Assistant Headteacher – Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment

Expanse Group Ltd; Wigan; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Expanse Learning Wigan School, part of Expanse Group Ltd, invites applications for an Assistant Headteacher – Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment. You will oversee curriculum design, teaching quality, assessment systems and student progress, working with SLT to drive school improvement.

The role requires strategic leadership, strong communication, and a commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and staff development. You will report to the Headteacher and contribute to whole-school leadership.

Qualifications

• Experience of leading curriculum design and assessment at school level.
• Commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and student development.
• Ability to develop and monitor a whole-school progress and behaviour model.

Responsibilities

• Lead the curriculum design, implementation and assessment model to ensure ambitious, sequenced provision.
• Lead whole-school assessment and quality assurance to improve outcomes.
• Provide operational leadership in absence of Headteacher and contribute to safeguarding responsibilities.

Skills

Curriculum leadership

Assessment design

Strategic planning

Staff development

Behaviour management

Safeguarding

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Leadership qualification (NPQH or equivalent)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Assistant Headteacher – Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment

Post Reference Number:

ELWS02

Post Title:

Assistant Headteacher – Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment

Location:

Expanse Learning Wigan School, Tyrer Avenue, Wigan, WN3 5XE

Work Pattern:

Responsible to:

Responsible for:

Supporting the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to deliver the strategic vision of the school to secure its continued success and development. To ensure a high-quality curriculum, teaching, assessment and progress model is implemented, monitored and evaluated. To support excellent behaviour, inclusion and personal development for all students. To act as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Closing Date:

19/10/2026

Key Working Relationships:

Day-to-day interactions with the Expanse Group team, directors, staff, students, employers and external stakeholders as appropriate.

Statement of Purpose

This job description provides an outline of the duties and responsibilities of the role, and the necessary skills and knowledge required to perform them as at the date it was created. Employees already fulfilling and/or recruited to this role will be recruited on the basis of their qualifications and experience to do the work to be performed, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief, political opinion, age, pregnancy and maternity, disability or trade union membership status. By applying for this role, the candidate accepts that over time this job description may be subject to change as the candidate's duties and job evolves.

*The post holder will be expected to carry out all duties as described in the Teacher job description alongside this job description. This job description is an addendum to the post holders' main duties and their substantive role as a teacher.

• To undertake some responsibilities arising from the Headteacher’s professional duties which have been reasonably delegated to the Assistant Headteacher
• Model the values and vision of the school
• Take responsibility for a particular aspect of the school development plan, in collaboration with other members of the leadership team
• Demonstrate personal enthusiasm for and commitment to the learning process
• Demonstrate the principles and practice of effective teaching and learning
• Support and contribute to research and debate about effective learning and teaching
• Undertake a teaching allocation as directed by the Headteacher
• Foster an open, fair, equitable culture
• Develop, empower and sustain individuals and teams.
• Collaborate and network with others within and beyond the school
• Challenge, influence and motivate others to attain high goals
• Give and receive effective feedback and act to improve personal performance
• Contribute to established structures and systems within specified areas of responsibility
• Sustain the existing structures and systems within the school
• Contribute to ensuring that policies and practices are consistently implemented across the school
• Help to manage aspects of the school efficiently and effectively on a day-to-day basis
• Delegate management tasks and monitor their implementation
• Prioritise, plan and organise themselves and others
• Think creatively to anticipate and solve problems
• Providing support for all staff by maintaining a high level of visibility around the school site and contributing to whole school behaviour management as directed by the Headteacher
• Ensure that safeguarding is always given the highest priority
• Build and maintain effective relationships with parents, carers and the community that enhance the education of all students

Specific Key Tasks

• To take lead responsibility for the curriculum design, implementation and assessment model to ensure that the curriculum is ambitious and appropriately sequenced to align with students' needs, including their EHCP outcomes.
• Lead on whole school assessment and quality assurance so that systems are robust and improve outcomes.

Ensure the curriculum enables pupils to develop communication, independence, social, emotional and life skills alongside academic achievement

• Support the development and implementation of new subjects across the school, as appropriate
• Lead by example in their practice, and by positively encouraging and supporting all members of staff
• Lead Annual Reviews for an identified cohort of students
• Timetable Planning: Support SLT in relation to the planning and implementation of whole school timetables
• Work with the Headteacher to provide CPD (continuous professional development) for staff ensuring their needs are identified and met through quality training opportunities within available resources
• Work as part of the leadership team in setting, nurturing, promoting, and maintaining a very high standard of behaviour and mutual respect throughout the school ensuring that all staff play an active role in the pursuit of these standards
• Organising whole school events such as Parents Evenings and Open Evenings
• Responding to the views, needs and requests of students, parents/carers, staff, governors and visitors
• Attend and contribute to SLT meetings as appropriate
• Prepare documentation for governors and other events as directed by the Headteacher
• Contribute to the development of the school within the community; strengthening partnerships with families, neighbours, our local and wider community, other schools, services and the local authority
• Contribute to policies and practices which promote equality of opportunity and tackle prejudice and discrimination, support staff well-being and work-life balance and help to ensure we provide access to opportunities for growth, achievement and success for all adults and children in school
• Lead appraisal meetings for an identified cohort of staff
• Quality assure Databridge entries
• Act in the role of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead as part of the Safeguarding team.
• Undertake delegated responsibilities and provide operational leadership in the absence of the Headteacher, as required

Note: in addition, other duties at no higher responsibility level may be interchanged with/added to this list at any time.

This job description may be altered by consultation and discussion. It will periodically be reviewed as part of ongoing continuing professional and school development. In addition, it may be amended at any time after consultation with you.

Person specification

Source

Qualified teacher status

Application

Evidence of sustained and relevant professional development in preparation for a leadership role

Application/Interview

Interview

• ADHD
• Moderate to Severe Learning Difficulties (MLD/SLD)
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs

Interview

Strong understanding of curriculum design and assessment to meet the diverse needs of students

Interview

Awareness of KCSIE legislation

Interview

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Application/Interview

Excellent ability to undertake data analysis and produce written reports

Interview

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and information systems (Databridge)

Interview

Maintain strict confidentiality and hold the highest integrity, as the situation demands.

Interview

Excellent time management and prioritisation skills, being able to manage multiple priorities

Interview

Experience

Successful leadership and management experience in a school

Application/Interview

Experience of leading staff and contributing to staff development

Application/Interview

Experience of contributing to whole‑school improvement, planning and implementation

Application/Interview

Personal Qualities

A commitment to getting the best outcomes for all students and promoting the ethos and values of the school

Interview

Demonstrating integrity, professionalism and emotional intelligence

Interview

Demonstrating resilience and the ability to lead positively

Interview

Commitment to safeguarding and equality

Interview

Deal sensitively with people and resolve any conflicts should they arise

Interview

High levels of motivation, energy and commitment

Safer Recruitment

All successful candidates are subject to the following security checks.

• Verification of the applicant's identity (where that has not previously been verified)
• The receipt of two references (one of which must be from the applicant's most recent employer) which Expanse considers being satisfactory.
• Where the position amounts to "regulated activity" the receipt of an enhanced disclosure from the DBS which Expanse considers to be satisfactory.
• Where the position amounts to "regulated activity" confirmation that the applicant is not named on the Children's Barred List/Vulnerable Adult Barred List.
• Verification of the applicant's medical fitness for the role.
• Verification of the applicant's right to work in the UK.
• Prohibition from teaching checks
• Section 128 provisions check (prohibited from managing)
• Any further checks which are necessary as a result of the applicant having lived or worked outside of the UK; and
• Verification of professional qualifications which Expanse Group deems a requirement for the post, or which the applicant otherwise cites in support of their application (where they have not been previously verified).
• An online search will be completed as part of Expanse Learnings pre‑employment checks.

Checks

Note to Applicants:

Applicants must try to show in their application evidence of their ability to meet the requirement of the person specification. If you require any aids or adaptations to either our workplace or policies and practices that may assist or enable you to successfully carry out this role, please inform us. This job description is subject to annual review in accordance with the changing nature of learners and institutional need.

We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in the way we deliver services to the community and in our employment arrangements. We expect all employees to understand and promote this policy in their work.

Health and Safety

All employees have a responsibility for their own health and safety and that of others when carrying out their duties and must help us to apply our general statement of health and safety policy.

Safeguarding Commitment

This school is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Supplementary Information

None

Further Statement

Undertaking any other duties, which may reasonably be regarded as within the nature of the duties and responsibilities of the post as defined, subject to the provision that normally any changes of a permanent nature shall be incorporated into the job description in specific terms