Adelaide School is looking for an Assistant Headteacher who provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure that highly vulnerable pupils receive an inclusive, therapeutic, and high‑quality education. They support the Headteacher with whole‑school improvement, behaviour and welfare systems, safeguarding, curriculum development, and staff development. The role involves working closely with multi‑agency professionals, modelling trauma‑informed practice, and ensuring that pupils with complex SEMH needs feel safe, supported, and able to progress academically and personally.

The Successful Candidate will Provide / Deliver:

• Leadership & Strategic Responsibilities

  • Provides strong and compassionate leadership that supports the Headteacher in driving whole‑school improvement.
  • Contributes to the development and delivery of the school’s strategic vision, ensuring that provision meets the complex SEMH needs of all pupils.
  • Leads key whole‑school areas such as safeguarding, behaviour, curriculum, attendance, therapeutic provision, or staff development depending on the school’s priorities.
  • Oversees the implementation of trauma‑informed, relational approaches across the school, ensuring consistency and high expectations.
  • Supports the development and monitoring of quality‑first teaching, personalised pathways, and targeted interventions.

  Teaching & Learning

  • Ensures that teaching approaches meet the needs of pupils with SEMH profiles, including those with additional SEND.
  • Works with curriculum leads to design a flexible, engaging, and supportive curriculum that promotes academic progress and emotional development.
  • Coaches, mentors, and supports teachers and support staff to develop their skills in de‑escalation, attachment‑aware practice, and therapeutic classroom approaches.
  • Oversees assessment processes to ensure progress is tracked accurately and barriers to learning are identified and removed.

  Behaviour, Safety & Welfare

  • Works with staff to ensure that pupils feel safe, valued, and emotionally regulated throughout the school day.
  • Oversees individual behaviour support plans, risk assessments, and personalised intervention strategies.
  • Contributes to safeguarding leadership, ensuring compliance, early help processes, information sharing, and robust safeguarding culture.

  Multi‑Agency Collaboration

  • Works closely with external professionals such as educational psychologists, social care, CAMHS, youth services, and family support agencies.
  • Leads and participates in multi‑agency meetings to ensure pupils receive integrated, wrap‑around support.
  • Builds strong, trusting relationships with families, ensuring they feel supported, informed, and involved in their child’s journey.

  Staff Development & Culture

  • Line‑manages staff, leading with clarity, empathy, and high expectations.
  • Delivers and coordinates CPD focused on SEMH pedagogy, behaviour approaches, and trauma‑informed practice.
  • Promotes a culture of reflective practice, professional growth, and wellbeing among all staff.
  • Helps shape a positive, nurturing, and resilient school culture grounded in respect, understanding, and emotional safety.

In Return the School Will Provide:

• Bespoke, high-quality training to support knowledge and understanding of specialist behaviour management interventions
• Small class sizes and high staffing ratios, in and out of the classroom
• Networking opportunities through the Manor Hall Academy Trust and local SEMH school groups.
• Support for creative and flexible thinking to enhance curriculum delivery
• A knowledgeable and highly supportive staff team

What we can offer you:

• Excellent working environment
• Support for your role with a dedicated school and central team.
• Continued professional development opportunities.
• Pay progression and recognition of continuous service.
• Generous local government pension scheme.

Access to comprehensive and flexible Employee Benefits which include

• Tech Schemes
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Online gym classes
• Health and wellbeing support and advice e.g., Men's Health, Wellbeing Action Plans, Better Sleep, Relaxation and Meditation, Understanding Menopause
• Financial advice services
• Think Well, fast track counselling service
• Physiotherapy
• Eye-sight testing
• Retail discounts in supermarkets, high street shops, restaurants and days out.
• Onsite catering.

Please find attached a Job Description and Person specification for this role.

Also please find attached relevant School/Trust Policies on Safer Recruitment and Safeguarding.

Manor Hall Academy Trust places the highest priority on the safeguarding children. Any appointments within the Trust will be subject to a enhanced disclosure being obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service, Online Checks and satisfactory references prior to interview. Further details about DBS can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service/about .

By engaging in this recruitment process, shortlisted candidates consent to a online search in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance 2024. 

It is highly recommended that interested candidates visit the school prior to applying. Visits can be arranged by contacting the school by telephone on 01270 260680 or by emailing kherring@adelaideschool.mhat.org.uk.