Assistant Headteacher

Outcomes First Group; Ewell; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Your Wellbeing Matters

Vista – benefits platform

Health benefits & discounts

Cycle to Work & Electric Car

Critical illness cover

Family growth support / enhanced leave

Job summary

Ashley Park School, a brand-new independent specialist school in Epsom, Surrey, for autistic young people aged 11-19, is seeking an ambitious Assistant Headteacher to join the senior leadership team. You will lead curriculum development, oversee Post 16 provision, and help create meaningful pathways to adulthood.

Working with the Headteacher, you will strengthen assessment, safeguarding and collaboration with families, adapt provision for SEND, and embed inclusive education across the school and

Qualifications

• Experience leading curriculum across secondary age range including Post 16.
• Ability to develop ambitious, individualized pathways for pupils.
• Track record in safeguarding and collaborating with families.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong curriculum leadership and support subject leaders.
• Lead Post 16 provision and preparation for adulthood.
• Oversee examinations and qualification arrangements.
• Strengthen assessment to reflect pupils' knowledge and progress.
• Champion an inclusive curriculum for SEND pupils.
• Work with parents, carers and professionals to improve outcomes.
• Contribute to whole-school improvement and safeguarding.

Skills

Curriculum leadership

Post 16 provision

SEND experience

Strong communication

Safeguarding leadership

Tools

Assessment approaches

Job description

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.,

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strong curriculum leadership, supporting subject leaders to develop their expertise and strengthen provision across the school
• Lead Post 16 provision and preparation for adulthood, ensuring pupils have meaningful pathways towards further education, training, employment and greater independence
• Use your knowledge of the different 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 to whole school improvement, safeguarding and organisational leadership, helping develop effective systems, processes and practices
  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.

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.

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.

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.

Benefits

• 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