The award-winning London South East Academies Trust is proud to be the new provider of Alternative Provision in East Sussex.
East Sussex Academy, set across three sites, is on an exciting journey of improvement and transformation to ensure that every child and young person receives the support they need to progress and achieve their personal best. This will be accomplished by improving the quality of education while raising aspirations and expectations for staff, pupils and their families.
The Deputy Headteacher will lead the secondary provision in Hastings, supported by the Headteacher, a strong Senior Leadership Team, and the Trust's wider community of dedicated and talented professionals committed to educational excellence and innovation, including the Director of Quality Assurance and Deputy CEO.
This is a unique and exciting opportunity to join an ambitious and inspirational Senior Leadership Team strengthening and transforming Alternative Provision across the region.
A challenging yet highly rewarding role requiring strong leadership skills, experience of supporting vulnerable secondary-aged pupils, and a commitment to inspiring and empowering every young person to thrive. Success in this role depends on building trusting relationships, acting consistently in the best interests of pupils, and creating a supportive environment in which every learner can flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.
Applications are welcomed from experienced Senior Leaders including Assistant Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers with a background in working with secondary-aged pupils in either a mainstream or specialist education setting.
If you are inspired by this opportunity and want to join a remarkable team making a genuine and lasting difference to the lives of young people and their families, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Please note all applicants will be passed through to Charlotte Cuthbert and any visits and informal conversations are highly encouraged. For further information or to arrange a visit or confidential discussion, please contact our Recruitment Partner, Charlotte Cuthbert, at Cuthbert Colvill via [email protected]
As this is a critical appointment, London South Academies Trust reserve the right to interview and close this role sooner upon receipt of suitable applications.
About Us
From 1 September 2025, we will be delivering Alternative Provision across East Sussex - supporting children who have been excluded from school or who may be at risk of exclusion. This follows a decision by the Department for Education last year, to transfer the provision (currently named College Central, part of Sabden Multi Academy Trust) to London South East Academies Trust.
Our aim is to ensure continuity and care for pupils during this transition, as we begin an exciting journey of improvement. We are committed to delivering high quality education for pupils, many of whom have had challenging experiences in mainstream settings and need support and encouragement to access learning. Ahead of the school's transfer into LSEAT (at which point it will officially become East Sussex Academy) we are already implementing some bespoke provision and services to support young people and schools across the county. This includes a Satellite AP, a Government-funded AP Taskforce and an Outreach Service. Click here to find out more.
Thank you for your interest in East Sussex Academy. We look forward to working with you in the coming months as we strengthen and improve Alternative Provision across the region.
About the Trust
London South East Academies Trust is a growing and ambitious Multi-Academy Trust, currently comprising mainstream, special and alternative provision academies, alongside an outreach service and a music hub. Our schools are located across Bromley, Bexley, Sussex, Lambeth and Surrey, serving a wide range of communities and educational contexts.
Across the Trust, our schools share a strong commitment to raising attainment, encouraging aspiration and supporting social mobility for every pupil, throughout their educational journey and beyond. We take a holistic but personalised approach to education, recognising that children thrive when their individual strengths, needs and circumstances are properly understood and supported. This enables pupils to flourish and achieve their full potential, whatever their starting point.
We believe that great schools are built by great people. As a Trust, we invest in our staff through strong professional development and leadership opportunities, clear expectations and supportive structures. We actively encourage collaboration and the sharing of best practice across schools, supported by high-quality, cost-effective central services that allow leaders and teachers to focus on what matters most: improving outcomes for pupils.
London South East Academies Trust sits within the Elevare Civic Education Group, which also includes a multi-campus further and higher education college, London South East Colleges and a charitable foundation, Elevare Education Foundation. This unique structure provides meaningful progression pathways for pupils and families, as well as broad development and career opportunities for staff across the wider Group.
Our teams are united by a shared belief in the power of education to change lives. By continuing to grow our Trust and welcoming new expertise and perspectives, we aim to strengthen our schools further and extend the positive impact we have on our communities.
Equal Opportunities
London South East Academies Trust is fully committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful working environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome and encourage applications from all, regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, parental status or marital or partnership status.
As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we will offer an interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you have accessibility needs or require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know.
Please note that if a suitable applicant is identified, we may close the advert before the published closing date.
If you have any specific queries about the role, please contact us at [email protected].
As the Trust supports children and vulnerable adults, all roles are exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and, where relevant, a Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred List check. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn if these checks are unsatisfactory. Self-disclosure is required as part of the recruitment process, and failure to make a full disclosure or to provide sight of a DBS certificate is likely to result in withdrawal of an offer. The Trust’s DBS policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on request.
All appointments are also subject to verification of the right to work in the UK, in line with Home Office requirements. Original documentation will be required prior to commencement of employment.
