Assistant Headteacher

Acorn Care and Education; Leigh; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational organization is seeking an experienced Assistant Headteacher for their Leigh location. The role involves providing inspirational leadership in a dynamic SEN environment and collaborating with the Headteacher to shape the school's vision. Candidates should possess UK Qualified Teacher Status and proven leadership experience. The position offers a competitive salary up to £50,000 per annum and a commitment to staff well-being, including benefits like a pension scheme and mental health support.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support services

Flexible benefits platform

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in education.
• Experience working within an SEN environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide inspirational leadership to a dedicated multidisciplinary team.
• Work collaboratively with the Headteacher and SLT to shape school vision.
• Champion a culture of outstanding safeguarding, inclusion, and pupil voice.
• Ensure high standards of teaching, learning, quality, and compliance.
• Lead the development of creative, individualised programmes of learning.
• Support staff development, performance, and wellbeing.
• Drive school improvement and long-term success.

Skills

Leadership skills

SEN expertise

Team empowerment

Strategic vision

Education

UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent

Degree-level education or equivalent

Job description

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four? Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent). If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!

Job Title: Assistant Headteacher
Location: The Holden School, Leigh WN7 4SB
Salary: Up to £50,000.00 per annum depending on experience (Not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent, Term Time
Start Date: January 2026
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

About the Role

This is a dynamic and rewarding leadership position for an Assistant Headteacher who is ready to bring creativity, vision, and fresh thinking to an SEN environment supporting pupils with a wide range of needs. Working in close partnership with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, you will provide clear, authentic leadership across the school. You’ll help set strategic direction, uphold the highest standards of quality and compliance, and ensure our strong safeguarding culture continues to flourish—where pupils are heard, respected, and actively involved in decisions that affect them. Every day will challenge and inspire you in equal measure as you help design and deliver personalised learning pathways that allow every pupil to succeed.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide inspirational leadership to a dedicated multidisciplinary team
• Work collaboratively with the Headteacher and SLT to shape school vision, aims, and objectives
• Champion a culture of outstanding safeguarding, inclusion, and pupil voice
• Ensure high standards of teaching, learning, quality, and compliance
• Lead the development of creative, individualised programmes of learning for pupils with SEN
• Support staff development, performance, and wellbeing
• Play a key role in driving school improvement and long-term success

Who we are looking for

We never settle for second best for our pupils—and neither should you. We’re looking for a passionate, experienced Assistant Headteacher with the leadership skills, SEN expertise, and ambition to help build incredible futures. You’ll be a confident leader who thrives in an SEN setting, enjoys empowering teams, and is deeply motivated by helping pupils become happy, confident, and ready to take their place in the world.

Essential Requirements

• UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
• Degree-level education or equivalent
• Proven leadership experience
• Experience working within an SEN environment

Why join Acorn Education?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others. We are committed to 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

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• A market‑leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, that allows you to choose from:
• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness coverFamily Growth Support – inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and 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.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.