Senior Assistant Headteacher - Designated Safeguarding Lead
Bridgwater College Academy, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4QY15 days remaining to apply
Job start date
20 April 2026
Closing date
8 February 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
22 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Assistant headteacher
- Other leadership roles
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: 32.43 hours per week - Monday to Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £64,691 - £71,330
Pay scale
- L10 - L14
What skills and experience we're looking for
Senior Assistant Headteacher - Designated Safeguarding Lead
Full Time, Permanent
L10 - L14 (£64,691 - £71,330)
Required from April 2026
Bridgwater College Academy is seeking to appoint a Senior Assistant Headteacher – Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to join our senior leadership team and take a key role in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils across the academy.
This is a senior leadership position with overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection. The role combines strategic oversight with day-to-day leadership of safeguarding practice, ensuring statutory responsibilities are met and that safeguarding remains central to academy life.
In this role, you will:
- Provide senior leadership for safeguarding and child protection across the academy
- Hold overall accountability for safeguarding, supported by a wider safeguarding team
- Work closely with the Headteacher, Trust Safeguarding Lead, governors and external partners
- Contribute to a strong safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe, listened to and supported
- Exercise sound professional judgement in complex and sensitive situations
- Provide appropriate professional challenge where safeguarding practice, systems or culture require scrutiny or improvement
This is a demanding but highly rewarding role, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting difference to children and young people.
Who We’re Looking For
We are looking for an experienced and credible leader who is committed to safeguarding and to the wellbeing and success of every child.
The successful candidate will:
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a strong track record of leadership within a school or all-through setting.
- Have a strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection within an educational setting
- Be calm, resilient and reflective when working in complex or sensitive situations
- Be able to balance empathy with authority and collaboration with professional challenge
- Value listening to children and promoting inclusion and high aspirations
- Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils, staff, families and external partners
- Be committed to maintaining high standards, accountability and continuous improvement in safeguarding practice
- Share the academy’s values and contribute positively to its culture and leadership team
This role would suit someone who is motivated by safeguarding leadership, who understands the responsibility that comes with the role, and who wants to work within a supportive and values-driven academy community.
Why Join Us?
Bridgwater College Academy offers an all-through safeguarding culture with continuity of care, underpinned by a committed and supportive leadership team. The role provides opportunities to influence safeguarding practice at both academy and Trust level, within a values-led environment that places ambition, inclusion, and pupil wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
Helping you achieve a good work life balance is important to us. Lots of our colleagues work flexibly including part time hours and/or job shares and we are happy to discuss these opportunities with you.
We believe in hiring for potential and this means that we value individuals for the knowledge skills and experience that they have developed in every aspect of their lives. If you don’t feel that you meet all of the criteria listed in the person specification, we would still encourage you to apply.
We truly believe that diversity of thought, culture, background and perspective secure the best outcomes for our students. We strive to build teams that represent our local communities and welcome applications from individuals who identify as members of an under-represented group and in particular individuals who identify as BAME, disabled or LGBT. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
What the school offers its staff
We care about our staff and provide a number of benefits in addition to salary including a positive and supportive working environment, Teachers Pension Scheme, on-site gyms, free parking, access to a retail discounts platform and Employee Assistance Programme.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Bridgwater & Taunton College Trust is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share its commitment. Our mission is that all children achieve. This post is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). A comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on all applicants, which will include a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
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)Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Bridgwater College Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 3 to 16
- Education phase
- All through school
- School size
- 1576 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Bridgwater College Academy website
- Email address
- Recruitment@BTC-Trust.org
Bridgwater College Academy is a mixed all-through Academy which combines both primary and secondary education for pupils aged 3 to 16. The academy, which is sponsored by Bridgwater and Taunton College, is located in Bridgwater, Somerset, England.
Arranging a visit to Bridgwater College Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email Recruitment@BTC-Trust.org.
School location
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