Assistant Headteacher

inploi; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational trust in Rochdale is seeking an experienced Assistant Headteacher to support improvement in primary education across multiple schools. The successful candidate will be an outstanding practitioner passionate about driving academic success and well-being for every child. They will collaborate within a supportive network committed to professional development. This permanent, full-time role includes participation in extensive leadership responsibilities and aims to uplift and enhance the educational experience for all students.

Benefits

Supportive improvement network

Professional development commitment

Access to local government pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Proven track record of raising academic outcomes.
• Experience in teaching primary learners.
• Desire to develop in a leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals and teams to improve academic progress.
• Develop classrooms to be better-led and responsive.
• Drive improvement across the schools.

Skills

Outstanding classroom practitioner

Leadership experience

Passion for teaching and learning

Ability to work on initiative

Commitment to hard work

Job description

Primary

Permanent - Full Time

L3 - L7

To be deployed at any Watergrove Trust primary school, according to need.

The link between strong pedagogical practice and good behaviour is well‑proven. The Watergrove Trust seeks an experienced, skilled and expert leader to be deployed to support individuals and teams to improve academic progress and behaviour through being directly accountable for developing classrooms to be better‑led, more thoughtful and more responsive to need.

This is an exciting and transformational role, not for the faint of heart, but for a proven, empathic and dynamic leader, capable of quickly uplifting all stakeholders through the quality of their improvement work.

The Watergrove Trust comprises nine schools, six primary and three secondary, each bringing their own special qualities and expertise to share.

There is not only excellent educational practice available within the Watergrove Trust, but resources too. Coordinated by a strong support team, we are a learning community that cares for all our children and their families. We constantly strive to be the best learners and best teachers we can be in order to make positive contributions to our local and global community.

You will be:

• An outstanding classroom practitioner with a variety of experience in teaching primary learners and who is equally passionate about the emotional and academic development of every child in their care.
• An experienced leader with a proven track‑record of raising academic outcomes through the improvement of teaching and learning at scale.
• Passionate about teaching and learning in order to drive further improvement across the schools.
• Somebody who thrives on responsibility and hard work and wants to further develop themselves in a leadership role.
• Able to use your own initiative.
• Willing to go the ‘extra mile’ for our children.

Why work for the Watergrove Trust? We can offer:

• A supportive and collaborative improvement network across the Watergrove Trust.
• A commitment to your professional development.
• Access to local government pension scheme with employer contributions of 21.4%.
• Access to occupational health provider (Smart Clinic).
• Cycle to work scheme.

To apply for this position please complete our online application form (link below) by the following date and time: Monday 22 December 2025 at 9 am.

https://www.watergrovetrust.co.uk/vacancies/assistant-headteacher/

Shortlisting will take place soon after with interviews planned for w/c 5 January 2026.

‘At Watergrove Trust we believe that every child has great potential and we want to work together, as a team, to ensure that every child has the opportunity to fulfil that potential. If you share this belief and would like to play a key role in enhancing the lives of our students, then we want to hear from you.

Watergrove Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment to this post is subject to pre‑employment clearances including enhanced Disclosure & Barring and Childcare Disqualification Check.

The Watergrove Trust values diversity in its workforce. We are committed to ensuring that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, transgender, including those with non‑binary identities, religion or belief or pregnancy and maternity.

Thank you in advance for your application. Please note we will only contact shortlisted candidates. If you haven’t heard from us by the interview date please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Supporting Documents

↗ Job Description and Person Specification

Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.

Employment could affect your benefits, find out more here. Turn2us Benefits Calculator.