inspiring Deputy Principal – Ethos Lead who will play a central role in driving the spiritual and cultural life of Avanti House Secondary School.

As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will provide strategic oversight of collective worship, religious education and wider spiritual experiences, ensuring consistency and excellence across the school. You will lead and develop staff, strengthen community partnerships and contribute to whole-school improvement.

This is an exciting opportunity for a leader who is passionate about values-led education and pupil development.

School visits are welcomed and encouraged. Please contact the school directly to arrange a visit.

Avanti House Secondary School is a thriving school in Stanmore, Harrow. “In addition to achieving well academically, pupils are very well supported to develop more widely. The culture and ethos of the school ensure that pupils are taught to be responsible and caring citizens” - (OFSTED, 2023).

Avanti House is a co-educational, Hindu-faith school that welcomes pupils and staff of all backgrounds. Our fantastic site, which is a few minutes’ walk from Canons Park station, has incredible spaces including sports facilities, theatre, specialist classrooms, dining spaces and a beautiful worship room

Avanti House is a co-educational, Hindu-faith school that welcomes pupils and staff of all backgrounds. Our fantastic site, which is a few minutes’ walk from Canons Park station, has incredible spaces including sports facilities, theatre, specialist classrooms, dining spaces and a beautiful worship room.

“We’re trying to appeal to students in a way, in which we don’t just enrich them in terms of academic success and aiming for the best universities, but its also about developing them as a human being, ensuring the support is in place that they can grow into the people that they want to be.” - Ricardo

Our staff are inspired and passionate about their roles, the vision of the school, and providing the most fulfilling learning experience for pupils. Learning is a quest to discover each student’s unique gifts and potential, and to lay the foundation for their lifelong journey of learning.

Principal Quote: “The reality behind the school is the people in it. The highlight of our school, is that our staff give students the opportunities to become the best versions of themselves and help make the world a better place.” - Simon Arnell, Principal

What will you do?

• Provide strategic leadership for the school’s spiritual, ethical and cultural life, ensuring the consistent and authentic implementation of the Avanti Way across all phases.
• Lead and quality assure collective worship, meditation, festivals and wider spiritual experiences, fostering pupil wellbeing, engagement and character development.
• Line manage and develop PRE, Sanskrit, Yoga and spiritual wellbeing provision, securing high-quality teaching, curriculum coherence and meaningful staff development.
• Drive school improvement through evaluation, planning and inspection readiness, with a focus on spiritual life, personal development and inclusive practice.
• Strengthen partnerships with families, community and faith organisations, while contributing to whole-school leadership, safeguarding and strategic decision-making.

Why should you apply

Avanti exists to help each person become a well-rounded human being through intellectual, moral and spiritual growth, and so make the world a better place.

You will be working in a fantastic environment, with:

• Great opportunities for professional development
• Teacher pension scheme (subject to eligibility)
• O2 discounts, Specsavers corporate eye test vouchers
• Eligible for NUS Card and CSSC membership
• Well-being programs (retreats, yoga, wellness apps)
• Cycle-to-work Scheme

What are we looking for?

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent, with leadership experience in a comparable educational setting
• Strong knowledge of curriculum development, assessment practices, and high-quality teaching to meet the needs of all learners
• Commitment to student wellbeing, academic success and holistic development, with an understanding of wider educational and social issues
• For faith schools: Practicing Krishna Consciousness and have a deep understanding of its beliefs and practices.
• Commitment to the school’s ethos and values, with the ability to actively contribute to its spiritual life
• Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all students

Please view the full Job Description for more information on the responsibilities and essential criteria required for this role.

Further information

Pre-employment checks

Avanti Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates are required to have an Enhanced DBS check unless internally appointed and still within the cycle of DBS re-checks.

Any appointment subsequently made will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks.

Diversity and Inclusion

We want to make sure we are attracting the widest possible range of people and ensure that they are accepted, understood and treated equally when they work here. This means we will work hard to understand that each employee is unique and ensuring that individuals or groups are not treated differently or less favourably on the basis of specific characteristics.

Such characteristics include (but are not limited to) age, disability, gender including transgender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, and how the school supports pregnant women and new parents.