Erskine Stewart Melville are looking for an ambitious senior leader to join our award‑winning school as Deputy Head (Student Progress). As we look to our first year as a co‑educational Senior School, we are at a pivotal point in our history, and this role will play a central part in shaping the future direction of our School. 

The Deputy Head (Student Progress) will be a key strategic leader within the School, with the opportunity to make a lasting impact on standards, outcomes and student experience. They will drive improvements in student progress across the school, using data intelligently to inform strategy, while always keeping students at the heart of decision making.

This is a highly visible leadership role, which encompasses line management responsibility for academic Heads of Department. The successful candidate will be a dynamic and analytical leader; someone who leads from the front and can navigate challenge with sound judgement and purpose. A proven track record of improving student progress is essential, alongside excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to build strong, collaborative teams.

 Strong knowledge of the Scottish curriculum is vital, as is a genuine passion for raising standards and delivering excellence in learning and teaching. The successful postholder will be required to properly discharge the duties of the role, whether such hours are within or without normal school hours, during term-time or periods when students are on school holidays.

 The role is a full-time, permanent position commencing from the 17 August 2026 (subject to satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks), with an ESM salary grade of F1, which is currently £80,918. With your application, please include a letter, outlining your suitability for the role, addressed to the Principal.

To learn more about this role, please access the job description provided. 

ESMS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and Disclosure Scotland.

All staff working at ESMS have direct access to young people therefore all posts within the school are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Any enquiries about this position should be directed to the Recruitment Team, at recruitment@esms.org.uk.

The closing date for the position is 10am, Monday 4 May 2026, with interviews taking place the following week on Monday 11 May 2026. 

About ESMS

Welcome to the ESMS, a vibrant family of independent schools, set in beautiful grounds in the heart of Edinburgh. We offer a co-educational nursery and junior school, single-sex but closely twinned secondary education, and a co-educational sixth form. 

We are a consistently award-winning School, with an educational legacy that stretches back more than 300 years. Our Schools have always been pioneers of rounded education. Children’s education is underpinned by our values: kindness, confidence, resilience, integrity and curiosity. From virtual reality headsets in the classroom to developing one of the first outdoor learning programmes in Scotland, we are always searching for new ways to develop the whole child.  

The people that work for us are passionate, pioneering and strive for excellence in everything they do. We value the incredible contributions they make to school life, we invest in their careers and we support their ambitions so that they flourish professionally and personally. 

Benefits 

Employees get access to a range of benefits including:  

• Fee remission from Nursery to S6 
• Free school lunches  
• Free Sports’ Club membership, including access to pool and fitness suites 
• Generous holiday allowance 
• Generous pension 
• Death in service benefit 
• Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity leave 
• Membership of the ESMS Discount and Benefits Scheme, including a range of discounts at 130,000 retail and entertainment locations 
• Employee Assistance Service 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Car leasing salary sacrifice scheme 
• Annual professional review process 
• Regular salary reviews 
• Funding towards professional qualifications