Package Description
Assistant Headteacher – Denby Grange School, Off Stocksmoor Road, Midgley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4JG
Salary: £45,000 £50,000 | Full Time (40 hours/week)
Purpose of the Role
To lead and develop the curriculum, teaching quality, and pupil achievement across the school, ensuring that all pupils, including those with complex needs, receive a high-quality, broad, balanced, and coherent education. While overseeing the schools behaviour management, attendance strategies, personal development programmes and pupil wellbeing initiatives.
The Assistant Headteacher will champion evidence-based teaching practises and professional development, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment that supports pupils’ social, emotional, and behavioural needs, reflecting a trauma-informed, therapeutic ethos. While modelling the Keys EPIC values and adhering strictly to the Staff Code of Conduct.
At Denby Grange School
We currently offer the opportunity for all pupils who are working at that level to achieve nationally recognised accreditation in English, Maths, Science, Personal and Social Development, PHSE, Design Technology, Food Technology. This runs alongside our own internal accreditation for academic progress and achievement.
In order to meet the diverse needs of the children at Denby Grange School we ensure that the staff to pupil ratio is always very high. The school is currently registered for 50 pupils and at present there is a Headteacher, Associate Headteacher, School Administrator, a further 12 full time teaching members and 20 teaching assistants.
Key Responsibilities
- Model professional behaviour, integrity, respectful communication, and high standards of behaviour consistent with the Staff Code of Conduct
- Work collaboratively with senior leaders, staff, parents, and external agencies to meet pupils’ needs
- Embed trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches in curriculum delivery and teaching practises
- Foster a school culture that promotes inclusion, respect, resilience, and high expectations for behaviour and personal development.
- Lead the design, development, and implementation of a curriculum that is accessible, engaging, and tailored to the needs of pupils with complex needs and SEND
- Use positive reinforcement, early intervention, and restorative approaches to support pupil behaviour and reduce exclusions
- Ensure statutory curriculum requirements are met, and that literacy, numeracy, science, ICT, and vocational subjects are effectively delivered
- Use assessment data to identify gaps in learning and lead targeted interventions to improve pupil outcomes
- Develop and oversee programmes that promote pupils’ social, emotional, and mental health wellbeing
- Coordinate pastoral care systems and interventions to support vulnerable pupils and promote resilience. Lead strategies to raise pupil attainment and progress across all subjects
- Ensure that teaching supports pupils’ social and emotional development alongside academic progress
- Lead on safeguarding initiatives related to behaviour and wellbeing, liaising with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) as appropriate
- Engage parents and carers as partners in their children’s learning
- Encourage reflective practice and engagement with educational research
- Contribute to budget planning related to curriculum resources and staff training
- Promote a positive, safe learning environment where pupils can thrive emotionally and academically
- Ensure compliance with Independent School Standards (Parts 3 and 5) and all relevant health and safety regulations
Requirements
- Qualified Teacher Status; relevant leadership qualification NPQSL or equivalent
- Proven experience leading curriculum development and improving teaching quality
- Deep understanding of curriculum design, assessment, and evidence-informed teaching strategies
- Proven experience leading behaviour management, attendance, or pastoral care in complex settings
- Ability to lead, motivate, and support teaching staff, modelling the Staff Code of Conduct
- Strong interpersonal skills with staff, pupils, parents, and external partners
- Deep understanding of behaviour management, attendance strategies, safeguarding, and mental health
- Commitment to professional conduct and safeguarding as per the Staff Code of Conduct
- Ability to use data to inform teaching strategies and curriculum planning
- Ability to use data to inform behaviour and attendance strategies and pastoral planning
- Commitment to safeguarding and promoting pupil wellbeing
- Resilience, adaptability, empathy, and passion for improving pupil outcomes
Benefits of Joining Keys
- NEST enhanced pension scheme
- Staff Referral Scheme – Refer a friend to join Keys and split a £500 referral bonus between you
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
- Access to a blue light discount card
- Fully funded training and qualifications for all colleagues
- Enhanced pay scales based on experience and qualifications
- Employee benefits scheme such as wellbeing app and a range of discounts
- Life assurance
Keys Education is a national network of alternative learning solutions and pathways, designed to support learners with diverse needs to achieve their goals and realise their potential. It helps individuals with support needs build stability, resilience, and a sense of belonging through Connected Support.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are also committed to supporting the Armed Forces community through our Armed Forces Covenant.
Eligible candidates from military backgrounds are guaranteed an interview – please include details of your service on your CV.
Safeguarding
We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts require an enhanced DBS check.
More can be found about Keys and our Therapeutic Education Services here
School tours are highly welcomed as a part of our interview selection process.
Please note we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications.
In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education an online search will be carried out on shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence checks.
EDULEAD