Assistant Head Teacher & Deputy DSL
Elm Tree Primary Academy, Wednesbury, WS10 0TB29 days remaining to apply
Start date details
May 2026
Closing date
8 February 2026 at 10:59pm
Date listed
9 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Head of year or phase
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £57,137.00 - £63,070.00 Annually (Actual) L5 - L9 £57,137 to £63,070
Assistant Head Teacher & Deputy DSL job summary
Elm Tree Primary Academy is a new special school in Sandwell for autistic pupils from Reception to Year 6 who have additional learning needs.
This is a very exciting opportunity for Victoria Academies Trust who are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated Assistant Head Teacher. We welcome applications from teachers with a range of experience in working with autistic pupils with additional learning needs. The position will allow the successful candidate to be
part of a small team and grow with the school as it reaches its full capacity by September 2025
We are looking for candidates who:
Creative thinkers, passionate, committed and have the determination to secure the best possible outcomes for every child
Have the experience and skills to work with autistic pupils
Energetic, positive and have the ability to work effectively as part of our team
Willing to go the extra mile to make great things happen for our children
We can offer the successful candidates:
- A commitment to continuing professional development
- A supportive and hardworking staff team
- Happy to discuss flexible working
Main purpose
The assistant headteacher will support the headteacher in:
Communicating the school’s vision compellingly and supporting the headteacher’s strategic leadership
The day-to-day management of the school
Formulating the aims and objectives of the school
Supporting teaching and learning across the school
Establishing policies for achieving these aims and objectives
Managing staff and resources to that end
Monitoring progress towards the achievement of the school’s aims and objectives
Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead as per separate job description
This will be a class based post. School teachers are required to carry out the duties set out in the Teachers Pay and Conditions document.
This job description reflects the national teacher standards for qualified teacher status. It may be amended at any appropriate time, following consultation between the head teacher and teacher, and will be reviewed annually. Priorities relating for performance managements objectives will be identified in the performance management documentation.
Leadership time will be allocated in order to carry out the responsibilities of the post.
They may also be required to undertake any of the duties delegated from the headteacher.
Qualities
The assistant headteacher will:
Uphold public trust in school leadership and maintain high standards of ethics, behaviour and professional conduct
Build positive and respectful relationships across the school community
Serve in the best interests of the school’s pupils
Have an excellent understanding of the needs of autistic pupils with additional learning needs
Duties and responsibilities
School culture and behaviour
Under the direction of the headteacher, the assistant headteacher will:
Create a culture where pupils experience a positive and enriching school life
Uphold educational standards in order to prepare pupils from all backgrounds for their next phase of education and life
Ensure a culture of staff professionalism
Encourage high standards of behaviour from pupils, built on rules and routines that are understood by staff and pupils and clearly demonstrated by all adults in school
Teaching, curriculum and assessment
Under the direction of the headteacher, the assistant headteacher will:
Establish and sustain high-quality teaching across subjects and phases, based on evidence
Ensure the teaching of a broad, structured and coherent curriculum
Establish curriculum leadership, including subject leaders with relevant expertise and access to professional networks and communities
Use valid, reliable and proportionate approaches to assessing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum
Promote a culture and practices that enables all pupils to access the curriculum
Have ambitious expectations for all pupils
To use effective methods of monitoring pupil progress and using information to establish a relevant curriculum
Make sure the school works effectively with parents, carers and professionals to identify additional needs and provide support and adaptation where appropriate Make sure the school fulfils statutory duties regarding the SEND Code of Practice.
Organisational management and school improvement
Under the direction of the headteacher, the assistant headteacher will:
Establish and oversee systems, processes and policies so the school can operate effectively
Ensure staff and pupils’ safety and welfare through effective approaches to safeguarding, as part of duty of care whilst carrying out the role of Deputy DSL
Ensure rigorous approaches to identifying, managing and mitigating risk
Ensure effective use of budgets and resources
Identify problems and barriers to school effectiveness, and develop strategies for school improvement that are realistic, timely and suited to the school’s context
Make sure these school improvement strategies are effectively implemented
Staff management and professional development
Under the direction of the headteacher, the assistant headteacher will:
Performance manage middle leaders, including carrying out appraisals and holding staff to account to their performance
Manage staff well with due attention to workload
Ensure staff have access to appropriate, high-standard professional development opportunities
Keep up to date with developments in education
Seek training and continuing professional development to meet their own needs
Governance, accountability and working in partnership
Under the direction of the headteacher, the assistant headteacher will:
Work with the governing board as appropriate
Ensure the school effectively and efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties
Work successfully with other schools and organisations
Maintain working relationships with fellow professionals and colleagues to improve educational outcomes for all pupils
Other areas of responsibility
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
The assistant headteacher will:
Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum that reflects the needs of all learners.
Ensure progression, coherence, and consistency across all subjects and phases, with clear intent, implementation, and impact.
Drive high standards of teaching and learning through effective monitoring, coaching, and professional development.
Promote inclusive and adaptive teaching practices that enable all pupils, including disadvantaged learners, to achieve their full potential.
Lead and support subject leaders in curriculum design, delivery, and evaluation.
Ensure teaching and learning reflect current educational research and best practice.
Contribute to whole-school self-evaluation and school improvement planning.
Work collaboratively with senior leaders to ensure consistency and high expectations across the school.
Communicate effectively with staff, Academy Council, parents, and external agencies as appropriate.
Please see attached Job specifications for both Assistant Head Teacher & Deputy DSL
Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the assistant headteacher will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Elm Tree Primary Academy
- School type
- Free School, ages 4 to 11
- School size
- 88 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Elm Tree Primary Academy website
School location
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