Associate Assistant Headteacher (English, Drama and Film)

Meridian High School, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 0AH

18 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  13 April 2026

• Closing date

  6 December 2025 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  18 November 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Assistant headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: GLF Leadership Scale - GL10 to GL15

Associate Assistant Headteacher (English, Drama and Film) job summary

Join Our Leadership Team at Meridian High School!

We are seeking an ambitious and dynamic Associate Assistant Headteacher to join us on a permanent basis.

Your Opportunity

As a key member of our extended leadership team, you will drive improvement across the English & Performing Arts faculty, championing exceptional teaching, curriculum innovation, and outstanding outcomes for every learner, especially those facing significant challenges. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced middle leader ready to take the next step, or an emerging senior leader eager to make a whole-school impact.

What we are looking for

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a degree in English (or closely related subject).
• Evidence of sustained professional development (e.g., NPQ, leadership training).
• Strong understanding of curriculum, assessment, and current educational research.
• Successful experience as an outstanding classroom practitioner in English.
• Demonstrable impact on raising attainment and improving progress for diverse learners.
• Proven leadership experience at department, key stage, or whole-school level.
• Ability to design, implement, and evaluate curriculum developments.
• Strong data literacy to diagnose barriers and design targeted interventions.
• Experience contributing to staff development, CPD, coaching or mentoring.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and influence.
• High resilience, professionalism, and commitment to safeguarding, equality, and inclusion.

Desirable

• NPQSL/NPQML or equivalent leadership qualification.
• Additional qualifications or experience in Drama, Film Studies, literacy, or inclusion.
• Coaching or mentoring accreditation.
• Experience of whole-school responsibilities (e.g., behaviour, safeguarding, assessment).
• Passion for cultural enrichment and widening students’ access to the arts

Please read the full job description and person specification for more information. 

About Meridian High School

Meridian High School is a GOOD School in all categories (OFSTED January 2023). We believe education is about developing the whole person, within the school values of ‘resilience, ambition and respect'.

Join the GLF Schools Community

As a part of GLF Schools, you will join a community of staff dedicated to transforming education. With regular progression discussions, there will be a wealth of opportunities for you to grow your career, whether in one of our 42 academies or in our central team.

Celebrating 10 years as a growing Multi Academy Trust with over 2,000 colleagues and over 16,000 pupils

• Founded upon the values of Respect, Inclusivity, Integrity and Kindness
• 42 primary and secondary schools across 7 Local Authority areas across the south of England
• We work as a community whilst ensuring each school maintains its own unique identity
• Committed to ensuring all children and young people receive the best possible education

GLF Schools Employment Offer

GLF Schools has a generous employment offer, which allows all our colleagues to Grow, Learn and Flourish

• Access to our highly competitive Teachers Pension scheme.
• Flexible working options
• Generous holiday allowance
• Work life and family friendly policies
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Access to a staff benefits portal
• Community and collaboration working model

The Details:

Start Date: April 2026 or September 2026 

Pay Scale: GLF Leadership Scale - GL10 to GL15 

Contract type: Permanent, full time. 

Closing Date: 6th December 2025 

Interview date: TBA

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 Meridian High School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 537 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Meridian High School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/meridian-high-school

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