Assistant Headteacher

As of September 2025, Brownhill Learning Community will defederate into two separate entities: a specialist SEMH Special School under new leadership and a Pupil Referral Service (PSR) under new leadership. Both schools have had new staffing structures designed to create an environment that will enhance learners' engagement, wellbeing, and learning. This is an exciting and ambitious new chapter for both schools.

The Special School will be located in Heywood, Rochdale and will cater for learners in KS2-KS4 with a commitment to delivering a nurturing, trauma-informed, inclusive, and aspirational environment tailored to the individual needs of our learners. The Special School will rebrand to Oak Haven School where we Empower, Heal, Thrive.

Are you an experienced, passionate, and resilient leader ready to make a profound difference in the lives of children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs? We are seeking a dedicated Assistant Headteacher to join our dynamic leadership team. This is a unique opportunity to shape inclusive, trauma-informed educational experiences and help transform futures for pupils with complex needs.

Oak Haven will provide a safe, structured, and supportive environment for pupils aged 6-16, all of whom have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) primarily for SEMH. Our experienced team works holistically to build strong, trusting relationships and deliver personalised, aspirational education that empowers every learner to succeed.

As Assistant Headteacher, you will lead and champion consistently high standards of teaching and learning across the school's three pathways: Aspire, Thrive, and Nurture, ensuring all pupils, regardless of need or starting point, receive outstanding education. The role also includes oversight of CPD, quality assurance, and the design and implementation of an effective whole-school timetable.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership of Teaching and Learning: Drive consistently high expectations for classroom practice across the school. Promote trauma-informed, therapeutic, and relational approaches to pedagogy suitable for SEMH learners. Model and support evidence-based, inclusive teaching strategies that engage and challenge pupils. Support staff in planning, differentiation, and managing transitions between pathways when appropriate.
• Pathway Oversight Aspire, Thrive, and Nurture: Work with pathway leads and the Deputy Headteacher to maintain clarity of intent, implementation, and impact for each pathway: Aspire: Academic pathway, typically GCSE-focused. Thrive: Balanced academic and vocational learning. Nurture: Highly personalised, engagement-led and therapeutic curriculum. Ensure teaching approaches reflect the ethos and aims of each pathway.
• Quality Assurance: Lead the quality assurance cycle for teaching and learning, including lesson observations, learning walks, work scrutiny, pupil voice, and feedback. Use findings to inform whole-school and individual development plans. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the quality of provision and contribute to the school's self-evaluation.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Design and deliver a CPD programme tailored to staff needs and aligned with strategic school priorities. Mentor and coach staff to develop their practice, particularly in trauma-informed and adaptive pedagogy. Support Early Career Teachers and those new to SEMH provision.
• Timetabling: Lead the creation and management of the school timetable, ensuring efficient deployment of staff, rooms, and resources across all pathways. Ensure the timetable meets pupil needs and facilitates access to a broad and balanced curriculum. Liaise with curriculum leads to ensure subject coverage, staffing ratios, and therapeutic input are appropriately scheduled.
• Collaboration and Leadership Support: Work closely with the Deputy Head (Quality of Education) and SLT to align teaching and learning with curriculum goals. Attend and contribute to leadership meetings, INSET days, and strategy sessions. Deputise for senior leaders where appropriate.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring background check. The ability to converse at ease with customers and service users and provide advice in accurate spoken English is an essential requirement of this post. Applicants are advised that by applying for this position they are declaring that they are not subject to any immigration controls or restrictions that prohibit them undertaking work in the UK, and that they are able to provide proof of their Right to Work in the UK if they are invited to attend an interview. The school will carry out an online search as part of their due diligence for all shortlisted candidates in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024.