Assistant Head Academic

Personal Attributes 

The successful candidate will understand and support the School’s ethos, core values and development plan, whilst driving improvements in the academic offer with a sense of aspiration and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The successful candidate will have the following key skills, experience and attributes: 

• A passionate educator and enthusiastic leader with the presence, approachability and empathy needed to empower and motivate others 
• A selfless, inclusive and collaborative approach to teaching, leading and managing, building trust, inspiring confidence and fostering team spirit 
• Approachable, visible and accessible to all teaching staff within the school 
• An innovative and consistently excellent classroom practitioner, with the skills to inspire pupils and colleagues alike and demonstrate innovative practice 
• Commitment to academic, personal and social development of pupils, understanding the experiences and concerns of their age group 
• Resilient, driven, dedicated and determined 
• Passionate about working collegiately across a group of schools. 

Key Responsibilities:

The key role of the Assistant Head Academic will oversee the monitoring of curriculum planning, leading teaching and learning, assessment data analysis, internal exams, analysis and reports. 

Curriculum Development and Implementation:

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive and cohesive whole school curriculum.
• Ensure that the curriculum is enriched, interconnected, immersive, creative, and active to enhance pupil engagement and achievement.
• Incorporate best practices in phonics, early reading, and writing into the curriculum to support literacy development.
• Collaborate with teaching staff to continuously review and refine curriculum content and delivery methods
• Ensure the character development programme is embedded in curriculum teaching. 

Leadership in Teaching and Learning:

• Provide exemplary leadership in teaching and learning across the school.
• Support and mentor Early Career Teachers (ECTs) to enhance their teaching skills and effectiveness.
• Foster a learning community of professional development and continuous improvement among staff.
• Excellent organisational and management skills including effective 

time management.

Lead on the school’s internal teaching and learning review

Assessment and Progress Monitoring:

• Lead on the development, training and implementation of effective assessment practices to track pupil progress and inform teaching strategies.
• Ensure that assessment processes are fair, transparent, and aligned with curriculum objectives.
• Analyse assessment data to identify areas for improvement and implement targeted interventions and work within principles of assessment. 

English Leadership:

You will play a vital role in shaping the English curriculum and fostering a love for language and literature amongst pupils. Create a positive and inclusive learning environment where students feel motivated to explore, create, and communicate through English.  Organise enrichment activities, such as author visits, reading challenges, and writing competitions, to inspire a passion for English language and literature.

Responsibilities:

1. Curriculum Development:

• Ensure whole school delivery of an engaging and challenging English curriculum.
• Share a variety of teaching strategies, resources, and assessment tools to meet the needs of learners.
• Provide guidance and support to teachers in planning and delivering effective English lessons 
• Monitor the quality of teaching and learning ensuring lessons are impactful and demonstrate exceptional outcomes.
• Track pupil progress and use data to inform future planning and next steps. 
• Model exemplary teaching practices and provide professional development opportunities to enhance teachers' English teaching skills.
• Collaborate with colleagues to integrate English across other subject areas and promote interdisciplinary learning.
• Communicate effectively with parents, providing regular updates on English curriculum, workshops, pupil progress, and opportunities for involvement.

 Policy Development and Implementation:

• Collaborate with the leadership team to develop and implement school policies and procedures.
• Ensure that policies are consistently applied and reflect the values and ethos of the school.
• Keep abreast of educational developments and legislation to ensure compliance and best practice.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Qualified Teacher Status 
• A relevant teaching qualification and experience working in a primary school setting.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of phonics, early reading, and writing pedagogy.
• Proven experience in curriculum development and whole school leadership.
• Outstanding teaching practice with a track record of raising standards and improving outcomes.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others.
• A commitment to ongoing professional development and keeping up-to-date with educational research and best practices.

The successful candidate will have an excellent understanding of the preparatory school age group, the competitive nature of selective senior school environments (independent and state) and of the current opportunities and challenges in the independent school sector. 

Knowledge and experience with common entrance (11+) selection processes is an advantage.

Overall Responsibilities 

Position Overview:

Wandsworth Prep School is seeking an Assistant Head Academic with teaching responsibilities to join our dynamic team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in the leadership team, contributing to the strategic direction of the school and ensuring the delivery of an outstanding education to our pupils. The Assistant Head will primarily focus on whole school curriculum development and implementation, with a specific emphasis on increasing academic rigour across the whole school in all areas of the curriculum including reading, writing and maths. You will be an exemplary practitioner with a proven track record of whole school teaching and learning experience.

The Assistant Head Academic will be part of the Leadership Team, attend SLT meetings to discuss current issues, consider the whole school improvements and carry out actions arising from such meetings. You will be required to deputise for the Headteacher and will attend after school events/ open mornings and other duties as deemed necessary by the Headteacher. 

Core Responsibilities 

The Assistant Head Academic will work in conjunction with subject leaders and the Headteacher to ensure a relevant and appropriate curriculum for all pupils. They will work closely with subject leaders to ensure consistency and to assure quality. 

Teach approximately 60-70% of a full timetable and have responsibility for a class 

If you believe you have the skills, experience, and passion to excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.