Assistant Headteacher
Walton Leigh School, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 5AB19 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January 2027
Closing date
12 October 2026 at 9am
Date listed
23 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Assistant headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Working pattern
- Full time: 32.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L13 to L17 on the Fringe payscale
What skills and experience we're looking for
Assistant Headteacher
Salary: L13 – L17 on the Fringe payscale
Start date: January 2027
Closing date of advert: 9am Thursday 8th October 2026
Interview date: Monday 12th October 2026
We are seeking an exceptional and inspiring Assistant Headteacher to join Walton Leigh School, a welcoming and ambitious special school for young people aged 11–19 with severe and complex learning difficulties.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a clear passion for inclusive education and an unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with complex additional needs. They will be a highly motivated, reflective and compassionate leader who works collaboratively with staff, pupils, families and external professionals to ensure every learner flourishes within a positive, caring and nurturing environment.
You will play a key role in leading teaching and learning, developing staff expertise and embedding consistently high-quality practice across the school. Working alongside the Deputy Headteacher and senior leadership team.
What the school offers its staff
About the Trust
London South East Academies Trust is a growing and ambitious Multi-Academy Trust, currently comprising mainstream, special and alternative provision academies, alongside an outreach service and a music hub. Our schools are located across Bromley, Bexley, Sussex, Lambeth and Surrey, serving a wide range of communities and educational contexts.
Across the Trust, our schools share a strong commitment to raising attainment, encouraging aspiration and supporting social mobility for every pupil, throughout their educational journey and beyond. We take a holistic but personalised approach to education, recognising that children thrive when their individual strengths, needs and circumstances are properly understood and supported. This enables pupils to flourish and achieve their full potential, whatever their starting point.
We believe that great schools are built by great people. As a Trust, we invest in our staff through strong professional development and leadership opportunities, clear expectations and supportive structures. We actively encourage collaboration and the sharing of best practice across schools, supported by high-quality, cost-effective central services that allow leaders and teachers to focus on what matters most: improving outcomes for pupils.
London South East Academies Trust sits within the Elevare Civic Education Group, which also includes a multi-campus further and higher education college, London South East Colleges and a charitable foundation, Elevare Education Foundation. This unique structure provides meaningful progression pathways for pupils and families, as well as broad development and career opportunities for staff across the wider Group.
Our teams are united by a shared belief in the power of education to change lives. By continuing to grow our Trust and welcoming new expertise and perspectives, we aim to strengthen our schools further and extend the positive impact we have on our communities.
Equal Opportunities
London South East Academies Trust is fully committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful working environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome and encourage applications from all, regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, parental status or marital or partnership status.
As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we will offer an interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you have accessibility needs or require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know.
Please note that if a suitable applicant is identified, we may close the advert before the published closing date.
If you have any specific queries about the role, please contact us at lseathr@lsec.ac.uk.
As the Trust supports children and vulnerable adults, all roles are exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and, where relevant, a Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred List check. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn if these checks are unsatisfactory. Self-disclosure is required as part of the recruitment process, and failure to make a full disclosure or to provide sight of a DBS certificate is likely to result in withdrawal of an offer. The Trust’s DBS policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on request.
All appointments are also subject to verification of the right to work in the UK, in line with Home Office requirements. Original documentation will be required prior to commencement of employment.
Further information about the job
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
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Walton Leigh School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 19
- Size
- 93 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Walton Leigh School website
- Email address
- isabel.murphy@lsec.ac.uk
Walton Leigh School is part of the London South East Academies Trust (LSEAT).
We are a special school for young people aged 11 to 19 with severe and complex learning difficulties. We are a positive, welcoming school and we endeavour to provide a happy and caring environment where your child can flourish.
We will make sure your child is valued and supported in every way. We have a positive ethos, love celebrating achievement and always have high expectations!
We provide excellent opportunities to develop your child’s communication skills and personal and social development.
We strive to deliver outstanding teaching and your child’s class teacher will support and guide them to be as independent as possible.
We are committed in supporting our students to reach their full potential to leave here ready for their adult life.
To find out more, please browse our website https://waltonleigh.lseat.org.uk/
Arranging a visit to Walton Leigh School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email isabel.murphy@lsec.ac.uk.
School location
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