Assistant Headteacher (Inclusions) - September 2026
St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School, Rochester, Kent, ME1 2FA23 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
23 April 2026 at 9am
Date listed
31 March 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: Monday to Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L17 to L21
What skills and experience we're looking for
Required from September 2026
School: St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
Job Title: Assistant Head Teacher/Inclusions
Salary Range: L17- 21 (Currently £76,772 - £84,699)
We are fortunate enough to serve one of the most diverse student communities in the area. Over 50% of our students come from minority backgrounds and this diversity forms a very real part of who we are as a school community. Whilst we are rightly proud to be a Catholic School, we are equally proud that students and staff of all faiths, ethnic groups, nationalities and backgrounds are not only welcomed, but flourish here.
Students at St. John Fisher School are set high aspirational targets and are provided with a wide range of opportunities which will enable them to use and extend the skills and talents they have been blessed with.
Due to the internal promotion of the current post holder after many years of loyal service, we are in the unique position to continue to develop the leadership of our school. This is a fantastic opportunity for leaders to diversify their skill set and experience portfolio.
We are seeking to appoint a candidate with strong leadership and management skills, presence and drive, who is willing to support every individual to fulfil their potential.
We would welcome applications from candidates who aspire to Headship and will support them in every way to achieve this. The Governing Board and Headteacher are seeking candidates with:
- The knowledge and ability to challenge, support and lead alongside the Headteacher.
- An unrelenting drive to raise standards and support our students’ aspirations.
- A track record of supporting and developing strong inclusion standards.
- A commitment to inclusion, attendance and behaviour working well for all students.
- An ability to develop an exciting extracurricular programme and associated links which supports excellent behaviour and attendance.
A commitment to comprehensive Catholic education
What the school offers its staff
Commitment to Staff Wellbeing and Workload
At SJF, we are committed to excellence in a sustainable way. This means we value our staff, devise policies with workload in mind and believe that everyone working in education should have the opportunity to enjoy the highest possible standard of wellbeing and mental health. We recognise that working in a deprived area is never going to be easy, but we are committed to ensuring it’s as positive as it can be. Our approach to staff wellbeing and workload is underpinned by research and best practice.
Ensuring efficient working practices regarding data, marking and feedback, behaviour management and curriculum planning (as outlined in the DFE school workload reduction toolkit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-workload-reduction-toolkit#wellbeing)
a. Clear behaviour policy and support including centralised interventions and rapid response on call
b. Marking policy devised by teachers on a full timetable whereby staff read books every 4-6 lessons and then teach a feedback lesson, rather than time consuming deep marking on all work
c. Strategic placement of inset days including one at the end of the year to finish early for summer
d. Progress reports limited to twice a year for each year group
e. Wellbeing events held at the end of each half-term, not a work meeting
f. Break duties consolidated to two per week, taking place near the teacher’s room where possible
g. Lunchtime supervisors employed so teachers do not have to supervise at this time
h. Teaching timetables below the national upper limit of 90%.
Ensuring communication is streamlined and effective
a. One weekly briefing email to keep you informed of school-wide developments
b. No expectation to answer work related email at evenings and weekends
c. All deadlines are staggered, agreed with middle leadership annually, and published well in advance
Ensuring staff are supported throughout the day
a. Your own dedicated teaching room (for all full-time teaching staff except SLT)
b. Free parking at the front of the school site, less than a minute’s walk from Reception
c. Free breakfast for staff teaching exam classes during exam seasons
d. Staff room onsite for rest and relaxation
e. Workrooms in each departmental area with tea, coffee, water, fridges, and microwaves
f. Food during all day events
g. Fully staffed admin team, reprographics service and pastoral care leaders to support your work with students
h. Staff treats provided in the last week of term at Christmas, Easter and Summer
Investing in staff development
a. At least fortnightly line management meetings with the first question focusing on wellbeing
b. Investment in development of staff through a programme of personalised CPD and learning walks
c. Opportunities to work across local Catholic schools to share good practice and strategy
d. Non-punitive appraisal process that focuses on supporting staff to do everything they can to meet their targets, rather than penalising them if they are not reached despite this
Bringing joy into the workplace and giving back
a. Investment in the staff room and staff reflection space
b. Staff clubs/socials (social secretary)
c. Staff Christmas and summer parties
d. Christmas and Birthday card for each staff member from the Headteacher
e. Gifts for staff on weddings and new births
f. Staff wellbeing coordinator
Further information about the job
Assistant Headteacher / Inclusion Job Description
Role: Assistant Headteacher
Responsible to: Senior Deputy Headteacher responsible for Inclusion
Responsible for:
- Working with the Senior Deputy Headteacher responsible for Inclusion to ensure that all students are supported and challenged to make above-average progress through the the implementation of consistent and clear processes.
- Working with the Senior Deputy Headteacher responsible for Inclusion to ensure that all students have excellent attendance, behaviour and attitudes so that they can achieve their aspirations.
- To develop and embed consistently excellent behaviour management routines both in and outside the classroom.
- To foster resilience and confidence in our students as well as the rewards system so that they become the best possible version of themselves.
- To build on current systems to improve the attendance of all students especially the students with attendance below 90% to 95%.
Salary
The salary range will be L17 – L21 on the leadership pay scale - England. (Currently £76,772 - £84,699)
In addition to the duties summarised in your job description please refer to:
The current year's statutory Guidance on School Teacher's Pay and Conditions (issued by the DfE) which details:
- Conditions of Employment of Teachers other than Head Teachers o Conditions of Employment of Deputy Head Teachers and Assistant Head Teachers o Conditions of Employment of Head Teacher's (the duties of which you will be expected to carry out in the event of the absence of the Head Teacher from the School).
- The current year's Professional Standards for Teachers.
- The Conditions of Service for School Teachers (the Burgundy Book)
The School will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments to this job description and to the working environment in order to enable access to employment opportunities for disabled job applicants and/or to enable continued employment for an employee who develops a disabling condition.
The duties summarised in your job description are indicative and we retain the right to include other reasonable duties which may be reasonably requested commensurate with the post held and duties undertaken. This job description may, after satisfactory negotiation has taken place, be modified by the Head Teacher to reflector anticipate changes which occur over time at a local or national level.
As you are aware, any post working within a School includes substantial access to young people and all appointments are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and a satisfactory result being received. All employees (temporary or permanent) are required to inform the School of any subsequent convictions or other matters whilst employed by the School. Failure to do so will result in the disciplinary process being invoked. All employees in posts eligible for an enhanced check are contractually required to undergo a re-check upon request.
Raising standards
- To line manage a Head of Year to ensure that all students are challenged and supported to achieve their potential
Behaviour and attitudes / Inclusion
- To work with the Senior DHT Inclusion to all students have excellent attendance, behaviour and attitudes so that they can achieve their aspirations.
- To support and challenge colleagues to ensure that they have the highest standards for all students.
- To work with parents and external agencies to ensure that all students have excellent attendance, behaviour and attitudes
- To ensure through work with internal support mechanisms, that safeguarding, including attendance are actively used to ensure that student's behaviour and attitudes are exemplary
- To ensure that reward and disciplinary systems are embedded in all aspects of school life and drive a determination in students to be the best person they can be
Curriculum
- To stay abreast of current developments in curriculum development both locally, nationally and internationally
Leadership
- Attend meetings of the Senior Leadership Team
- Contribute to the operational management of the school and ensure it functions effectively and efficiently
- Be a highly visible presence around the school and model expectations of staff and students
- Assume any/other responsibilities as may be reasonably required by the Headteacher
- Remain positive at all times and lead staff by example
- Build positive working relationships with parents and carers
- Make a significant contribution to the school's self-evaluation process and improvement processes, including the relevant sections of the SEF and the SIP
- Attend meetings of the Governing board as required
Staff training
- Take responsibility for the delivery of relevant sections of the school's CPD programme, including training on all aspects of Inclusion
- To attend CPD as needed to drive own professional development
Tracking and monitoring responsibilities:
- Using data analysis, work with SLT, and staff at all levels to ensure that student achievement is maximized
- To thoroughly self-review, monitor and evaluate the progress made in achieving priorities and targets. To use this analysis to guide further improvement.
Community and wider stakeholder responsibilities:
- To ensure representation at the school at meetings as required
- To act in a pivotal role building teams working in partnership with external agencies, especially alternative provision.
Communication
- To communicate clearly with such external stakeholders as required
- To communicate effectively with the parents and carers of students as appropriate, including developing written reports on student achievement
- To attend staff meetings as appropriate, including Department and Year Team meetings
Catholic ethos:
- To support the Catholic Ethos and mission statement of the school and ensure that the development of the data and raising standards programme is in line with that vision.
- To lead students in prayer, or organise alternative appropriate arrangements, during assemblies.
General requirements:
- To uphold the school's principles, aspirations and policies
- To play a full part in the life of the school community.
- To promote the school positively within the local community and beyond.
- To promote current Health and Safety provisions and policies.
- To exercise proper care in handling, operating and safeguarding any equipment, systems or appliances provided or issued by the School for the post-holder's individual or shared use in the performance of his/her duties, including computer equipment.
- To support the management and administration of the examination process within the School in any way necessary.
- To undertake any other tasks that may reasonably be regarded as being within the nature of the duties and responsibilities of this post, provided that, after satisfactory negotiation has taken place, any significant and permanent changes are incorporated into a revised job description.
- To support and hold staff to account through performance management and other systems, improving standards across the school
Assistant Headteacher / Inclusion Person Specification
Measured by: A – Application I - Interview
Essential or Desirable
Professional Experience
Senior leadership experience in secondary education
A
D
Teaching experience in an 11-18 school
A
D
Proven understanding of current curriculum and learning developments
A,I
E
A record of sustained progress in raising standards in teaching and learning, with improved outcomes for young people
A,I
E
Good / Outstanding Classroom Teacher
I
E
Developing a skilled and effective team and motivating the team to achieve its full potential at all times
A
E
Skills, Abilities, Knowledge
The ability to provide inspirational leadership with a ‘can-do’ attitude and to generate high expectations, innovation and commitment.
I
E
Ability to develop, lead and analyse an initiative from concept through to completion, with successful outcomes
A,I
E
Knowledge and understanding of education policies and practices relating to the education and training of young people.
A,I
E
Ability to initiate and maintain innovative curriculum design and delivery to meet all pupils’ needs
A,I
D
The ability to empower and develop staff and pupils through support and challenge
A,I
D
Good communication skills, developing purposeful, effective relationships
I
E
Strong negotiating and influencing skills
I
D
Personal Qualities
Ability and willingness to support the Catholic ethos of the school
A,I
E
Commitment to a broad and balanced education for all students
A,I
E
Leader who can inspire commitment, enthusiasm and collegiality from staff, students, parents/carers, governors and the community
A,I
E
Values diversity and the unique contribution every individual makes
A.I
E
Highest professional standards and expectations
A,I
E
Able to employ a range of leadership and management styles appropriately, to motivate others
A,I
D
Team player
I
E
Willingness to contribute to the wider life of the school and community
I
E
Ability to maintain work / life balance
A
E
A track record of developing, mentoring and coaching colleagues.
A,I
E
Committed to belief that every child can succeed.
I
E
Education
Good honours degree
A
D
QTS
A
E
Higher Level Degree
A
D
Evidence of continuing professional development.
A
E
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.
About St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1105 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School website
- Email address
- m.curran1@stjohnfisher.school
- Phone number
- 01634543123
St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School is a non-selective coeducational secondary school for students age 11-18. A single site school with free parking, we moved to world-class brand-new buildings in the spring of 2023. Our mission statement is that ‘St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School inspires students, spiritually and educationally forming them through Faith so that they can achieve their aspirations and contribute to their community’. As a Catholic school, we are passionate about the formation of the whole student, making sure that we develop students into good people as well as ensure they get good results.
Arranging a visit to St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email m.curran1@stjohnfisher.school.
School location
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