Assistant Headteacher (Teaching & Learning) – DSL & SENCO

Location: Thetford, Norfolk

Salary: £51,773 – £53,069 per annum

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Start: January 2027 or sooner

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

Are you an ambitious education professional ready to take the next step in your leadership career?

We are recruiting for an Assistant Headteacher – Teaching & Learning, with additional responsibility as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and SENCO, to join a small and supportive specialist SEMH school in Thetford.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping teaching and learning, staff development and whole-school improvement, while making a real difference to pupils aged 5–16.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop high-quality teaching and learning, assessment, curriculum and pupil progress.
• Lead safeguarding and child protection as DSL, including multi-agency working.
• Take responsibility for SEND provision as SENCO.
• Line-manage and support middle leaders through coaching and performance management.
• Contribute to staff CPD, training and restorative behaviour approaches.
• Undertake a regular teaching commitment.
• Represent the school at meetings with external agencies and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the school's wider strategic direction and improvement planning.

The ideal candidate

We are looking for an inspirational and committed leader with a strong understanding of teaching, learning, SEND and safeguarding. Experience within an SEMH, specialist or alternative provision setting would be advantageous.

You will be passionate about improving outcomes for young people, confident in developing staff and able to build strong, positive relationships with pupils, colleagues and external professionals.

What’s on offer?

• A welcoming, inclusive and nurturing school environment.
• Excellent professional development and leadership opportunities.
• Supportive colleagues and external partners.
• The opportunity to make a significant impact within a small specialist school.
• Easy access from the A11 and free parking nearby.

Interested?

For further information or an informal conversation about this opportunity, please contact us.