Assistant Headteacher - SEND

Soka Partners; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Soka Partners is recruiting an Assistant Headteacher for an independent special school in South Wales. You will support the Headteacher in daily leadership, oversee teaching and learning, and help shape an innovative, child-centred curriculum for pupils with PMLD, ASC and SLCN.

You will lead staff development, monitor performance, liaise with parents and external professionals, and ensure safeguarding and high-quality education in a therapeutic environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the Headteacher in day-to-day leadership and management
• Lead staff professional development and foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to shape and deliver the school's strategic vision for pupils with additional learning needs
• Help develop and monitor policies and procedures to ensure compliance with educational standards and best practice
• Drive key initiatives that improve the quality of education and care in line with the school's ethos
• Support the design and delivery of a curriculum tailored to pupils' needs, including PMLD
• Monitor and evaluate teaching and learning to maintain high standards
• Support teachers in implementing individualised education plans (IEPs) that are accessible, meaningful and engaging
• Work with external professionals - therapists, social care and other specialists - to ensure holistic pupil support
• Promote pupil welfare and safeguarding, maintaining a safe, therapeutic, supportive environment
• Advocate creatively for pupils' needs and wishes
• Ensure effective, positive behaviour support and a strong sense of community
• Support recruitment, induction and ongoing development of teaching and support staff
• Mentor and coach staff to build best practice in working with pupils with additional needs
• Maintain robust performance management, recognising and developing staff potential, including teaching assistants
• Build strong relationships with parents and carers, keeping them actively involved in their child's learning and wellbeing
• Liaise effectively with external agencies and stakeholders to support pupils' holistic development
• Collaborate with sister schools across the wider group to share and promote good practice
• Represent the school at relevant meetings, conferences and events
• Work with the Headteacher to develop, implement and review the School Improvement Plan, with clear, measurable pupil-outcome objectives
• Lead rigorous self-evaluation and continuous improvement processes
• Use data to track pupil progress, identify gaps and target interventions for every pupil to reach their full potential

Job description

Assistant Headteacher - Independent Special School (PMLD, ASC, SLCN)

About the organisation:

Our client operates independent special schools and residential services across England and Wales, supporting children and adults with a wide range of additional needs.

About the school:

This independent special school, set within its own grounds in South Wales, provides education for pupils aged 3–19, many of whom have profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), together with additional sensory and physical impairments, autism spectrum disorder, and social and communication needs. The school also supports secondary-aged pupils with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and autism spectrum conditions (ASC).

The site includes specialist facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool and high-specification sensory spaces, all designed to help pupils thrive in a safe, stimulating environment regardless of background or disability.

About the role:

We're looking for an Assistant Headteacher to help lead an already strong team delivering outstanding support to the school community. You'll work in an engaging, rewarding setting alongside dedicated staff who build warm, trusting relationships with pupils, deliver an innovative and individually tailored curriculum, and keep learning genuinely enjoyable. A comprehensive training package is provided to support your development in the role, within a close-knit team where every contribution is valued.

Key responsibilities:

Leadership & Management

• Support the Headteacher in the school's day-to-day leadership and management
• Lead staff professional development and foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to shape and deliver the school's strategic vision for pupils with additional learning needs
• Help develop and monitor policies and procedures to ensure compliance with educational standards and best practice
• Drive key initiatives that improve the quality of education and care in line with the school's ethos
• Support the design and delivery of a curriculum tailored to pupils' needs, including PMLD
• Monitor and evaluate teaching and learning to maintain high standards
• Support teachers in implementing individualised education plans (IEPs) that are accessible, meaningful and engaging
• Work with external professionals - therapists, social care and other specialists - to ensure holistic pupil support
• Promote pupil welfare and safeguarding, maintaining a safe, therapeutic, supportive environment
• Advocate creatively for pupils' needs and wishes
• Ensure effective, positive behaviour support and a strong sense of community

Staff Development & Support

• Support recruitment, induction and ongoing development of teaching and support staff
• Mentor and coach staff to build best practice in working with pupils with additional needs
• Maintain robust performance management, recognising and developing staff potential, including teaching assistants

Communication & Partnership

• Build strong relationships with parents and carers, keeping them actively involved in their child's learning and wellbeing
• Liaise effectively with external agencies and stakeholders to support pupils' holistic development
• Collaborate with sister schools across the wider group to share and promote good practice
• Represent the school at relevant meetings, conferences and events

School Improvement & Monitoring

• Work with the Headteacher to develop, implement and review the School Improvement Plan, with clear, measurable pupil-outcome objectives
• Lead rigorous self-evaluation and continuous improvement processes
• Use data to track pupil progress, identify gaps and target interventions for every pupil to reach their full potential