Assistant Head Teacher (SEND)

The Abbey School, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8DY

10 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  15 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  5 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Assistant headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3
• Working pattern: Full time: 32.5 hours per week
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: £61,582 to £67,796

What skills and experience we're looking for

Assistant Headteacher (SEND)

Outstanding Secondary Special School

Pay scale WL7 to WL11

(£61,582 to £67,796)

We are seeking an exceptional, ambitious and values‑driven leader to join our dedicated and experienced Senior Leadership Team as Assistant Headteacher (SEND) at our Outstanding secondary special school for pupils with moderate learning difficulties (MLD).

This exciting role carries strategic responsibility for SEND across the whole school, including fulfilling the statutory role of SENCo. The successful candidate will lead and further develop inclusive practice, contribute significantly to senior leadership decision‑making, and play a key role in shaping the next phase of the school’s development. The post will particularly appeal to experienced leaders aspiring to Deputy headship who wish to deepen their leadership experience within a highly supportive and successful school environment.

We welcome applications from candidates who are:

• Experienced leaders from special or mainstream settings
• Primary or secondary specialists with relevant leadership experience
• Strongly committed to inclusive practice and high‑quality SEND provision

The successful candidate will join a highly skilled, collaborative and committed staff team and will play a key role in driving continued excellence and shaping the school’s future development.

Why join us?

• Consistently judged outstanding by Ofsted (2009, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2024)
• A thriving and ambitious school, exceptionally well‑placed to move confidently into its next phase of development, supported by outstanding facilities and a superb, committed staff team.
• Robust support, coaching and development for senior leaders
• A strong commitment to staff wellbeing, with staff voice valued and promoted through an active staff voice group
• Working within a forward‑thinking, values‑driven and highly supportive Trust (WMAT) that invests in leadership development.

What the school offers its staff

The Abbey can offer:

• Amazing students who want to learn
• A consistent approach to behaviour which ensures learning is not disrupted
• An additional 2 days holiday each year with our wellness (long) weekend in November
• Westfield Health Cash Plan

https://www.westfieldhealth.com/individual/health-cash-plan

This includes reimbursement towards the cost of dental, opticians, physiotherapy and other medical appointments. Your dependants are included at no extra cost to you!

• External leadership/NPQ opportunities, including supporting masters’ applications and aspiring senior leader’s development programme
• Opportunities to collaborate across a range of mainstream and specialist provision schools within the Weydon MAT
• Outstanding, state‑of‑the‑art facilities across the school
• Extensive CPD opportunities that support professional growth in and out of the classroom, including six early closure days, five INSET days, and well‑defined professional learning routes for teachers
• A welcoming and very supportive staff community
• On site car parking

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

The Abbey is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. Enhanced DBS, Children’s Barred List and Right to work in the UK checks are required for all posts. further details including relevant policies are available on the school website: https://www.abbey.surrey.sch.uk/1209/key-information/category/42/safeguarding-and-esafety

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

WMAT Staff Prospectus_Feb 25_Visual 6.pdf - 2.55 MB (opens in new tab)

AHT SEND Recruitment Pack May 26 Final.pdf - 1.18 MB (opens in new tab)

FPN-applicants-v3 (1).pdf - 180 KB (opens in new tab)

About The Abbey School

• School type: Academies, ages 11 to 16
• School size: 157 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: The Abbey School website
• Email address: recruitment@abbey.wmat.org.uk
• Phone number: 01252 725059
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-abbey-school-gu9-8dy

Located in south Farnham, The Abbey is an outstanding secondary special school with just over 130 students who have learning and additional needs (LAN). About 40% of our students have autism or other social communication difficulties, a quarter have speech and language needs and others have physical challenges or complex health care needs. Expectations for student outcomes are high, but helping them overcome barriers to learning is an equally important part of our role.

The school has been part of the Weydon MAT since 2018. Over the next 2 years The Abbey will be undergoing significant investment as we expand from a 2 to 3 form entry school to support Surrey County Council’s SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2020 – 2025.

Our staff are our greatest asset and we are extremely proud of our whole school ethos.
Our 20 teachers and 35 associate staff are highly motivated, mutually supportive and come from all walks of life.

Arranging a visit to The Abbey School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@abbey.wmat.org.uk.

School location

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