Navigating School Leadership: An Inside Look at the Role of an Assistant Headteacher
17 Apr, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- The career journey of an Assistant Headteacher.
- How to cope with the demand from students with SEND.
- How schools promote inclusivity and cater to students with diverse needs.
- An Assistant Headteachers thoughts on the new labour government.
- Where the latest Assistant Headteacher jobs are and how to apply for them.
Balancing a leadership role while staying involved in teaching and learning can be a challenge but for this Assistant Headteacher, Kyle, it’s all part of the job.
With eight years of experience in education, Kyle knows what it takes to effectively lead a school to success.
Throughout this interview, Kyle touches on the importance of Continuous Professional Development, the role technology plays in the classroom and the potential impact of the new Labour government.
Whether you’re a school leader looking for fresh perspectives or you're an aspiring Assistant Headteacher, Kyle shares valuable insights and a real look into what school leadership can be like.
Can you tell us about your career journey as an Assistant Headteacher? What initially drew you to this role?
After spending two years as the Director of History across a trust, I decided that I wanted to get back into school full time and pursue a career as an Assistant Headteacher.
Additionally, I see my career trajectory leading toward a Headteacher position one day, so becoming an Assistant Headteacher made perfect sense.
I’ve always had a passion for teaching and learning and I feel that this role is the perfect platform to make a significant impact on both the students and staff.
What does a typical day look like for you as an Assistant Headteacher?
My day usually starts by checking my emails to ensure I'm fully informed before the day starts. At 8am, we have a Senior Leadership Team (SLT) meeting where we discuss the previous day and logistics of the one ahead, including cover arrangements and duties, should this be needed.
From there, my day will involve teaching, lesson drop ins, patrol, meetings and duties. While there’s a framework to my day, no two days are ever the same.
How does your school promote inclusivity and cater to students with diverse needs?
Inclusivity is at the heart of what we do. We have our own inclusive classroom with staff who are trained to support our pupils with various needs.
In recent years, we’ve made significant investments in increasing staff levels in this area, including an Assistant Headteacher who has oversight of the inclusive classroom, to ensure we have the right resources to provide effective support.
Every three weeks, we hold staff briefings focused on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and is a regular feature of our Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
Do you find that your school is struggling to cope with demand from children with SEND?
I think struggling is the wrong word. I believe there are many pupils in mainstream schools who should have more specialised provision.
The complexity and depth of the needs that exist now has increased but provision for these individuals has reduced. One of the biggest challenges is finding Teaching Assistants to provide specialist support. The role of a Teaching Assistant is underpaid and undervalued making it difficult to attract the right people.
What strategies do you use to try and cope with the demand from children with SEND?
At our school we focus on explicitly teaching and modeling the behaviour and actions that we expect from our pupils.
I also believe that building strong relationships with students is crucial as when students feel understood and supported, it’s easier to de-escalate situations.
As expected this doesn't always work and that's why we’ve expanded our Inclusive Classroom team so that there’s always someone to offer support when needed.
How do you ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of all students, including those who excel and those who struggle?
Our philosophy is that all students should have access to the same curriculum, with the same expectations and goals, but the journey to get there can vary.
Scaffolding and additional support is put in place where it’s needed to ensure that students who struggle have the resources and assistance that they need. For example, we offer additional literacy and numeracy interventions.
What role do you think technology should play in the classroom and how has your school adapted to technological advancements?
Technology has a role to play in simplifying and adapting classroom practice. However, tools like AI for example are not quite reliable enough to be central to our teaching strategies.
Reading pens are useful and mini whiteboards, although not technologically advanced, are the best technology we can have in any classroom.
What is your vision for the future of your school, and how do you plan to achieve it?
My vision for the future is a school where staff are passionate about CPD and play a proactive role in their own development.
We are on a journey there to make CPD engaging and I regularly share information about available opportunities with our staff. We wanted to make people dropping into classrooms low-threat, but there was a significant legacy to combat in doing that. We are getting there, but these things don't happen overnight.
What are your thoughts on the new labour government and do you believe they will radicalise the education system?
We need investment, not an overhaul. Academies have been a wonderful addition and have helped to improve education in some of the areas that need it most. Our move away from discovery learning and towards a research-driven educational approach has also been welcome. Any changes to these would be most unwelcome.
However, schools need additional funding as many buildings are struggling. We need more specialist provision as there simply aren’t enough. We also need to invest heavily in making education more appealing because appointing high quality staff has never been so difficult.
What unique strengths and qualities do you bring to your role as an Assistant Headteacher?
I bring a positive, enthusiastic approach to my role. I love teaching and learning and I am always engaging with the latest educational trends on social media.
I place my staff first and I believe that my positive attitude towards them makes coming to work more enjoyable for them.
Assistant Headteacher jobs
If you’re searching for your next Assistant Headteacher position, why not take a look at the latest Assistant Headteacher jobs, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Struggling to recruit an Assistant Headteacher?
As a specialist Headteacher recruitment agency, we support mainstream and SEND schools, Multi Academy Trusts, Alternative Provisions and Pupil Referral Units (PRU) with their recruitment needs.
If you’re struggling to fill a Headteacher vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
- North of the UK - Jamie Heath
- South of the UK - Dane Matthews
Share your experience
Every individual brings a unique set of experiences, thoughts, and insights to the table. We believe in giving a voice to a community of professionals to inspire positive change and champion reform in the education sector.
If you work in the education sector and would like to share your own personal and professional experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a different perspective, could offer a fresh angle, or want to challenge assumptions.
Simply reach out to our Head of Content, Nicole Sherwood, to discuss a collaboration which makes your voice count.
Meet Jamie Heath
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
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