JOIN OUR MISSION TO BE ONE OF THE BEST SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY!

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Location: Ernulf Academy 
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time. Term time only 
Salary: Pro rata £27,958 - £28,903 per annum
Closing Date: 7th December 2025

Are you confident in communicating with pupils, parents, and external agencies on sensitive issues?

Can you remain calm and make sound decisions under pressure?

We are building a team of exceptional and highly skilled leaders, committed to driving excellence and ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding. Our academy is on a strong improvement trajectory, and we need someone who can help us maintain a culture of vigilance and care. If you have a deep understanding of safeguarding legislation, experience in managing complex cases, and a proven ability to influence and support others, this is the role for you.

At Ernulf we are looking for a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead to work alongside our Designated Safeguarding Lead and senior leadership team. You will play a key role in leading safeguarding practice, supporting staff, and ensuring that every child is safe and supported. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a track record of delivering impact and a passion for protecting and promoting the welfare of children.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice.
• Experience managing safeguarding concerns and working with external agencies.
• Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build trust with pupils, parents, and staff.
• High level of discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive information.
• Commitment to promoting the welfare and safety of all children.
• Ability to lead and influence others to embed a safeguarding culture.
• Organisational skills to maintain accurate records and meet compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, supporting the DSL in all safeguarding matters.
• Be a point of contact for safeguarding concerns and referrals.
• Maintain accurate, confidential safeguarding records in line with statutory requirements.
• Liaise with external agencies (social care, police, health professionals) to ensure effective safeguarding.
• Deliver safeguarding training and guidance to staff.
• Monitor and review safeguarding policies and procedures for compliance.
• Support the development of a culture of vigilance and care across the academy.
• Contribute to safeguarding audits and reports for senior leadership and governors.
• Ensure timely and appropriate escalation of concerns to the DSL or external agencies.
• Assist with risk assessments and safeguarding plans for vulnerable pupils.

About Ernulf Academy:

This is a fantastic time to join TEAM ERNULF on our turnaround journey. We are on a RAPID MISSION to turn our school into one of the BEST in the country! When the current leadership took over, in September 2024, Ernulf had NEVER received an Ofsted 'Good' in ANY category. In January 2025, after just one term, Ofsted rated us 'Good' in ALL categories. Then, in the summer exams we improved our 4+ English and Maths from 52% to 63%! If our rapid improvement and ambition EXCITE you, then join us to DISRUPT DISADVANTAGE by transforming the education of our pupils. We are within an hour's commute of North London, Norfolk, Grantham and Rugby.

We believe in keeping things simple. Our mantra is: WORK HARD, BE KIND. We don't just want children to attain incredible academic outcomes; we also want to help them become great people.

WORK HARD

Team Ernulf don't believe in fads. We know the biggest factor in a child's achievement is how hard they work. That is why we have sky high expectations. We have simple rules, centralised detentions, and we back our teachers - so that our classrooms are disruption-free. We do this to support our children who want to work hard and do well.

A knowledge-rich curriculum, built on ‘powerful knowledge’, underpins our teaching and learning principles. We offer a traditional approach to teaching, following evidence-based research by Rosenshine. Our pedagogy is influenced by Teach Like A Champion (TLAC). Stimulating lessons are delivered by teachers, who we back as the expert in the room.

BE KIND

Team Ernulf is WWF: warm, welcoming, and friendly. We pride ourselves on having a family atmosphere. We teach our pupils empathy and respect and have zero tolerance to bullying. A scholarly approach is at our core, but teaching pupils to be polite, considerate, and caring is just as important.

Our world-class enrichment programme takes learning beyond the classroom. In Autumn term 2024 alone, children visited Cambridge University, The British Museum, The National Gallery, RAF Hendon, Kenilworth Castle, and were on Channel 5 and BBC radio!! As well as this, every week KS3 children have the opportunity to take part in electives such as British sign language, clubbercise, building a robotic arm, chess, girls cricket, and many more!

Interested in Applying?

If you are passionate about education, looking for a fresh opportunity, or simply want to make a positive impact, we would love to hear from you. Take a look at the job description and candidate pack to find out more about the role and how to apply. If you want to discuss this role in greater detail or visit the school please get in touch with Sarah McCormick - sarah.mccormick@astreaernulf.org

We reserve the right to close this position early if we receive a high volume of candidates, so do not delay, apply today!

Closing Date:

The closing date for applications is 7th December 2025. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!

Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and enhanced DBS checks. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates who are underrepresented in our workforce. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to promoting a culture that ensures there are no barriers to the recruitment, development, and progression of disabled staff across the trust. We provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

Flexible Interview Dates:

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window. Apply today to avoid disappointment and become a part of our mission to create a positive impact!

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!