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Include St Matthews; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 72,000; Part time

Job summary

Include St Matthews invites applications for an Assistant Headteacher to lead on Behaviour, Personal Development and Wellbeing at our therapeutic special school in Darley Abbey. This leadership role includes a part-time teaching commitment, keeping you connected to the classroom while shaping whole-school support for SEMH and autism.

You will work within a trauma-informed, relational approach, deputising for the Headteacher and guiding staff who are committed to pupils who haven’t always had it

Qualifications

• QTS and a degree, plus at least three years of solid classroom experience.
• Experience leading some aspect of school improvement and developing staff.
• Values-driven, resilient under pressure, and warm with pupils, prioritising wellbeing and belonging.

Responsibilities

• Oversee behaviour, attendance, personal development and pastoral support, ensuring integration across areas.
• Teach part of the week, model best practice, and line manage teachers and middle leaders.
• Support the SENDCo with pupils with EHCPs (not day-to-day SEND coordination).
• May act as DSL or Deputy DSL, subject to training.

Skills

Leadership experience

Staff development

Behaviour management

Trauma-informed practice

Education

QTS

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Assistant Headteacher (with part-time teaching commitment)

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 mainsteam 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.

Safeguarding

Include Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, prohibition checks, satisfactory references, and safer recruitment vetting in line with statutory guidance.