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Associate Assistant Headteacher
Brackenfield Special School, Nottingham, Derbyshire, NG10 4DA31 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
10 May 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
9 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Leadership Scale L3 – L7
What skills and experience we're looking for
Brackenfield SEND School is a successful and expanding special school in the South of Derbyshire. The Executive Headteacher and Governors are looking to appoint a passionate and committed Associate Assistant Headteacher to join our established, experienced leadership team. The successful candidate will work with the Executive Headteacher, Head of Site and Deputy Headteachers to strategically and operationally lead the school.
We are a school for children with complex learning and communication needs ranging from 3-19yrs. Brackenfield is a research based school and we work with external partners to ensure that our approaches reflect best practice in preparing young people with complex needs for adulthood.
We welcome applications from established senior leaders exploring new challenges or ambitious middle leaders looking to progress their career. We have a commitment to staff development and high quality CPD which is provided to our staff through the East Midlands SEND Training Hub which is based at the school.
Applicants are encouraged to come and meet the Executive Headteacher and Head of Site and have a tour of the school (please see contact below).
Brackenfield SEND School is committed to the safeguarding of all children. Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Brackenfield SEND School is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, preventing unlawful discrimination in all of its activities and to valuing diversity.
If you would like more information please contactrecruitment@brackenfield.derbyshire.sch.uk
What the school offers its staff
Thank you for your interest in applying for the post here at Brackenfield SEND School. The school has expanded over the last 9 years from 62 pupils to284at this current time. Within this time our designation has also been changed from 4yr-16yrs to 3yrs-19yrs.We continue to expand as a school, as our Post 16 which opened in Sept 2025 grows to capacity over the next two years. Our school is based over two sites The Grove and The Orchard located 300yards apart on Bracken Road. We are excited to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic teacher to our Outstanding team.
As a school we meet the needs of children from our local community and surrounding areas.Pupils attend the school from Derbyshire, Derby City and Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City, Leicestershire and Rutland local authorities.
Brackenfield is an oversubscribed local authority maintained special school. Over the last 9 years we have streamlined our offer to become a specialist school for pupils with severe and complex learning needs and we have a growing population of children with profound and multiple learning needs and disabilities. All our pupils are significantly cognitively impaired operating developmentally between 0 – 6 years of age. We support pupils’ learning and journey into adulthood through a curriculum based on life skills and skill generalisation. The school benefits from a dedicated Children’s Services Team which oversees safeguarding and family support, a Health Care Team, including registered nurses, which support the medical and care needs of our pupils and a Therapies Team, including onsite Speech and Language Therapists (SALTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) which support with assessment and interventions. These teams work with our highly skilled teaching team to shape the provision around our young people.
Our vision is to support our pupils to reach their potential and become functionally and emotionally literate young adults. Through a curriculum with functional life skills at its core, we are developing our pupils to become young adults who can safely navigate and contribute to society- with independence appropriate to their needs. We are fully committed to the safeguarding of all pupils, this is embedded through all aspects of school life, with strong home-school links.We are committed to developing pupil voice to enable our students to make positive choices, share their opinions and preferences whilst demonstrating an understanding of British Values. We have strong belief and ethos of character education, which is used to support our pupils development a self-recognition of character, alongside providing a curriculum that is ambitious and designed to give our young people the knowledge, self-belief and cultural capital they need to succeed and be happy in life. Pupils leave Brackenfield being the best version of themselves. We work with pupils and families to ensure that pupils are happy, safe and reach their potential during their time with us.
Further information about the job
Closing Date: 10th May 2026
Open afternoon: 22nd April 2026, 1 - 3:30 pm at the Grove site
Pre Interviews: 15th May 2026
Face to Face interviews: 19th and 20th May 2026
Commitment to safeguarding
Brackenfield School is committed to the safeguarding of all children.
Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Brackenfield SEND School is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, preventing unlawful discrimination in all of its activities and to valuing diversity.
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 Brackenfield Special School
- School type
- Special school, ages 3 to 18
- School size
- 206 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Brackenfield Special School website
- Email address
- mtopliss@brackenfield.derbyshire.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 0115 973 3710
Brackenfield is an oversubscribed South Derbyshire special school for children from 3-16 years old. Over the last 4 years we have streamlined our offer to become a specialist school for pupils with communication and comprehension difficulties and we have a growing population of children with complex physical needs. All our pupils are significantly cognitively impaired operating developmentally between 0 – 6 years of age.
Arranging a visit to Brackenfield Special School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email mtopliss@brackenfield.derbyshire.sch.uk.
School location
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