Deputy Headteacher

Acorn Care and Education; Walton-on-Thames; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational organization in Walton-on-Thames is searching for a Deputy Headteacher to guide a tailored education for all pupils. This role emphasizes leadership, fostering academic and emotional growth, and promoting a safe learning environment. Candidates should have UK Qualified Teacher Status and a desire to support students’ development. The position includes a competitive salary and a range of employee benefits.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support services

Discount options

Family Growth Support benefits

Qualifications

• Proven experience in senior leadership or school management is desirable.
• Passionate about supporting pupils’ academic and personal growth.
• Natural leader with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of a broad, balanced curriculum.
• Champion positive behaviour support in a nurturing environment.
• Monitor pupil progress and ensure compliance with safeguarding.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Education

UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Deputy Headteacher
Location: Ashley Park School, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 1LE
Salary: Up to £70,000 per annum dependent on experience (not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only
Start Date: October 2025

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

About the Role

This is a key leadership role at Ashley Park School, where you will help shape a high-quality, tailored education for every pupil. Working alongside the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, you will help foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and care.

In this role, you will champion the academic, social, and emotional development of all pupils, ensuring their wellbeing and progress are at the heart of everything we do. You’ll have the opportunity to lead, inspire, and collaborate in a supportive and dynamic environment where every day brings new challenges and rewards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of a broad, balanced, and relevant curriculum that inspires learners.
• Champion positive behaviour support, creating a safe, nurturing, and consistent school environment.
• Work closely with a multidisciplinary team, including education and clinical colleagues, to ensure holistic support for pupils.
• Monitor and celebrate pupil progress, ensuring all learners achieve their individual goals.
• Support the assessment and placement process for new pupils.
• Ensure full compliance with safeguarding procedures and school policies.
• Drive high-quality teaching and learning across the school, modelling excellence and supporting staff development.
• Work alongside the Headteacher to support school management, improvement planning, and strategic initiatives.

Who We're Looking For

• UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent.
• A natural leader with excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in senior leadership or school management is desirable.
• A passionate educator committed to supporting pupils’ academic and personal growth.

Join us at Ashley Park School and be part of a team that is dedicated to transforming lives, celebrating achievements, and creating a supportive, thriving learning environment.

About the School

Ashley Park School is located in the stunning market town on the south bank of the Thames in the borough of Surrey. It forms part of the Greater London built up area and is served by a wide range of transport routes to school, making it easily accessible. Our new specialist school will cater for young people with complex communication needs, autism and associated learning and emotional needs.

Our aim is to help pupils excel by providing a structured, nurturing approach, with pupils accessing a broad, balanced, engaging and extraordinarily rich curriculum.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

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 the 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
• An extensive 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. While 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.