We are seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Assistant Headteacher who shares our commitment to inclusion, social mobility and academic excellence. This post represents an exciting opportunity for a candidate with extensive pastoral and/or inclusion experience, either as a current middle leader or an existing Assistant Headteacher.

The role of Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral) is an integral part of the senior leadership team and wider staff body and is fundamental in ensuring that all our students can access our curriculum intent. This role requires excellent knowledge of the different factors which contribute to pastoral care, along with the ability to lead others in delivering effective and inclusive support.

Chestnut Grove is a high performing, 11-18, multi-cultural school in Balham, South London and has won a number of awards for its inclusive approach including UNICEF (Gold Status) Rights Respecting School.  We are an inclusive academy serving approximately 1,330 students, including a thriving Sixth Form of over 300 learners.

Why Chestnut Grove?

 Our staff’s well-being and morale is of the utmost importance to us. We offer a comprehensive professional development programme, through the Wandle Learning Partnership which enables staff to progress professionally; many middle and senior leaders started at the school as (NQTs) ECTs.  We also have ties with first-class external providers and speakers (Equaliteach, Football Beyond Borders, Imperial College, Craig Barton, Teacher Development Trust, UCL, to name but a few recent liaisons).

 We promote workload reduction strategies, Diversity, Inclusion and Equality, staff autonomy and Support Staff Council (to ensure our support staff’s needs are heard and met).

 We offer a broad Wellbeing Program, which includes:

Annual 'Wellbeing Day': a whole day of pampering with yoga, martial arts, art therapy, stress reduction, meditation workshops and pastoral CPD
Reflective Practice: teachers are the only profession that deals with trauma without supervision - but not at Chestnut Grove! We will provide fortnightly RP sessions in which teachers can reflect and collectively problem-solve in order to develop coping strategies and improve their practice.
Weekly yoga session
Weekly staff fitness & dance session.
Regular staff football, badminton and other sports staff elect to do

 In 2019 we were awarded the Platinum Quality Mark for Professional Development and we also received the Healthy Workplace Achievement award from the Mayor of London.

 The Wandle Learning Trust values the diversity of our students and is proud to inspire them through representative teaching and support staff. We aim to select all staff on merit, irrespective of race, sex, disability, age, gender reassignment, sexuality or other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010

 If you enjoy working collaboratively and want to make a genuine difference for young people and the wider community, we would love to hear from you.  Visits to the school can be arranged on scheduled days, by contacting headsoffice@chestnutgrove.org.uk

CLOSING DATE:  Thursday 30^th April, 2026 at midday
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Chestnut Grove is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all  staff and volunteers to share this commitment

staff and volunteers to share this commitment.