Assistant Headteacher (with part-time teaching commitment)

Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

St Matthews in Darley Abbey is seeking an Assistant Headteacher to lead on Behaviour, Personal Development and Wellbeing within a therapeutic special school. The role combines leadership with a part-time teaching commitment to stay connected with the classroom and shape holistic pupil support.

You will deputise for the Headteacher, lead a staff team, and work within a trauma-informed approach to promote belonging and wellbeing for pupils with SEMH needs and autism.

Qualifications

• QTS and a degree, plus at least three years of solid classroom experience.
• Experience leading school improvement and managing or developing staff.
• Relevant leadership qualification (NPQSL/NPQH) or NASENCO is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee behaviour, attendance, personal development and pastoral support across the school.
• Teach part of the week and role-model best practice for staff.
• Line manage teachers and middle leaders; support SENDCo with EHCP pupils.
• May act as DSL or Deputy DSL subject to training.

Skills

QTS

Leadership

Behaviour management

Staff development

DSL experience

Education

Degree

NPQSL or NPQH or NASENCO

Job description

Closing date: 07 October 2026

Include | St Matthews are looking for an Assistant Headteacher to lead on Behaviour, Personal Development and Wellbeing at our therapeutic special school in Darley Abbey. This is a leadership role with a part-time teaching commitment attached, so you'll stay connected to the classroom while shaping how the whole school supports pupils with SEMH needs and Autism.

You'll be working within a trauma-informed, relational approach, deputising for the Headteacher, and leading a staff team who are genuinely invested in getting this right for pupils who haven't always had it easy elsewhere.

What The Role Involves

You'll oversee behaviour, attendance, personal development and pastoral support, making sure they work together rather than as separate boxes to tick. Alongside that, you’ll teach part of the week, model good practice for other staff, and line manage a team of teachers and middle leaders. You'll also support the SENDCo with pupils who have EHCPs (this role doesn’t hold day-to-day SEND coordination), and you may act as DSL or Deputy DSL, subject to training.

What We're Looking For

QTS and a degree, plus at least three years of solid classroom experience. You'll need to have led some aspect of school improvement before and have experience managing or developing staff. We’re looking for someone values-driven, resilient under pressure, and genuinely warm with pupils — someone who puts their wellbeing and sense of belonging first, not just their behaviour data.

A relevant leadership qualification (NPQSL or NPQH) or NASENCO is a bonus, not a requirement. So is experience with attendance systems, personal development programmes, or supporting pupils who've struggled with emotionally based school non-attendance.

Why work for us

Small class groups, so you can really get to know your pupils and give them the attention they need

A flexible approach to teaching and behaviour support, built around what actually works for each child

Shorter teaching hours than typical mainstream timetable, giving you more time to plan, reflect and recharge

Full training and ongoing support in trauma-informed-practice - SEMH/SEND experience isn't essential

A warm, collaborative staff team genuinely invested in your development

Visits welcome

We warmly welcome visits from interested candidates, or an informal chat about the role, before you apply.