Assistant Head of School

For every journey, let’s take first steps together.

At First Steps Together, we believe every child and young person deserves to feel safe, understood, included and able to succeed.

We are a growing group of specialist independent schools providing nurturing, inclusive and aspirational education for children and young people with a range of additional needs, including SEND, SEMH and complex presentations. Across our schools, strong relationships, individualised support and high expectations are central to helping pupils engage in learning, develop confidence and achieve positive outcomes.

As our Education provision continues to grow, we are looking for an exceptional Assistant Head of School to join our school leadership team.

This is a varied, hands-on leadership role for someone who wants to make a real difference to the day-to-day quality of education, pupil experience and continued improvement of the school.

Working alongside the Headteacher/Head of School and wider leadership team, you’ll help turn the School Improvement Plan into strong everyday practice supporting teaching and learning, behaviour, attendance, pastoral provision, staff development and the smooth operation of the school.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll provide a visible and positive leadership presence across the school, working closely with staff and pupils to maintain high expectations and ensure our approaches are consistent, inclusive and responsive to individual needs.

You’ll support the monitoring and development of teaching and learning, including learning walks, observations and evaluation activities, providing constructive feedback and coaching to colleagues and helping ensure appropriate strategies are in place for individual pupils.

Alongside this, you’ll play an important role in behaviour, attendance and pastoral practice supporting restorative approaches, helping colleagues implement effective behaviour plans, monitoring engagement and working with pupils and families to remove barriers to attendance and learning.

People leadership will also be an important part of the role. You’ll line manage and support colleagues, contribute to induction, appraisal, coaching and professional development, and help ensure staff are effectively deployed and supported to deliver the best possible outcomes for pupils.

As part of the school leadership team, you’ll contribute to school improvement and quality assurance, work closely with parents, carers and external professionals, and act as a point of contact in the absence of the Headteacher/Head of School to help ensure the school continues to operate safely and effectively.

Bring your difference

We’re looking for someone who understands education and, most importantly, understands children and young people.

You’ll have experience of teaching or supporting learning, alongside experience of supporting colleagues, mentoring staff or leading an area of school practice. You’ll understand effective teaching, learning and assessment and be confident working with pupils with SEND, SEMH and behavioural needs.

You’ll be comfortable using pupil, attendance, behaviour and performance data to identify priorities and drive improvement, while maintaining a strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection practice.

Experience within specialist education, SEND or alternative provision would be particularly valuable, also desirable would be QTS or an equivalent teaching qualification, leadership development and DDSL or advanced safeguarding experience.

We’re looking for someone with integrity, resilience and emotional intelligence; someone who is calm and organised, willing to take responsibility and able to support, challenge and motivate others.

Above all, you’ll be a visible, positive and child-centred leader who shares our commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, continuous improvement and achieving positive outcomes for every pupil.

Why First Steps Together?

This is an opportunity to take on a key school leadership role within a growing specialist education organisation.

You’ll work alongside a supportive and collaborative leadership team, with the opportunity to influence school improvement, develop colleagues and directly contribute to better experiences and outcomes for children and young people.

As First Steps Together continues to grow, there will also be opportunities to develop professionally, strengthen your leadership experience and progress within the organisation.

If you are an ambitious education professional ready to take the next step in school leadership and want to help create a school where pupils feel supported, challenged and able to succeed, we’d love to hear from you.

Bring your difference. Take your next step with First Steps Together.

Safeguarding

First Steps Together is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Appointment to this role will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment and pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS, satisfactory references, online checks and overseas police checks where required.

Application

If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role with the Headteacher or a member of our People Services Team, please contact us by emailing, recruitment@fstmanagement.uk.

Completed application forms (attached below) must be sent to recruitment@fstmanagement.uk prior to the application closing date.

We reserve the right to close applications earlier should be receive a number of suitable applications which meet the essential criteria. We will not accept CVs in place of completed application forms.