Assistant Headteacher - Key Stage 4

Outcomes First Group; England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established educational organization in Maidstone is seeking an experienced Assistant Headteacher for Key Stage 4. You will lead a team focused on student welfare and education, ensuring high achievements for students with diverse needs. The role offers the opportunity to be part of a pioneering 4-Day Working Week initiative while receiving full-time pay. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is essential for application. Benefits include life assurance, pension schemes, and comprehensive mental health support.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Flexible benefits

Cycle to Work Schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in leading educational teams and managing staff.
• Strong background in supporting students with diverse needs.
• In-depth understanding of safeguarding and welfare requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of the Key Stage 4 Centre.
• Ensure high standards of teaching and learning.
• Monitor academic progress and safeguarding of students.
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for Key Stage 4.

Skills

Leadership

Teaching

Safeguarding

Team Building

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Job description

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?

At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance - and we're putting wellbeing first.

That's why we're proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.

Our school will adopt the 4DWW once we have a full team in place - and with the rollout already underway across the wider Group, now is the perfect time to join .

Job Title: Assistant Headteacher - Key Stage 4
Location: Heath Farm College, Maidstone, ME16 0ER
Salary: Up to £50,000.00 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent Term Time Only
Start: January 2026
UK applicants only - this role does not offer sponsorship

Heath Farm College is looking for an exceptional Assistant Headteacher to lead Key Stage 4 and inspire our learners to achieve their full potential. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, forward-thinking educational leader who thrives on challenge and is passionate about making a difference for young people with diverse and complex needs.

About the Role

The Assistant Headteacher (KS4) will hold strategic and operational responsibility for the effective running of the Heath Farm College Key Stage 4 Centre and will serve as a key member of the College Senior Leadership Team. The postholder will uphold and model the College's core values of Love, Commitment and Opportunity, ensuring that high standards of provision, behaviour, welfare and achievement are consistently maintained.

The role includes direct responsibility for the welfare, education and day-to-day oversight of a small cohort of Year 10 and Year 11 students. The Assistant Headteacher will lead high-quality teaching and learning, support staff development, and ensure that the needs of students with diverse and complex profiles are met effectively in line with statutory requirements and College expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the daily operation of the KS4 Centre, ensuring a safe, calm, and purposeful learning environment that upholds the College's high standards of provision, behaviour, welfare, and achievement.
• Model high-quality teaching practice, support staff development, and hold teachers and Learning Support Assistants accountable to ensure academic, social, and personal progress for all students.
• Oversee the delivery of personalised learning, ensuring that all students' needs are met in line with their Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and coordinate multi-agency engagement, reviews, and planning.
• Monitor academic progress, safeguarding, and wellbeing to secure effective learning outcomes and successful progression into post-16 destinations.
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Key Stage 4, maintaining accurate records and promoting a culture of safety and pastoral care across the Centre.
• Contribute to the strategic development of Key Stage 4 provision and the wider Senior Leadership Team initiatives, supporting the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher in delivering whole-College priorities.

Qualifications Required

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

About Us

Heath Farm College is an independent specialist sixth form college that caters for young people with social, emotional and mental health needs. We offer a unique and stimulating environment where every student is able to make outstanding progress in their personal development and enjoy success in their education.

Heath Farm College is situated in Maidstone and has capacity to support up to 58 students. The provision facilitates a professional post 16 provision for students with EHCPs who are not ready for a large FE college or large school/academy 6th Form provision.

We are part of Acorn Educationand can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK's leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those 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 Acorn Education?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to 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.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

You'll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.

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.