Assistant Head

£60,145 – £66,368+ excellent benefits

Please note that this role is due to start in September 2026.

If we receive a high volume of applications, the advert may close early.

Those Huge Small Victories

Our Assistant Head Teachers are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things. There’s lots of ups and downs, and to some of our young people, sitting through a lesson can be a big win. We call these huge small victories and whilst they may seem small on the surface, they add up to make a big difference

Get out what you put in

You’ll be working with children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder/Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. Alongside the Head Teacher, you’ll set the vision for the future of the school, ensuring we have the right people and plans in place so that our young people leave feeling proud of what they’ve achieved. You’ll work as part of a team of two, leading the curriculum, teaching, learning and school culture collaboratively. You’ll put children first and be a creative, flexible leader who can inspire both staff and pupils. This role can be Primary or Secondary based, and you’ll have a fantastic team supporting you every step of the way.

You will need to be resilient and dedicated, but those huge small victories that you achieve will be something you’re really proud of.

It can be hard work, but the positive steps forward will more than make up for it. As an Assistant Head Teacher at Witherslack Group, you’ll get all the support you need to succeed, from the broader management team to a range of supporting specialists. Your colleagues will be the best at what they do, the school environments will be well-resourced, and we’ll be with you every step of the way, helping you build a rewarding teaching career.

One of the best environments in SEND

Hartwell School is an independent specialist day school providing high quality education, based in Stockton-on-Tees. The school meets the needs of a diverse group of pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Autism and a range of other associated conditions. The recent Ofsted rating of Good has established the school as one of the leading specialist provisions in the North East.

What we do for you

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the education sector. With us, you’ll get to bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:

• Training: A full induction and on the job training
• Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays
• Progression: If career development is your thing, most of our head teachers have been promoted from within our group
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefits here
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts
• Pension: we offer a range of pensions to suit your lifestyle needs including Teachers’ Pension and our very attractive TPS alternative
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schools here
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time

Bring your whole-self to work

Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs – and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. You’ll be more than an Assistant Head Teacher, you’ll be able to connect with our pupils because of:

• You’ll need previous teaching experience and have Qualified Teacher Status- You’ll also need leadership and management experience
• Your drive to raise the quality of teaching and learning
• Your understanding of what good behaviours for learning look like
• Your effective leadership and coaching skills
• Your knowledge of how best to use your interpersonal skills to develop a strong staff team
• Leadership and management experience, with a focus on collaborative working
• Drive to raise the quality of teaching and learning while fostering a strong school culture
• Ability to develop and coach a strong staff team

Interested in joining us?

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and that they truly belong.

As a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference- especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognised as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we’ll be there every step of the way.

By building a diverse and inclusive team, we’re better able to support the children, young people and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

For a full job description and person specification, please click here

To view our ex-offenders policy please click here

To view our Child Protection Policy, please visit the Parents and Carers section of this School/Learning centre. You can find all our Schools here

Special Education / Careers in Care / Careers in Special Education / Working with Children / SEMH / SEN / ASD