Assistant Headteacher
| Posting date: | 16 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Up to £50,000 per annum depending on experience |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 January 2026 |
| Location: | Leigh |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Acorn Care and Education |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 298460FAJ |
Summary
How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?
Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).
If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!
Job Title: Assistant Headteacher
Location: The Holden School, Leigh WN7 4SB
Salary: Up to £50,000.00 per annum depending on experience (Not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent, Term Time
Start Date: January 2026
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
As part of our exciting continued growth, The Holden School, part of Acorn Education, is seeking an exceptional Assistant Headteacher to join our close-knit, passionate team. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping a thriving SEN school where innovation, compassion, and ambition sit at the heart of everything we do.
If you’re driven by impact, inspired by possibility, and motivated to lead meaningful change, this role could be your perfect next chapter.
About the Role
This is a dynamic and rewarding leadership position for an Assistant Headteacher who is ready to bring creativity, vision, and fresh thinking to an SEN environment supporting pupils with a wide range of needs.
Working in close partnership with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, you will provide clear, authentic leadership across the school. You’ll help set strategic direction, uphold the highest standards of quality and compliance, and ensure our strong safeguarding culture continues to flourish—where pupils are heard, respected, and actively involved in decisions that affect them.
Every day will challenge and inspire you in equal measure as you help design and deliver personalised learning pathways that allow every pupil to succeed.
What You’ll Be Doing
Provide inspirational leadership to a dedicated multidisciplinary team
Work collaboratively with the Headteacher and SLT to shape school vision, aims, and objectives
Champion a culture of outstanding safeguarding, inclusion, and pupil voice
Ensure high standards of teaching, learning, quality, and compliance
Lead the development of creative, individualised programmes of learning for pupils with SEN
Support staff development, performance, and wellbeing
Play a key role in driving school improvement and long-term success
Who we are looking for
We never settle for second best for our pupils—and neither should you. We’re looking for a passionate, experienced Assistant Headteacher with the leadership skills, SEN expertise, and ambition to help build incredible futures.
You’ll be a confident leader who thrives in an SEN setting, enjoys empowering teams, and is deeply motivated by helping pupils become happy, confident, and ready to take their place in the world.
Essential Requirements
UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
Degree-level education or equivalent
Proven leadership experience
Experience working within an SEN environment
Why join Acorn Education?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit
#1
Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).
If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!
Job Title: Assistant Headteacher
Location: The Holden School, Leigh WN7 4SB
Salary: Up to £50,000.00 per annum depending on experience (Not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent, Term Time
Start Date: January 2026
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
As part of our exciting continued growth, The Holden School, part of Acorn Education, is seeking an exceptional Assistant Headteacher to join our close-knit, passionate team. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping a thriving SEN school where innovation, compassion, and ambition sit at the heart of everything we do.
If you’re driven by impact, inspired by possibility, and motivated to lead meaningful change, this role could be your perfect next chapter.
About the Role
This is a dynamic and rewarding leadership position for an Assistant Headteacher who is ready to bring creativity, vision, and fresh thinking to an SEN environment supporting pupils with a wide range of needs.
Working in close partnership with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, you will provide clear, authentic leadership across the school. You’ll help set strategic direction, uphold the highest standards of quality and compliance, and ensure our strong safeguarding culture continues to flourish—where pupils are heard, respected, and actively involved in decisions that affect them.
Every day will challenge and inspire you in equal measure as you help design and deliver personalised learning pathways that allow every pupil to succeed.
What You’ll Be Doing
Provide inspirational leadership to a dedicated multidisciplinary team
Work collaboratively with the Headteacher and SLT to shape school vision, aims, and objectives
Champion a culture of outstanding safeguarding, inclusion, and pupil voice
Ensure high standards of teaching, learning, quality, and compliance
Lead the development of creative, individualised programmes of learning for pupils with SEN
Support staff development, performance, and wellbeing
Play a key role in driving school improvement and long-term success
Who we are looking for
We never settle for second best for our pupils—and neither should you. We’re looking for a passionate, experienced Assistant Headteacher with the leadership skills, SEN expertise, and ambition to help build incredible futures.
You’ll be a confident leader who thrives in an SEN setting, enjoys empowering teams, and is deeply motivated by helping pupils become happy, confident, and ready to take their place in the world.
Essential Requirements
UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
Degree-level education or equivalent
Proven leadership experience
Experience working within an SEN environment
Why join Acorn Education?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit
#1