Assistant Headteacher in Cambridge

Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire

Hours: 40 hours per week, term time

Salary Details: Up to £43,000 per annum DOE

Cambian Wisbech School is seeking two inspiring Assistant Headteachers to help lead our specialist SEMH provision for up to 51 students aged 7-17 years. This is a rewarding opportunity to support vulnerable learners, drive positive behaviour, and shape a safe, nurturing learning environment where every child can thrive.

The school: Cambian Wisbech School is an independent, DfE-registered, co-educational day school, providing specialist education for up to 51 students aged 7-17 years. The school has a well-established reputation for providing good quality personalised education for students with social and emotional difficulties along with associated challenging behaviours. Many of our students have had negative experiences in previous school settings and have consequently failed to achieve or integrate successfully.

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

• Daily Operational Leadership.
• Learner Issues and on-the-Day Responses.
• Learner Referrals and Induction.
• Attendance at LAC, PEP and Local Authority Meetings.
• Staff Support, Supervision and Quality Assurance.
• Enrichment Lead.
• Teaching Responsibilities - Deliver high-quality teaching across agreed subject areas, tailored to the needs of learners with SEMH needs.

Person Specification:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Degree or equivalent teaching qualification.
• Evidence of sustained professional development linked to SEMH or behaviour.
• NPQSL or equivalent leadership qualification (Desirable).
• Additional training in trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, or mental-health-related CPD (Desirable).
• Safeguarding (DSL-level) training.
• Successful teaching experience supporting pupils with SEMH needs or associated challenging behaviours.
• Leadership experience at middle or senior level.
• Experience working in a specialist or alternative provision setting.
• Experience leading behaviour systems or therapeutic interventions.
• Experience completing or contributing to LAC reviews and PEPs.
• Experience building strong relationships with multi-disciplinary teams (e.g., therapy, social care).
• Experience personalising curriculum pathways to support disengaged learners (Desirable).

Personal Qualities:

• Deep commitment to safeguarding and child-centred practice.
• High resilience, compassion, and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to remain positive and solution-focused in challenging situations.
• Passion for improving life chances of vulnerable learners.
• Commitment to modelling the nurturing ethos of Cambian Wisbech School.
• Reflective practitioner, open to feedback and continuous development.

Why work for us:

• Competitive salary.
• Opportunity to progress in your career.
• Training opportunities either face to face or online.
• Wellbeing - Your wellbeing matters to us, and we are committed to ensuring you get all the support you need.
• You will be a part of a dedicated team of professionals who will offer you clear guidance and mentor you in this role.
• Supportive management and senior leads.
• We offer full induction, paid for DBS, friendly family atmosphere and the opportunity to progress with one of the UK’s biggest care providers.

Cambian is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Cambian is committed to Safeguarding and protecting the young people and service users within our care. All candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and reference checks. Cambian will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.