Assistant Headteacher

Katherine Warington School, Harpenden, AL5 5FH

Deadline is tomorrow

• Closing date

  7 October 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  21 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Assistant headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £71,759.00 - £79,158.00 Annually (Actual) L12 - L16

Assistant Headteacher job summary

Are you looking for an inspiring leadership opportunity? Join our vibrant secondary school as Assistant Headteacher (L12-L16, £71,759-£79,158) to drive high academic standards, empower staff, and shape the future of our students. Apply now to lead transformative change!

Applying for a leadership position at Katherine Warington School offers a rare opportunity to help shape the trajectory of a modern, forward-thinking institution built on a foundation of equity, innovation, and traditional values. As a relatively new secondary school in Harpenden, KWS combines state-of-the-art, technology-rich facilities with an evidence-informed curriculum rooted in research like Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction.

Joining the leadership team allows you to directly drive an inclusive ethos centered around three core values: Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Success. The school prioritises genuine student voice, staff professional development, and a strong culture of allyship and belonging. If you are an ambitious leader passionate about shaping character, leveraging educational research, and leaving a lasting legacy in a dynamic educational community, taking on a leadership role at Katherine Warington School is a compelling next step in your career.

Please see the Job Description for further information.

The interview process is over 2 days, the 15th and 16th October 2026

In return, you will have access to our staff benefits package including:

• An annual Flex Day to be taken on a day of your choice (with an additional day granted after 4 years of service)
• Commitment to flexible working
• Free parking on site
• Free use of the school gym
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to our in-house team of Mental Health First Aiders
• Buddy system for new staff
• Access to mentoring and CPD opportunities
• Regular staff socials
• Discounts with local businesses
• EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• An opportunity to work with friendly and welcoming colleagues in a modern, aesthetically pleasing and forward-thinking environment.

At KWS, we understand the value of having a workforce that reflects and represents our multi-ethnic student body from an equality, diversity and inclusivity perspective. We therefore welcome and embrace applications from all backgrounds.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and visitors to share this commitment. This post will require a Full Enhanced, with List Checks, Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).

As part of our selection and appointment process, and in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, we are required to conduct online searches on all candidates in order to identify any incidents or concerns which are publicly available online. By submitting and signing your application, you acknowledge that such searches will be conducted as part of the selection and appointment process.

Applications will be shortlisted throughout the process, and we may interview and close the advert early if we are in a position to recruit a suitable candidate. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply early.

For more details about the school please visit our website and prospectus, links below

https://kwschool.co.uk/

https://kwschool.co.uk/prospectus/

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 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.

About Katherine Warington School

• Organisation type: Free School, ages 11 to 19
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 1113 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Katherine Warington School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/katherine-warington-school

Katherine Warington School is a new comprehensive, co‐educational and non‐denominational academic secondary school (opened September 19) with 750 students currently (180 in each of years 7, 8, 9 and 10 – these year groups are already oversubscribed). The school will add a
further 180 students in each subsequent year and then open a 250 strong Sixth Form. By 2025 we will have grown to our capacity of 1,150 students. The school was established through the partnership of the Harpenden Secondary Schools Trust, which includes the three outstanding
schools in Harpenden: Roundwood Park, St George’s and Sir John Lawes and additional partners: the University of Hertfordshire and Rothamsted Research Centre (a world leading non‐profit agricultural science research centre).

Further details about the school, including our prospectus and virtual tour, can be found on our website: www.kwschool.co.uk

School location

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