Courtlands School, Reach South Academy Trust is seeking to appoint an experienced Assistant Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead to join the school in September 2026.

Post: Assistant Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Location: Courtlands School, Widney Lane, Plymouth, PL6 5JS

FTE Salary Range: L5 – L10

Contract Type: Permanent

Contract Hours: 32.5 per week, Monday to Friday

For more information about Courtlands School, please view our Applicant Pack - Courtlands School Applicant Pack

About the role

We are seeking an inspiring and committed Assistant Headteacher to join our leadership team at Courtlands. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced leader to play a pivotal role in driving whole-school improvement, with a particular focus on safeguarding, attendance, behaviour, and pupil outcomes.

As the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), you will lead a strong safeguarding culture across the school while supporting high-quality teaching and learning. You will work closely with the Head of School and leadership team to ensure every child thrives in a safe, inclusive, and ambitious environment.

Key Responsibilities

·        Lead safeguarding across the school as the named DSL, ensuring compliance with statutory guidance

·        Drive improvements in attendance, behaviour, and pupil engagement

·        Support and challenge teaching to improve standards and pupil outcomes

·        Lead on pupil performance data, monitoring progress and raising attainment

·        Line-manage and develop staff, supporting professional growth and appraisal

·        Contribute to the school improvement plan and strategic leadership of the school

·        Promote a positive, safe, and inclusive learning environment for all pupils

About the successful candidate

We are looking for a motivated and resilient leader who:

• Holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS/QTLS) or is able to achieve it within 12 months
• Has a proven track record of successful teaching and leadership in a primary setting
• Has experience of leading curriculum areas or whole-school initiatives
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of safeguarding policy and practice
• Has high expectations of behaviour, achievement and inclusion for all pupils

·        Is an excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills

·        Can inspire and develop staff while working collaboratively across the school

About the School

Courtlands Special School Academy caters for primary aged children who have moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health difficulties (SEMH), and other complex needs.

Within this there is a wide range of needs, such as children with mild medical issues, developmental disorders such as ADHD and Dyspraxia, Autism and speech and language difficulties.

Courtlands is an amazing place to come to with a real feel of positivity, acceptance and camaraderie. You see targeted therapies many other schools do not offer and a curriculum that is designed to meet the additional needs of our pupils. You see learning organised to meet the developmental needs of the children and we have the confidence to buck the trend, stand out, and to aim for the outstanding.

To attend Courtlands, your child must have an Education, Health and Care Plan and meet the special needs described above.  Your mainstream school or nursery SENCo can apply to your local authority for a place and a panel of heads and other professionals decide whether this school is appropriate.

We have a maximum of 100 children here at any one time ranging in age from 4 to 11 years old.  We take pupils from Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall and we welcome prospective visits from interested parents, SENCos or Local Authority Officers.

About the Trust

We are a family of schools working in partnership for the benefit of all our pupils and students. We believe our charitable aim, to advance education, is best achieved through collaboration, both within the Trust and beyond.

We operate 21 academies across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, serving learners aged 3 to 19. Alongside our primary, all-through and technical provision, we are proud to include a strong and integral network of seven special schools and one alternative provision setting.

 These settings are a vital part of our community, providing inclusive, high-quality education for pupils with a wide range of needs, including complex learning profiles, autism, and social, emotional and mental health needs, as well as those who benefit from a more personalised approach. Together, we are committed to helping every young person thrive.

Those we recruit are able to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with colleagues, within and beyond their school, to continuously develop their skills and pursue professional excellence.

Next Steps

If you think this role may be for you and want to be involved at this exciting time in our development and have any questions about the position, please get in touch by calling the Recruitment team on 07759365064 or emailing us at recruitment@reachsouth.org.

Closing date: for applications is Sunday 12^th July 2026

Interview Date:  Interviews are provisionally booked for Week commencing 20^th July 2026

To apply for this opportunity, please complete our online application form by clicking ‘apply now’ on the advert.

We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Therefore, an early application is strongly advised.

Opportunities and Benefits 

We offer a competitive salary plus TPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities, access to our Employee Assistance Programme with many other benefits. 

We’re proud of how we support our staff in order that you have high levels of job satisfaction, are aware of the difference you are making for the children and families you work with and can see your contribution towards our community. There are regular opportunities for professional development and training, and a wider community of staff to network with within Reach South Multi Academy Trust. You will have the chance to visit other local schools, work alongside a range of outside professionals and take part in a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Reach South Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring section of the application form before submitting.