Vacancy: Assistant Headteacher (with SENCO responsibilities)
We are now looking to appoint an enthusiastic, dynamic Assistant Headteacher (with SENCO responsibilities) to work at The Mead Primary School. The Mead is a happy, vibrant school situated across two sites on the outskirts of Trowbridge; a larger site with 14 classes and a Nursery in Hilperton, and a smaller setting based in four classrooms (including Nursery provision) in Wingfield village. The Assistant Headteacher will support our children, families and staff at both sites.
This rare vacancy presents a unique opportunity to join not only a fantastic school, but a growing and forward-thinking Trust. You will be a visible and important member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team, but also become part of our Trust team of Inclusion Leads who work collaboratively with The Trust’s complex needs resource base practitioners, behaviour and SEMH Improvement Champions, and equalities lead. We can offer the right candidate a depth and breadth of experience with opportunies to shape and share practice.
We are interested in hearing from experienced SENCOs who are looking for the next step in their career, as well as those currently in an Assistant Headteacher post who hold the National Award for SENCOs (NASENCO). In addition, we would like to hear from you if you are:
• An outstanding classroom teacher with a passion for developing children’s knowledge, inspiring their learning and celebrating their achievements
• Dedicated to, and have high expectations of, children with a belief that all children can succeed
• Able to demonstrate how your work will impact on the whole school as part of the senior leadership team
• Able to demonstrate strong leadership in inclusion, with a proven track record of supporting others to improve their practice and be able to hold people to account
• Experienced in working with colleagues (including multi-agency professionals), children and parents to ensure that all learners make good progress from their starting points, and are advantaged by your leadership
• Able to lead staff development for inclusion and actively contribute to strategic planning for the school and whole school issues
• Able to undertake regular teaching, which may include include teaching within nurture provision or providing regular release time for class teachers
To be truly effective in this role, you will need to have:
• An Advanced Safeguarding Qualification (or the willingness to attain one), in order to act as Deputy DSL within the school
• Excellent communication skills, with very high levels of interpersonal skills
• An innovative, creative and forward thinking approach
• An ongoing committment to your professional development and learning
• Enthusiasm for developing strong engagement with the local community and multi-agency professionals
Candidate Briefing Pack >
Application Form >
Equality & Diversity Form >
This role will involve contact with children and the post holder will be engaged in regulated activity relevant to children and will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check before appointment is confirmed.
This Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exception Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.
Please note that by submitting an application, you acknowledge that we reserve the right to view any publicly available information published on social media platforms as part of our shortlisting process, in line with current KCSIE guidelines.
Child Protection Policy >
Code of Conduct >
What we offer
We recognise the value and contribution every member of our staff makes to our schools, and in return for their dedication and commitment we provide:
- An ambitious and vibrant place to work, with enthusiastic staff and children in all of our schools
- A highly organised and very supportive team
- An unparalleled depth and breadth of experience and focus on Inclusion, through our Trust Quality Reviews, Complex Needs Resource Bases, and The Harbour Programme
- The opportunity to work and plan collaboratively with the Trust SEND / Inclusion Team, supported by our Executive Leader, Lindsay Palmer
- Specialist support and mentoring from our Trust Behaviour, SEMH and Equalities Improvement Champions
- Dedicated weekly planning time (which Teaching Assistants are paid to attend) enables you to liaise regarding planning and provision
- High quality professional development opportunities from Day One, including A National College training account, where you can access thousands of training courses online for free
- A clear vision with purpose and values that are supported by all our staff
- Unlimited, free access to the Employee Assistance Programme which gives all our staff confidential support and guidance just when they need it most