Assistant Headteacher - Secondary Department - Full-time - Special Needs Position

The Ifield School, Gravesend

• Ref:KCC886-7039-520L
• Posted:21/03/2025
• Pay:L12 - L16
• Start Date:September 2025
• App Close Date:30/04/2025 at 16:00
• Interviews:TBC

Advert

We wish to appoint an experienced special needs practitioner as Assistant Headteacher within our Secondary Department, to play a significant role in supporting our outstanding school, working alongside our extensive and professional Leadership Team. This role is an excellent opportunity for someone to apply their deep understanding and strong commitment to educating children with special educational needs, and to be directly involved in further developing our personalised provision, whilst continuing to promote and enhance our existing high standards.

We are looking for a caring, motivated and inspiring individual with experience of successful middle leadership who has excellent interpersonal skills, strong leadership skills in managing and motivating staff, enjoys teaching and can help pupils to enjoy and embrace their learning. A background in ASD, PMLD or SLD is desirable, but a dynamic and enthusiastic approach is essential.

The successful candidate must possess a strong understanding and passion for supporting pupils development and behaviours. A passionate commitment to providing the very best for our pupils is paramount.

The successful candidate will have responsibility for:

• Safeguarding in the Secondary Department ensuring that the school’s safeguarding practice continues to be exemplary.
• The strategic development of Secondary Department to secure strong outcomes for pupils.
• Embedding a rich and creative curriculum that is personalised, ambitious and provides breadth and challenge working with Assistant Headteachers, Key Stage Leaders and Curriculum and Subject Leads.
• Daily cover arrangements in the Secondary Department, liaising with the Deputy Headteacher and Assistant Headteachers responsible for Secondary and Sixth Form to ensure equity.
• To team teach and mentor Secondary Teachers and Teaching Assistant Learning Leads for an approximate 20% timetable per week, to assist with the securing and sustaining of effective teaching and learning throughout the school.
• Monitoring and evaluating the quality of teaching, learning and assessment in the Secondary Department and across the school.

Please refer to the attached job description for main duties and responsibilities.

This would be an exciting and rewarding opportunity for career development, within a supportive and experienced Leadership Team. The Headteacher and Governing Body invite applications from both mainstream and special school settings for an ambitious, focussed and dedicated Assistant Headteacher.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a Self-Disclosure Form and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, will also be subject to an online search. This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service and against the ISA Barred List for Children including overseas criminal background checks where applicable.

For further information about us, please visit the school website Ifield School - Home. If you would like further information regarding this post, please call Susan High, Senior Assistant Headteacher or Gemma Waghorn, HR Lead, on 01474-365485. Informal tours are welcomed, by appointment.

Information about the school

Ifield School is a Foundation co-educational school for pupils aged 4 to 19 years of age with Profound, Severe and Complex learning needs, including Communication and Interaction difficulties. The majority of pupils have learning difficulties associated with Autism, Speech, Language and Communication and, in addition, some pupils have complex medical conditions.

Ifield School is federated with King’s Farm Primary School.

Ifield Nursery was established in 2007 and is based at King’s Farm Primary School. It is a joint Early Years provision for pupils aged from 2 to 5 years old. This setting enables the pupils to learn and play alongside their mainstream peers whilst formal assessments are completed and all pupils at the nursery benefit from the resources and facilities that Ifield School offers.

Ifield School has a strong collaboration with North Kent College located 1.9 miles from the school site. 16 – 19 year old students attend Ifield Sixth Form based at North Kent College. LINK stands for “Learning With Ifield and North Kent” and reflects the close working partnership that exists between Ifield School and North Kent College. Students who attend The LINK Centre have a building and resources that have been specifically tailored to support their learning and medical needs. The students follow a highly personalised curriculum within a safe and secure environment and are also able to enjoy the benefits of the college’s restaurant and library facilities. Sixth Form students focus on preparing for adulthood and securing the outcomes identified on their Education, Health and Care Plans. Many of the students leave Ifield’s Sixth Form to attend courses at other colleges of further education or to move into employment.

Ifield School initiated a Post 19 provision in September 2014 as a pilot to focus on learners working towards independence and employability, while strengthening mathematics and English skills. LINK19 College Ltd was formed in January 2018 for 19-25 year olds. LINK19 College is a separate provision to Ifield School, but cohabits the same building as Ifield’s Sixth Form.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Gemma Waghorn
• Address:Cedar Avenue, Gravesend , Kent, DA12 5JT
• Telephone: 01474 365485
• Email: gwaghorn@ifield.kent.sch.uk

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• AHT Secondary JD