Assistant Headteacher

Full Job Description

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?

At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.

That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.

Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So, whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.

Job Title:  Assistant Headteacher
Salary:     Up to £53,000 per annum depending on experience (Not pro rata)
Location: New Barn School, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 8HZ
Hours:      40 hours per week | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8.30am-4.30pm | Wednesday 8.30am-5pm
Contract:  Permanent, Term Time Only
Start:        January 2026
UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

New Barn School, part of Acorn Education, is seeking a dynamic, compassionate Assistant Headteacher to join our close-knit, thriving community. This is your chance to shape the future of a school dedicated to nurturing the academic, social, and emotional success of every pupil—especially those with SEMH challenges.

If you’re a visionary leader who thrives on innovation, collaboration, and making a tangible difference, we want to hear from you! Join a school where your leadership truly transforms lives.

About the Role

As Assistant Headteacher, you’ll be a driving force behind excellence in curriculum, assessment, behaviour, and pastoral care. Working side-by-side with the Headteacher, you’ll shape strategy, inspire staff, and create a vibrant, inclusive environment where all learners can flourish. 

You will:

• Lead Curriculum Innovation: Design, develop, and continuously improve a high-quality, engaging curriculum that meets the diverse needs of pupils with SEMH challenges, ensuring alignment with national standards and best practices. You will oversee curriculum delivery, promote consistency, and ensure learning progression across all key stages.
• Drive Assessment & Progress Monitoring: Implement robust assessment strategies that provide meaningful insight into pupil progress. Use data to identify gaps, celebrate achievements, and support staff in tailoring teaching to maximize learner outcomes. You will hold teams accountable for pupil achievement and help set ambitious, realistic targets.
• Champion Behaviour & Pastoral Care: Lead on behaviour management policies that foster a positive, respectful, and safe learning environment. Support the pastoral team to ensure pupils’ emotional wellbeing and social development are prioritised, working closely with families and external agencies to create personalised support plans.
• Develop & Inspire Staff: Take a proactive role in staff performance management, professional development, and coaching. Cultivate a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation among teaching and support staff, enabling them to reach their full potential and deliver outstanding education.
• Strengthen Community Partnerships: Build and nurture strong relationships with pupils, families, external agencies, and local partners. Act as an ambassador for the school, enhancing its reputation as a centre of excellence for SEMH education and expanding opportunities for pupils beyond the classroom.
• Strategic Leadership: Contribute to whole-school planning and decision-making at senior leadership level. Support the Headteacher in articulating the school’s vision, setting strategic priorities, and driving improvement initiatives that ensure sustainable growth and excellence.
• Safeguarding & Compliance: Take a leadership role in safeguarding practices, health and safety, and statutory compliance, ensuring all policies are rigorously implemented to protect and promote pupil welfare.

This is your opportunity to lead with heart and vision, making a real and lasting impact at New Barn School. Be part of a supportive, ambitious team committed to innovation, collaboration, and excellence in SEMH education.

What We’re Looking For:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Proven experience in senior or middle leadership roles within education
• A successful track record of raising pupil outcomes and enhancing teaching quality
• Outstanding classroom practitioner across multiple key stages
• Exceptional communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills
• Deep commitment to inclusion, safeguarding, and pupil wellbeing
• An inspirational leader who motivates and empowers teams to excel

About Us

New Barn School offers a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum to boys and girls, aged 6 – 19 years who have Social, Emotional and Mental Health complexities.

New Barn School takes full advantage of its beautiful settings and fosters a love for using the outdoor curriculum including forest school, farm experiences and horse riding. The School is within a commutable distance of Swindon, Oxford, Andover, Basingstoke and Reading and other surrounding towns and villages.

Our services offer a stable, secure and supportive environment, in which the pupils and young people we care for can develop the skills and confidence necessary to help them fulfil their potential.

Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit 

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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