Assistant Headteacher

Full Job Description

We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge

Job Title:  Assistant Headteacher
Location:  Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD
Hours:  40 per week | Monday to Friday | 8.30am – 4.30pm
Salary:  Up to £51,250.00 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:  September 2026

UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Headteacher to join our close-knit team at Dibden Park School.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Assistant Headteacher to join our leadership team. This exciting role offers the opportunity to influence the strategic direction of the school while having a hands-on impact on teaching, learning, and pupil development.

Working closely with the Headteacher, you will help define and embed the school’s vision, leading on curriculum development, assessment, and the promotion of high standards of behaviour and inclusive practice. You will play a key role in staff development, performance management, and fostering a collaborative and innovative culture across the school.

You will take lead responsibility for ensuring that every pupil receives a high-quality, personalised curriculum and support. Through careful monitoring and accountability, you will ensure that pupils make excellent progress academically, socially, and emotionally. You will also build strong, positive relationships with families, external partners, and the wider community, positioning the school as a hub of excellence and innovation.

What you will be doing

• Creating a positive, inclusive school culture with high expectations for every pupil
• Driving high-quality teaching, learning and curriculum delivery across the school
• Leading effective assessment practices and monitoring pupil progress and interventions
• Championing SEND and inclusive education, ensuring every learner can thrive
• Overseeing safeguarding, systems and processes to ensure safe, effective school operations
• Supporting, developing and performance managing staff while promoting wellbeing
• Leading school improvement strategies that raise standards and improve outcomes
• Building strong partnerships with families, governors, schools and external agencies

What You’ll Bring

A leader who:

• Degree/ QTS or equivalent required
• Management experience needed
• Upholds the highest standards of ethics, professionalism and conduct
• Builds strong, respectful relationships across the school community
• Acts with integrity and in the best interests of pupils
• Brings energy, clarity and purpose to their leadership
• Driving licence required

About us

Dibden Park School is a new school based in Southampton. Dibden Park School has capacity for 60 students and will cater to students with social and emotional mental health and other complex needs. This is an exciting opportunity to grow and develop with a new staff team in a newly established independent special school.

We are part of Acorn Education and can promise you plenty of challenges, and a rich variety of opportunities to develop your career.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the 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.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

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

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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