Assistant Headteacher

North Herts Education Support Centre; Willian; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Herts Education Support Centre invites applications for an Assistant Head to support pupils with challenging behaviours, help set the vision with the Senior Leadership Team, and drive outstanding educational programmes. The role involves leading staff across Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City sites, with safeguarding at the fore, strong communication, and organisational skills.

Start date is 1 January 2026; closing date 2 October 2026.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and proven organisational skills.
• Strategic mindset to drive centre's mission and develop educational programmes.
• Willingness to travel between Hitchin and Letchworth sites.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to set the vision and objectives.
• Inspire staff and students to strive for excellence.
• Safeguard students and ensure high standards of welfare.
• Oversee engagement with families, carers and the wider community.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Job description

We are excited to announce a rare opportunity for a dedicated and passionate individual to join our outstanding team as Assistant Head at the North Herts Education Support Centre. This role is pivotal in supporting young people who exhibit challenging behaviours, setting high standards for academic achievement both within the Centre and beyond.

Our success is built upon strong partnerships with schools, services, and most importantly, with young people and their parents and carers. As we look to the future, we are excited about the upcoming new school being built on our Briar Patch site, with a planned completion date of October 2026.

The successful candidate will be instrumental in working with our outstanding Senior Leadership Team, sharing and developing the Vision and Objectives of the North Herts Education Support Centre. This is a chance to inspire both staff and students to strive for excellence. Your strategic mindset will be key in driving the Centre’s mission to provide outstanding educational programmes that cater to the needs of students at risk of permanent exclusion, or those who have already been excluded from mainstream education.

We are looking for an individual who possesses excellent communication and proven organisational skills. Your enthusiasm and commitment will be vital in the strategic direction of the Centre, ensuring that we continue to meet the diverse needs of our students. You will be a role model for both staff and students, fostering an environment that encourages growth, resilience, and a love for learning.

As part of your role, you will need to hold a current valid driver’s license, as the position requires travel between our Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City sites. Occasional travel to attend off‑site meetings may also be necessary. This flexibility will enable you to engage with our wider community and ensure that we provide the best possible support to our students.

The duties and responsibilities outlined in the Job Description reflect our current needs, and we appreciate that the dynamic nature of education may require the postholder to accept reasonable alterations to their role as necessary. This adaptability is essential in a fast‑paced educational environment where the needs of our students can change rapidly.

The North Herts Education Support Centre is an Ofsted Outstanding Provider, renowned for its commitment to inspiring and enabling all students to achieve their full potential. Our focus at Key Stage 3 is re‑engage students with their learning and facilitate their reintegration into mainstream education or appropriate settings. For Key Stage 4, we offer alternative provisions tailored to meet the specific needs of students, providing a variety of accreditation opportunities, including GCSE and vocational courses.

At the North Herts Education Support Centre, we are deeply committed to safeguarding the welfare of staff, children and young people. Therefore, all post holders will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. We take great pride in creating a safe and nurturing environment for our students, and we expect all staff to uphold these values.

Diversity: The North Herts Education Support Centre is fully committed to the principles of equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion. We aim to attract and retain the very best staff in all areas of the Centre, ensuring our staff body reflects the diversity of our students and local community.

We warmly welcome visits to our school from potential applicants. This is a wonderful opportunity to see firsthand the positive impact we have on our students and to meet our dedicated team.

Start date: 1 January 2026

Closing date: Monday, 2nd October 2026 at 9:00am

Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by close of business on 6th October 2026

'Please refer to Interview Agenda in preparation should you be selected'

'Short listed candidates are subject to an online search'

Interviews: Wednesday, 14th October 2026

The North Herts Education Support Centre is an equal opportunities employer. The centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers, online checks and the Disclosure Barring Service.