A Sheffield school has received backlash online for posting a job advert in which they said their assistant headteacher should work “ridiculously hard”. 

Mercia School, an academy in Carter Knowle, Sheffield, has come under fire for the unreasonable expectations posted in the advert. 

It said: “We want a like minded individual who will work ridiculously hard to deliver for our pupils. 

“When I state ridiculously hard, I mean it.” 

The advert has now been deleted following the criticism.

According to the job description, the new assistant head would be expected to come in on Saturday mornings to supervise detentions, as well as always being available between the hours of 7am and 6pm. 

Simon Kidwell, the Vice President for the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “Sadly, I think many Teachers and School Leaders will recognise a similar working pattern.

“Working routines that put considerable pressure on family life are common in our sector.

“The working practices we currently experience will lead to poor long term health conditions.”

The new assistant head at Mercia school will, according to the post, “feel the pressure” of the role, allowing it to “dominate their life on occasions.”

Toby Mallinson, the district secretary for the National Education Union, condemned the language used.

He said: “The attitude displayed in the advert highlights an approach that will likely lead to untenable pressures not just on the new post-holder, but on the people they manage.

“Unfortunately, some workplaces suffer from a culture of fear.

“One red flag in the advert is the use of the first person, as if the writer owns the school.”

The headteacher of Mercia School has declined to comment at this time.