Assistant Headteacher - Full-time - Special Needs Position

The Wyvern School, Ashford

• Ref:KCC886-7069-220L
• Posted:23/03/2026
• Pay:Leadership Point 9-14
• Start Date:September 2026
• App Close Date:30/04/2026 at 09:00
• Interviews:6th May 2026

Advert

We are excited to announce a new Assistant Headteacher position, created to support the continued growth of our school and to strengthen our Senior Leadership Team. As we grow we are committed to enhancing the learning experiences and opportunities for our students.

We are seeking an ambitious and aspirational leader with a genuine passion for supporting children and young people with severe profound or complex special educational needs to be well prepared for life beyond Wyvern. Someone who spreads happiness, encourages independence and respects and aspires to builds a strong and caring community.  

This role has the opportunity to influence the direction of the school, bring new ideas and make a difference.

In the role you will:

• Provide strategic leadership aligned with the school’s vision and development priorities.
• Lead on inclusion, equalities and improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and their families.
• Oversee two identified learning pathways, ensuring high quality curriculum, teaching and learning and staff development.
• Play a key role in the school’s safeguarding team as a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Coach, develop and support staff through effective line management, CPD, modelling and mentoring.
• Drive improvement across curriculum, assessment, behaviour and wellbeing within your areas of responsibility.
• Champion excellence, high expectations and ambitious outcomes for all pupils.

We are looking for a leader who is:

• A qualified teacher (QTS) with a proven track record of strong teaching and successful middle leadership.
• Passionate about working with pupils with SEND and knowledgeable about specialist/ inclusive practice.
• Skilled in coaching, communication and building strong, trusting relationships with all stake holders.
• Confident in leading change, influencing others and driving improvement.
• Reflective, resilient and committed to professional growth.
• Consistently able to demonstrate a high level of integrity, professional curiosity and a strong commitment to our common purpose of improving the lives of our students and their families

What we offer:

• A welcoming and supportive school community, with amazing children and young people.
• Investment in your leadership development, including external leadership coaching.
• Regular DSL external supervision
• A strong focus on wellbeing and work–life balance.
• Opportunities for meaningful strategic impact in a growing school.
• The chance to make a real difference every day, driving social change to improve the lives for children and young people with SEND at The Wyvern School and across the district.
• Through KSENT and other groups the school belongs to, an extended network of wider professional opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

Why Work at The Wyvern School?

• A warm, inclusive, and values-driven environment
• Thorough induction and training programme
• On-site parking
• Pension Scheme
• Opportunities to gain qualifications
• Staff wellbeing support, including:
  - Confidential counselling service
  - Annual flu vaccinations
  - Wellbeing app with access to GP, counselling, and physiotherapy

Information about the school

The Wyvern School is a large, dynamic, forward-looking school, with the aim of helping to shape best practice for pupils with complex needs. The school caters for 370 pupils with severe, profound and complex needs including autism.

If you want to play a part in making a difference to the lives of children with complex needs, we would love to hear from you!

The Wyvern School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. For all positions where a criminal record check is identified as necessary, an application for a DBS check will be made in the event of the individual being offered the position. It is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. Please see our school website for our policy on ex-offenders.

For further details on the schools Child Protection policy, please see our school website.

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance 2025, as part of the shortlisting process the school reserves the right to conduct an online search on shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence. Any relevant information found concerning a candidates suitability to work with children will be discussed with the applicant.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Kelly Green
• Address:Great Chart Bypass, Ashford, Kent, TN23 4ER
• Telephone: 01233 621468
• Email: personnel@wyvern.kent.sch.uk

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• JD & Person Spec