Assistant Headteacher

Knowsley Libraries; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Community Primary School is seeking an Assistant Headteacher to lead strategic school improvement and foster inclusive practice across the staff. The post includes mainstream SENCO responsibilities and NPQ SEND ambitions.

The successful applicant will work under the Headteacher to raise outcomes, strengthen safeguarding, manage staff, and liaise with external partners to meet diverse pupil needs. Starts January 2026; permanent position.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership for school improvement and outcomes.
• Experience of leading safeguarding and welfare of pupils.
• Ability to drive inclusive practice and remove barriers to learning.

Responsibilities

• Drive aims and objectives of the school under the Headteacher.
• Lead and manage staff with a focus on high-quality teaching.
• Oversee SENCO duties and early identification of needs.
• Collaborate with external agencies to source additional support.
• Monitor teaching staff performance and contribute to improvement plans.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Inclusion

SENCO

Safeguarding

NPQ SEND

Education

NPQ SEND qualification

Job description

We are looking for driven and passionate people to work with us to deliver real benefits for children and families in Knowsley.

• Location: Roughwood Drive, Northwood, Kirkby
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full Time
• Closing Date: 18/09/2026 at 12:00
• Reference: SVP 0861

Assistant Headteacher

Permanent Position

Leadership Scale L8 – L12 £61,534 to £67,898
To start January 2026

This will be a key role in the strategic leadership of Northwood Community Primary in the relentless pursuit of our ambition to improve outcomes for all pupils. Under the direction of the Headteacher and the Deputy Headteacher the Assistant Headteacher will play a lead role in driving the aims and objectives of the school, pro-actively lead and manage staff, lead inclusive practice across the school through removing barriers to learning and promote the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils.

As a lead professional you will ensure that teaching and learning is inspiring, engaging, and personalised, maximising all students’ potential and empowering them to become enthusiastic and independent learners.

This post will include the role of mainstream SENCO and the successful applicant will need to have an in-depth knowledge of the four areas of SEND and supporting staff in the early identification of need and in using adaptive strategies to mitigate barriers to achievement, so no pupil misses out on their curriculum entitlement. You will be expected to hold, or work towards, the NPQSEND qualification. This post will carry a part time teaching responsibility of 2 days per week.

You will be expected to liaise with professionals from a range of outside agencies in order to source additional support to meet pupils’ diverse needs.

You will also be responsible, alongside core SLT, for monitoring and evaluating the performance of all teaching staff and support the delivery of improvement strategies. The remit of this role may change as the post holder further develops.

The application form and information about the post is held on the school website www.ncps.co.uk

Northwood Community Primary School is committed to safeguarding, to promoting the welfare of children and adhering to Equality for All.Copies of our Child Protection policy and our Employment of Ex-offenders policy are available on our website. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended in 2013 & 2020) and shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any relevant criminal history prior to interview. Applicants are reminded that it is offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity with children if you have been barred from doing so. Short-listed candidates will be subject to an on-line search of their name for information relevant to the recruitment process. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. Transgender applicants should be aware that the DBS Service now offers a sensitive applications route should you wish to have your previous gender identity kept confidential. To comply with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 all prospective employees will be required to supply evidence of eligibility to work in the UK. By engaging in this recruitment process, shortlisted candidates consent to an online search in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance 2025.

Visits to the school are welcome: Please contact us to arrange.

Shortlisting: Monday 21 st September

Lesson observation/tasks: School based tasks Thursday 1 st October