Assistant Headteacher

Highfield School, Ossett, West Yorkshire, WF5 9BS

12 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 January 2027

• Closing date

  21 September 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  9 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Assistant headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time: Full time, term time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: L9-13

What skills and experience we're looking for

The Governors are seeking to appoint an ambitious and inspirational Assistant Headteacher with a passion for learning, and with proven leadership and management skills, to join the leadership team in this specialist secondary school for pupils with a range of severe learning difficulties including those with autism, and those with complex learning difficulties and associated behaviours.

We are looking for someone who demonstrates:

• A proven track record in successful leadership of students with SEND
• Commitment, drive and passion for improving outcomes for students with SEND
• Ambition, enthusiasm, resilience and a desire to make a difference
• Commitment to continuous professional development and a sound understanding of the demands and responsibilities of an Assistant Headteacher
• Passion and commitment for the highest standards of achievement across the school
• High expectations of what can be achieved with outstanding classroom practice
• The ability to lead and motivate others

Please see application pack for full details.

What the school offers its staff

In return we can offer:

• Fantastic students who are positive, keen to learn and progress
• A dedicated and skilled workforce, committed to making a difference
• A school with high aspirations and a strong commitment to professional development where every person is valued
• An excellent CPD opportunities
• Staff wellbeing service including physiotherapy, mindfulness, counselling, weight management, chronic illness support, menopause support, GP consultations, private medical operations, stress awareness sessions.

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.

Application Pack - AHT 2026.docx - 78.6 KB (opens in new tab)

About Highfield School

• Organisation type: Special school, ages 11 to 19
• Size: 210 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Highfield School website
• Email address: psayle@highfield.wakefield.sch.uk
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/highfield-school-ossett

We are a local maintained school providing education for pupils with severe learning needs. Our pupils come from all over the Wakefield area and some from further afield, to benefit from our specialised teaching, excellent pastoral care and the wide range of specialist support services and interventions we provide through our curriculum offer.
Our ambition is to ensure that every pupil is well prepared for the next stage of their education and for adult life, be that finding meaningful employment, continued education, supported or independent living.

At Highfield school we provide a student-centred curriculum, delivered in an inclusive environment. Students develop their communication, independence and social skills to make good or better personal progress towards their EHCP outcomes. We prepare them for the responsibilities and experiences of adult life, building resilience opportunities throughout the curriculum.

Our school vision statement ‘maximising potential for confident and independent futures,’ is embedded through our six-strand curriculum across four pathways in year 7 to 11. These are, semi-formal, formal and blended and SCERTS. The SCERTS curriculum pathway introduced in September 2022, which is a comprehensive intervention model for students with autism and their families. In Post 16 we have three pathways which are, Moving on, Futures and City Futures, which was introduced in September 2022.

Highfield is a school which caters for students with severe and complex learning difficulties and autistic spectrum conditions. A significant number of our learners have associated complex needs relating to visual, hearing and speech impairment, social and emotional difficulties, communication difficulties, a range of chromosomal difficulties and in some cases, physical difficulties.

The development of our fantastic green field site has seen the inclusion of a purpose built Post 16 facility, a sensory room, a library, a fitness suite and the refurbishment of the main entrance, administration office spaces and our Emotional Health and Well- being area. We also have a wide range of outdoor facilities including a wildlife area which supports our Forest School status, a poly tunnel for horticulture, Animal Unit and well maintained sports facilities that contribute to the positive learning experiences of our students. Visitors to our school comment very positively on the warm welcome they receive and the quality of the provision, as well as the outstanding attitudes and behaviour of our fantastic students, of whom we are very proud.

We have a large, well-qualified and committed staff group who work very effectively in teams. All staff members are well supported through supportive appraisal processes to improve their practice and are encouraged to develop professionally. There are clear progression pathways identifiable within the school.

The school has grown significantly during the past five years and has made substantial changes to its model of leadership and curriculum in order to better meet the needs of our pupils. Our most recent Ofsted, November 2023, found that the school was Good overall with outstanding personal development, behaviour and welfare.

Arranging a visit to Highfield School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email psayle@highfield.wakefield.sch.uk.

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