Assistant Headteacher

Hillingdon Manor School; Epsom; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Vista benefits

Cycle to Work

Maternity/Paternity leave

Health discounts

Job summary

Ashley Park School in Epsom, Surrey seeks an inspirational Assistant Headteacher to join the senior leadership team. You’ll lead curriculum development, shape Post 16 provision, and ensure ambitious pathways for autistic pupils aged 11–19.

Working with the Headteacher, you’ll develop assessment, safeguarding, and whole-school improvement while supporting staff and families to secure strong outcomes. The role is permanent, 37.5 hours per week, start December 2026, with a salary up to £55,000

Job description

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Assistant Headteacher

Ashley Park (Epsom)

• Permanent

Salary: up to £55,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge

Job Title: Assistant Headteacher
Location: Ashley Park School, Epsom, Surrey KT18 7LR
Salary: Up to £55,000 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: December 2026

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

About the Role

Lead an Ambitious Curriculum. Shape Future Pathways. Help Every Pupil Prepare for Adulthood. We’re looking for an inspirational and ambitious Assistant Headteacher to join the senior leadership team at Ashley Park School.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced educational leader with a strong understanding of the secondary age range, including Post 16, who can help ensure pupils have access to the right curriculum, qualifications and pathways for their individual needs and future aspirations.

Working closely with the Headteacher, you’ll influence curriculum development, teaching, assessment and pupil outcomes across the school. You’ll also take a key leadership role in Post 16 provision and preparation for adulthood, using your knowledge of the different qualifications available to young people to help create meaningful and ambitious pathways.

Experience of leading and developing curriculum would be particularly advantageous, giving you the opportunity to influence provision at whole school level while supporting subject leaders and colleagues to continually strengthen practice.

As Assistant Headteacher, you’ll:

• Provide strongcurriculum leadership, supporting subject leaders to develop their expertise and strengthen provision across the school
• LeadPost 16 provision and preparation for adulthood, ensuring pupils have meaningful pathways towards further education, training, employment and greater independence
• Use your knowledge of thedifferent types of qualifications available to young people to help ensure individual pathways are appropriate, ambitious and achievable
• Oversee examination and qualification arrangements, ensuring the school is appropriately registered with relevant bodies and remains compliant with requirements
• Strengthen approaches to assessment, ensuring they provide a valid and reliable understanding of pupils’ knowledge, progress and next steps
• Champion an ambitious and inclusive curriculum, ensuring pupils with SEND can access learning through appropriate support and adaptations
• Work effectively with parents, carers and other professionals to identify needs and strengthen outcomes for individual pupils
• Contribute towhole school improvement, safeguarding and organisational leadership, helping develop effective systems, processes and practices

What You’ll Be Doing

For this position, it is important that you bring experience across the secondary age range, including Post 16, alongside a strong understanding of the different pathways available to young people.

You’ll bring:

• Experience working across the secondary age range, including Post 16
• A good working knowledge of the different types of qualifications and accreditation pathways available to young people
• An understanding of how curriculum and qualification choices can support progression and preparation for adulthood
• Strong educational leadership experience and the ability to maintain ambitious expectations for pupils
• Experience of working with pupils with SEND and adapting provision around individual needs
• The ability to support and develop colleagues while promoting high quality teaching and learning
• Strong communication and collaborative working skills, including working with families and other professionals
• A clear commitment to safeguarding, pupil welfare and inclusive education

Experience of leading and developing curriculum would be advantageous.

For young people approaching the later stages of their education, the right curriculum and qualification pathway can make a significant difference to what becomes possible next.As Assistant Headteacher, you’ll help ensure pupils are not simply working towards qualifications, but towards meaningful destinations and greater independence in adulthood.

About Us

Ashley Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school in Epsom, Surrey, for autistic young people aged 11–19, with a capacity for 60 pupils.

We provide a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment where every pupil can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Personalised teaching, differentiated lessons, and tailored therapeutic support ensure each pupil’s unique needs and abilities are met.

Our curriculum combines academic study, vocational pathways, and life skills, preparing young people to achieve their full potential and future aspirations.

For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided specialist care and education for children, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are pioneering innovative, evidence-based approaches that deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for everyone in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference.We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
  • Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
  • Hundreds of UK and international discounts
  • Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
  • Critical illness cover
  • Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

Wherever you work – whether in a city location or one of our more rural settings – you’ll be part of one dynamic family, aiming high and dreaming big, and helping the people we work with achieve their own personal goals

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

With amazing teams working across our family of brands – Acorn Education, Options Autism, Momenta Connect and Blenheim Schools– we offer a huge range of exciting career opportunities.

Meeting the social and emotional needs of pupils who have faced trauma or adversity, equipping them for life’s important steps.

Supporting autistic pupils to value their uniqueness and access the world in their own way.

At Momenta Connect we support young people to overcome barriers and engage with education.

We are committed to enabling outstanding futures for all children through a portfolio of inclusive, high-quality independent and international schools.