Assistant Headteacher

Hillingdon Manor School; Lillingstone Dayrell; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Flexible benefits (Vista)

Health/insurance benefits

Discounts

Cycle to Work

Critical illness cover

Family Growth Support

Job summary

Tilewood School, a brand-new specialist school opening in Buckinghamshire, seeks an exceptional Assistant Headteacher to join the founding leadership team. You will shape the vision, culture and curriculum while teaching around 70% of the time and leading whole-school improvement.

Working with an experienced Headteacher, you will balance classroom leadership with strategic development, building a supportive, high-expectation learning environment.

Qualifications

• QTS and PGCE or equivalent teaching qualification.
• Leadership experience in a special or mainstream setting.
• Passion for improving outcomes for children with Autism and additional needs.
• Strong classroom practice with ability to inspire others.
• NPQH welcomed but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Shape the future of the school with a clear, ambitious vision and culture from day one.
• Lead by example in the classroom, delivering outstanding teaching while modelling high expectations.
• Design and lead an ambitious, personalised curriculum that engages pupils.
• Champion every pupil with inclusive, trauma-informed approaches.
• Coach and empower colleagues to grow in confidence and strengthen teaching and learning.
• Establish safeguarding, wellbeing and operational systems for a safe school environment.
• Build partnerships with families, local authorities and professionals to support pupils.
• Help create an exceptional school community where staff feel empowered and families feel connected.
• Drive positive change to shape the culture, curriculum and future of a brand-new school.

Skills

Leadership experience

Inspiring teaching

Collaborative leadership

Coaching

Commitment to coaching and empowerment

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

PGCE or equivalent

NPQH welcomed

Job description

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• Range

Assistant Headteacher

Tilewood School

• Lillingstone Dayrell
• Permanent

Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday

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

Position: Assistant Headteacher
Location: Tilewood School, Buckinghamshire, MK18 5AN
Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent | Term time only

UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

About the Role

Tilewood School is a brand-new specialist school opening in Buckinghamshire, and we're looking for an exceptional Assistant Headteacher to join our founding leadership team.

This is your chance to help create a school from the ground up—a place where innovation is encouraged, relationships come first, and every decision is made with our pupils at the heart.

Working alongside an experienced Headteacher, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping our vision, culture and curriculum while continuing to do what you love most: teaching. Around 70% of this role remains classroom based, giving you the opportunity to lead through outstanding practice while influencing whole-school improvement.

If you're an ambitious middle or senior leader ready to take the next step—or an experienced Assistant Headteacher looking for the rare opportunity to build a school from day one,we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

This is a varied leadership role combining strategic responsibility with a significant teaching commitment, allowing you to lead by example while driving whole-school improvement.

• Shape the future of the school, working alongside the Headteacher to establish a clear, ambitious vision and culture from day one.
• Lead by example in the classroom, delivering outstanding, inspiring teaching while modelling high expectations and best practice for the wider staff team.
• Bring learning to life, helping to design and lead an ambitious, engaging and highly personalised curriculum that sparks curiosity and unlocks every pupil’s potential.
• Champion every pupil, embedding inclusive, trauma-informed and neuro-affirming approaches that recognise individual strengths, remove barriers and help young people thrive.
• Inspire and develop others, coaching, mentoring and empowering colleagues to grow in confidence and continually strengthen teaching and learning.
• Build strong foundations for success, helping establish robust safeguarding, behaviour, wellbeing and operational systems that create a safe, calm and purposeful school environment.
• Build trusted partnerships, working collaboratively with families, local authorities and multidisciplinary professionals to ensure every pupil receives the right support to flourish.
• Help create something exceptional, playing a pivotal role in building a school community where pupils feel confident and valued, staff feel empowered and families feel genuinely connected.
• Be a driving force for positive change, bringing energy, creativity and ambition to a brand-new school and helping shape its culture, curriculum and future.

What you will bring

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a recognised teaching qualification (PGCE or equivalent).
• Leadership experience within a special or mainstream setting, with the ambition to help shape a new school.
• A genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and young people with Autism and additional needs.
• Strong classroom practice and the ability to inspire others through leading by example.
• A collaborative, reflective and resilient leadership style.
• A commitment to coaching, developing and empowering colleagues.
• An NPQH (or working towards one) would be welcomed but is not essential

About us

Tilewood School is a brand-new specialist school, part of Options Autism, opening in April 2027. The school will provide a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for up to 72 pupils.

Designed for young people aged 5 - 16, Tile House School will offer personalised support to help every learner thrive. This exciting new provision is committed to building confidence, resilience, and positive futures.

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

Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: Up to £29,500 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: Up to £45,000.00 per annum, depending on experience

Hours: 37.5 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.Take a closer look and discover how fulfilling your career could be.

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.