Assistant Head of Year
| Posting date: | 14 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 March 2026 |
| Location: | Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, OL6 8RF |
| Company: | Teaching Vacancies |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 0d86447c-5ffe-456b-aa4a-cc69f3d24a4f |
Summary
What skills and experience we're looking for
Key Skills
Strong communication skills – ability to communicate clearly with students, parents/carers, teachers, and external agencies.
Behaviour management skills – confident supporting students with behaviour issues and applying school policies consistently.
Organisation and time management – managing multiple cases, meetings, and student records at the same time.
Pastoral care and empathy – understanding students’ social, emotional, and wellbeing needs.
Conflict resolution and de-escalation – handling difficult situations calmly and professionally.
Teamwork and collaboration – working closely with the Year Manager, safeguarding team, teachers, and senior leadership.
Record-keeping and administrative skills – maintaining accurate student behaviour, attendance, and safeguarding records.
IT skills – using systems such as Bromcom, or other school management software.
Confidentiality and safeguarding awareness – handling sensitive student information appropriately.
Problem-solving and initiative – responding to student issues quickly and effectively.
Relevant Experience
Experience working with young people (11–16) in a school, youth work, mentoring, or support setting.
Previous work in pastoral support, behaviour support, or student welfare.
Experience dealing with challenging behaviour or vulnerable students.
Experience communicating with parents/carers about student issues.
Experience working in a school environment (desirable but not essential).
Experience supporting safeguarding or wellbeing concerns.
Experience working with external professionals (e.g., social workers, counsellors, attendance officers)
What the school offers its staff
Why choose Dixons Ashton Academy? (Formally Great Academy Ashton)
Dixons Ashton Academy is a thriving and ambitious 11-16 academy serving 1,300 students from across Tameside, Oldham and Manchester.
The academy is the beating heart of its community and is proud of its rich diversity, with over 30 languages spoken by students. As part of Dixons Academies Trust, the academy is committed to providing an exceptional education and creating an environment where every young person thrives.
• We believe that people, more than strategy, create value - we all belong and grow together
• Focus on feedback and professional growth
• Opportunities across our trust to develop and grow your career
• Supportive line management; one team focused on fairness
• Employer funded cash health plan to support wellbeing for all staff
Why choose Dixons Academies Trust?
Our mission is to challenge educational and social disadvantage in the North. As a school trust, we are committed to making a difference where it matters most through delivering exceptional education in our schools in Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool and Greater Manchester, which include primaries, secondaries, all-throughs and a standalone sixth form.
• We are values driven: we work hard on the things that matter, with humility; we are good and kind; we are motivated by mastery, autonomy and purpose.
• We have been challenging educational and social disadvantage for over 30 years.
• We have launched a bold flexible working policy to give our teachers more time back.
• We are ambitious for every child and highly inclusive.
• We have an innovative approach to central operations which allows educators to focus on teaching and learning.
• We prioritise the professional development and growth of all our staff; every member of Team Dixons receives regular coaching.
• We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce and our staff work collaboratively to share resources and reduce workload.
• We offer hybrid working arrangements and free on-site parking.
• We have a wealth of benefits and salary sacrifice schemes (private health, lifestyle benefits and discounts).
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Key Skills
Strong communication skills – ability to communicate clearly with students, parents/carers, teachers, and external agencies.
Behaviour management skills – confident supporting students with behaviour issues and applying school policies consistently.
Organisation and time management – managing multiple cases, meetings, and student records at the same time.
Pastoral care and empathy – understanding students’ social, emotional, and wellbeing needs.
Conflict resolution and de-escalation – handling difficult situations calmly and professionally.
Teamwork and collaboration – working closely with the Year Manager, safeguarding team, teachers, and senior leadership.
Record-keeping and administrative skills – maintaining accurate student behaviour, attendance, and safeguarding records.
IT skills – using systems such as Bromcom, or other school management software.
Confidentiality and safeguarding awareness – handling sensitive student information appropriately.
Problem-solving and initiative – responding to student issues quickly and effectively.
Relevant Experience
Experience working with young people (11–16) in a school, youth work, mentoring, or support setting.
Previous work in pastoral support, behaviour support, or student welfare.
Experience dealing with challenging behaviour or vulnerable students.
Experience communicating with parents/carers about student issues.
Experience working in a school environment (desirable but not essential).
Experience supporting safeguarding or wellbeing concerns.
Experience working with external professionals (e.g., social workers, counsellors, attendance officers)
What the school offers its staff
Why choose Dixons Ashton Academy? (Formally Great Academy Ashton)
Dixons Ashton Academy is a thriving and ambitious 11-16 academy serving 1,300 students from across Tameside, Oldham and Manchester.
The academy is the beating heart of its community and is proud of its rich diversity, with over 30 languages spoken by students. As part of Dixons Academies Trust, the academy is committed to providing an exceptional education and creating an environment where every young person thrives.
• We believe that people, more than strategy, create value - we all belong and grow together
• Focus on feedback and professional growth
• Opportunities across our trust to develop and grow your career
• Supportive line management; one team focused on fairness
• Employer funded cash health plan to support wellbeing for all staff
Why choose Dixons Academies Trust?
Our mission is to challenge educational and social disadvantage in the North. As a school trust, we are committed to making a difference where it matters most through delivering exceptional education in our schools in Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool and Greater Manchester, which include primaries, secondaries, all-throughs and a standalone sixth form.
• We are values driven: we work hard on the things that matter, with humility; we are good and kind; we are motivated by mastery, autonomy and purpose.
• We have been challenging educational and social disadvantage for over 30 years.
• We have launched a bold flexible working policy to give our teachers more time back.
• We are ambitious for every child and highly inclusive.
• We have an innovative approach to central operations which allows educators to focus on teaching and learning.
• We prioritise the professional development and growth of all our staff; every member of Team Dixons receives regular coaching.
• We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce and our staff work collaboratively to share resources and reduce workload.
• We offer hybrid working arrangements and free on-site parking.
• We have a wealth of benefits and salary sacrifice schemes (private health, lifestyle benefits and discounts).
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.