Assistant Headteacher - Head of Sixth Form

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 5XF

11 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 January 2027

• Closing date

  15 June 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  4 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Assistant headteacher
  • Other leadership roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: L12 - L16

What skills and experience we're looking for

Assistant Headteacher – Head of Sixth Form

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Assistant Headteacher – Head of Sixth Form will provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the Sixth Form, ensuring:

• Outstanding academic outcomes
• Exceptional pastoral care
• High-quality enrichment and personal development
• Strong and ambitious post-18 progression pathways

The postholder will contribute to whole-school leadership, promoting excellence, driving improvement and embedding the school’s distinctive Christian ethos.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership (Whole School)

• Contribute to the strategic direction, improvement planning and self-evaluation of the school
• Promote and model the Christian vision and values in all aspects of leadership
• Lead agreed whole-school priorities
• Actively contribute to the daily leadership and smooth running of the school
• Contribute to performance management and CPD through line manage selected subject areas
• Model excellent practice and support professional growth

Leadership of the Sixth Form

• Provide a clear vision and strategic direction for the Sixth Form
• Lead the academic and pastoral provision for Years 12–13
• Ensure consistently high expectations and a culture of excellence
• Line manage Sixth Form staff, including Deputy Head of Sixth Form, post 16 Pastoral Support Officer including effective delegation and support within their areas of responsibility
• Leadership of the Form Tutor team
• Work with Exams Team to support internal and external examinations

Curriculum and Teaching

• Lead the strategic development of the Key Stage 5 curriculum, ensuring it is ambitious, inclusive and responsive to student need and school context
• Contribute to whole-school curriculum thinking, ensuring that Sixth Form provision reflects and builds upon the school’s curriculum intent and vision
• Ensure the curriculum supports high-quality teaching, strong outcomes and appropriate post 16 pathways
• Work with SLT and middle leaders to secure consistently high-quality teaching and learning across the Sixth Form
• Contribute to whole-school strategies to improve teaching, including CPD, coaching and evaluation activities
• Ensure that provision is research-informed, inclusive and aligned with whole-school expectations
• Model excellent practice in teaching and learning
• Oversee the delivery and administration of the Extended Project Qualification

Achievement

• Lead regular evaluation and review of Sixth Form provision, including subject performance, student experience and value-added measures
• Use internal and external data to inform strategic decision-making, curriculum changes and intervention planning
• Challenge underperformance and support curriculum leaders in securing improved outcomes at Key Stage 5
• Lead on monitoring, evaluation and review for Sixth Form, including lesson visits, work scrutiny, student voice and data analysis

Student Experience and Pastoral Care

• Ensure high-quality pastoral systems that support wellbeing, inclusion and belonging
• Establish a culture of excellent behaviour, attendance and student engagement
• Develop a strong personal development and enrichment programme
• Develop and enhance student leadership opportunities so that Sixth Form learners are regarded as role models and ambassadors
• Foster leadership, service and responsibility in Sixth Form students
• Ensure safeguarding systems are robust and consistently applied
• Promote a strong safeguarding culture

Accountability and Governance

• Take responsibility for the analysis, evaluation and reporting of Key Stage 5 performance data
• Provide clear, accurate and strategic reports to the Governing Body/Trustees on:
• Student outcomes and progress for Sixth Form
• Retention and recruitment of students
• Post-18 destinations
• Quality of provision and strategic developments
• Contribute to self-evaluation (SEF) and improvement planning, particularly in relation to Sixth Form provision
• Ensure that Sixth Form provision is fully aligned with Ofsted and SIAMS expectations
• Accountable for the allocation of bursary funding

Post-16 Recruitment, Marketing and Transition

• Lead the strategic marketing of the Sixth Form, promoting a strong and compelling vision of the “7-year journey” from Year 7 to Year 13
• Ensure that the Sixth Form is positioned as a natural and aspirational progression pathway, both internally and externally
• Oversee the development of high-quality marketing materials, events and communication, including open evenings, taster days and digital presence
• Leading the Sixth Form team through enrolment and induction processes during the summer period, supported by SLT arrangements
• Work with SLT to ensure alignment between Key Stage 4 provision and Sixth Form recruitment strategy
• Develop strong relationships with feeder schools and external partners to support recruitment

Post-18 Progression, Destinations and Careers

• Lead the strategic development of post-18 pathways, ensuring all students are well-prepared for their next steps

Oversee UCAS, apprenticeships and employment routes, ensuring high aspirations and successful outcomes for all

• Track and analyse student destinations data, using this to inform improvement and evaluate impact
• Ensure the school achieves strong and sustained positive destinations outcomes (including minimal NEET)
• Ensure that year 12 to year 13 retention is strong through a positive Sixth Form experience
• Work with the Careers Leader (or lead this area where appropriate) to ensure provision meets the Gatsby Benchmarks
• Develop strong partnerships with universities, businesses, employers and training providers to enhance opportunities
• Ensure all students receive high-quality, personalised information, advice and guidance (IAG)

What the school offers its staff

The Bishops’ Blue Coat Church of England High School is an excellent oversubscribed, high performing secondary school. Our aim is to know, nurture and inspire both students and staff through a strong culture of professional development, collaboration and high expectations.

We offer opportunities for CPD, access to the EAP, onsite 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

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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

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

AHT HO6 Recruitment Pack 2026 final.pdf - 491 KB (opens in new tab)

About The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

• School type: Academies, Church of England, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1203 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School website
• Email address: vacancies@bishopschester.co.uk
• Phone number: 01244 313806
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-bishops-blue-coat-church-of-england-high-school-chester

Arranging a visit to The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email vacancies@bishopschester.co.uk.

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