Assistant Headteacher

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Job Title:  Assistant Headteacher (Teaching & Learning focus)
Location:  Hazel Cottage School, Clinkham Wood, St Helens, WA11 7AP
Hours:      37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Salary:      £55,000 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:        November 2026

UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Hazel Cottage School is entering an exciting phase of development with the opening of our second site in St Helens. This is a unique opportunity for a unique candidate. We are seeking an exceptional Assistant Headteacher to work across both our Fazakerley and St Helens sites, leading the improvement of teaching and learning and ensuring every pupil receives an outstanding educational experience.

This is predominantly a non-teaching leadership role, offering a rare opportunity to influence practice across two specialist settings. You'll be at the forefront of developing outstanding pedagogy, coaching and empowering staff, and embedding high-quality teaching approaches that transform outcomes for children and young people with complex SEND needs.

If you're passionate about inclusive education, thrive on developing others and have the vision to drive excellence across a growing specialist provision, we'd love to hear from you. As Assistant Headteacher, your primary focus will be on the quality of teaching and learning across both Hazel Cottage School sites.

You'll work alongside the Headteacher and Deputy Headteachers to champion outstanding practice, support curriculum development and ensure all pupils experience engaging, meaningful and personalised learning. You will be confident in coaching teaching staff to improve quality, modelling and demonstrating high-quality teaching, and driving improvements through a sharp focus on pedagogy, evidence-informed practice and continuous professional development.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of two thriving specialist settings and make a profound difference to the lives of children with Autism and complex needs.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading whole-school improvements in the quality of teaching and learning across both sites

• Coaching, mentoring and developing teaching staff to deliver exceptional practice

• Demonstrating and modelling high-quality teaching and evidence-informed pedagogy

• Driving teaching and learning improvements through observation, feedback and professional dialogue

• Using data, monitoring and evaluation to identify priorities and accelerate pupil progress

• Supporting the development of high-quality provision across informal, pre-formal and semi-formal pathways

• Working collaboratively with senior leaders to shape strategic improvement priorities

• Promoting inclusive, trauma-informed and child-centred approaches that enable pupils to thrive

• Ensuring high expectations, safeguarding and outstanding outcomes remain at the heart of all practice

About You

We're looking for someone who:

• Holds QTS and a degree-level qualification

• Can demonstrate successful leadership experience

• Has substantial experience working with pupils with SEND

• Has proven ability to influence and improve the quality of teaching and learning

• Has experience leading professional development and coaching staff

• Is confident analysing data and using evidence to drive improvement

• Has excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills

• Has experience working with informal, pre-formal and semi-formal pathways

• Has a strong understanding of supporting pupils with ASC and pre-verbal learners

• Is deeply committed to achieving the very best outcomes for children and young people

• Holds a full UK driving licence

About Us

Hazel Cottage is a new school meeting the needs of autistic pupils aged 4 – 11 years who may have additional needs.

We are situated in St Helens in the former St Patricks Church. At Hazel Cottage everything we do is centred around the individual needs of each pupil attending our school, with the aim that every learner is able to fulfil their individual potential and thrive.  Alongside a broad, exciting and memorable curriculum, we focus on developing core life skills such as communication and social interaction, sensory processing and emotional regulation. We work towards every pupil being as independent as possible when they move on to the next stage of their education.

For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided specialist care and education for children, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are pioneering innovative, evidence-based approaches that deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for everyone in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the 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.

• Life Assurance

• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions

• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks

• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:

  • Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits

  • Hundreds of UK and international discounts

  • Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme

  • Critical illness cover

  • Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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