Due to the growth of River Academy, we are looking to appoint an Assistant Headteacher to start in September 2026. River Academy opened in September 2024 with 180 students and seven students in its resource base. From September 2026, student numbers will increase again as the school welcomes its next cohort of Year 7 students. The school is currently oversubscribed, with waiting lists in all year groups, and expects continued high demand for September 2026.

You will join a strong and committed school team, contributing to the delivery of clear routines and the setting of expectations in line with the River Way.

River Academy has a strong focus on calm, purposeful learning environments. Classrooms are quiet, corridors are calm, and systems are designed to reduce workload so teachers can focus on their teaching craft. Tutor time is carefully structured and includes reading, assemblies and settling activities to support learning throughout the day. Students are expected to demonstrate good manners, strong oracy skills, and high standards of personal and academic presentation. Reflecting this focus on consistency and high expectations, River Academy is ranked in the highest decile across all DfE attendance measures, and Sparx homework completion rates consistently exceed 98%.

The Assistant Headteacher shares in the leadership and corporate responsibility of River Academy, supporting the Headteacher and School Advisory Board to secure high-quality education, continuous improvement and strong professional practice across the school.

The role holds strategic and operational responsibility for significant aspects of school improvement, including an initial focus on leading the Teaching and Learning strategy alongside the Deputy Headteacher. The postholder will support colleagues to sustain a calm, purposeful environment, uphold Trust and school policies, and ensure the needs of all learners are met. The role also strengthens professional culture through collaboration across the Trust and by modelling high expectations, integrity and exceptional professional conduct.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Lead agreed priorities within the School Improvement Plan.
• Support the calm daily running of the school and promote good order and discipline.
• Safeguard the wellbeing of students, colleagues and visitors.
• Organise work effectively so that colleagues, students and parents feel well supported.
• Support resource management, staff deployment and appraisal processes.
• Lead creative cover and recruitment arrangements for named areas.
• Attend and report to School Advisory Board meetings.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of educational developments and share best practice.
• Act as a professional role model and support whole-school activity when required.
• Promote the school effectively within the community.

Curriculum and Standards

• Ensure effective implementation of the Standards Strategy.
• Support the school to maintain an outstanding Quality of Education.
• Lead curriculum development, review and evaluation to meet learner needs, statutory requirements and cost-effectiveness.
• Monitor national and local developments and apply them appropriately to the school’s offer.
• Analyse performance data and present findings to SLT and SAB.
• Lead the raising of teaching and learning standards across the school.
• Contribute to the wider distribution of leadership.

Shaping the Future

• Support the development and delivery of an ambitious school vision.
• Lead improvement planning, implementation and impact evaluation.
• Promote teamwork and value contributions from all members of the school community.
• Contribute to ongoing school self-evaluation.

Leading Teaching and Learning

• Lead staff training on effective teaching and learning.
• Promote active student involvement in their learning.
• Oversee target-setting for individuals and groups.
• Plan and implement strategies to secure positive behaviour for learning.
• Lead monitoring and evaluation of classroom practice.
• Lead mentoring to support colleagues in improving pedagogy.

Developing Self and Working With Others

• Promote equal opportunities and safeguard wellbeing.
• Contribute to the school ethos of respect, dignity and integrity.
• Support collaborative partnerships within the school and wider community.
• Support recruitment and induction of new colleagues.
• Set ambitious expectations for own performance and for others.
• Support professional standards and staff development, signposting training opportunities.
• Support the line management of year groups and departments.

Managing the Organisation

• Lead the teaching and learning work of the school.
• Lead the development and implementation of improvement plans and policies in allocated areas.

Strengthening Community

• Develop a strong understanding of the school community.
• Contribute to policies and practice promoting equality and challenging discrimination.
• Support opportunities for students to learn in the wider community.
• Promote strong relationships with parents, carers, the local community and external agencies.
• Lead line-ups, lunchtime activities, detentions and celebration assemblies.

Additional Duties

• Evaluate the teaching and learning plan and lead interventions to secure outcomes.
• Oversee arrangements for alternative provision where appropriate.
• Ensure website compliance.
• Lead assemblies and maintain effective stakeholder relationships.
• Be visible at transition points and during unstructured times.
• Deputise for the Headteacher when both the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher are absent.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties.

The Ideal Candidate

Professional Expertise

• Honours degree and teaching qualification.
• Minimum five years of successful teaching experience.
• Evidence of being a very good teacher.
• Strong understanding of curriculum, legislation and current educational issues.
• Experience of planning, organising and evaluating major curriculum areas.
• Experience leading a team at middle-leadership level.
• Understanding of Value Added measures and use of data.
• Desirable: Higher degree; further management qualifications; NPQH (working towards); experience in more than one secondary school; whole-school responsibility.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to identify needs and implement strategies to enhance learning quality.
• High expectations of students and colleagues.
• Strong evaluation skills relating to teaching and learning.
• ICT capability, including use of technology for learning and data analysis.
• Ability to lead major tasks to completion within constraints.
• Ability to influence others using sound judgement and effective monitoring.
• Desirable: Experience leading INSET or whole-school innovations.

Approach and Mindset

• High personal integrity, resilience and commitment.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to motivate, nurture and lead colleagues, including SLT.
• Effective communication in writing and orally.
• Optimistic, enthusiastic and solution-focused.
• Enjoys working with young people.
• Desirable: Flexibility, adaptability, and community links.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work with governors, including attending evening meetings.
• A clear personal vision for education in the 21st century.
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality and promoting welfare.

About Maiden Erlegh Trust

Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 750 staff and 4,500 students across nine schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise.

We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference—a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning.

Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise; it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.

You can learn more about working with us and hear from colleagues across our Trust by clicking here to visit our website.

About the School

River Academy is a purpose-built secondary school serving the growing need for school places in the Reading area. Located on Richfield Avenue, the site includes specialist teaching facilities across the curriculum, including a hall, activity studio, learning resource centre, drama studio and sports studio. Classrooms are fully equipped with interactive screens and visualisers.

The school has high expectations for all students, with a clear focus on academic excellence and participation. When fully open, River Academy will serve students of all abilities and backgrounds, alongside an additional resource base for students with moderate learning difficulties.

The school also offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities through its after-school Electives programme, available to all students.

To learn more about River Academy, please visit the school website: www.river-academy.co.uk

Benefits

Further information about working at Maiden Erlegh Trust can be found on our website here. Staff wellbeing and professional development are central to how we work, and colleagues across our Trust benefit from a range of opportunities and schemes designed to recognise their contribution and support their growth.

·         Pension Scheme: Generous employer contributions, with auto-enrolment into either the Teachers Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme, both Career Average Earning Schemes.

·         Annual Leave: We offer a generous holiday entitlement, which increases with length of service.

·         ME Day: Colleagues may request one additional day’s leave each year to attend a special personal event, such as a child’s sports day or graduation, or a family celebration.

·         Professional Development: We offer a comprehensive programme of professional learning through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, including opportunities to both attend and deliver CPD. Colleagues also take part in our annual Conference, a full day of workshops, networking and learning for all staff.
Colleagues can also access a range of professional development opportunities using Apprenticeship Levy funding, and benefit from professional development networks.

·         Hybrid Working: For eligible roles, we support a flexible approach to working arrangements, balancing remote and office-based work where appropriate.

·         Perkbox: Colleagues have access to Perkbox, which offers a wide range of discounts and wellness resources and receive 25 Perk points each month which can be exchanged for goods and services.

·         Wellbeing and Health: Free flu vaccinations are offered to all staff, and free eye tests are provided to those who are eligible.

·         Employee Assistance Programme: Incorporating discount vouchers, access to 24/7 support and more.

·         Mental Health First Aid support.

·         Recognition and Community: We regularly celebrate staff achievements, milestones and contributions across our schools, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging within the #TeamMET community.

·         Employee Referral Scheme.

Working for our Trust means contributing to something larger by supporting the education and life chances of children and young people every day.

Additional Information

If you believe this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution to the future of our Trust and its schools, please contact recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for an informal discussion.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as we reserve the right to close the advert and interview at any time.

Maiden Erlegh Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.