Assistant Headteacher

Children's Support Service, Wickford
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Job Ref No. ECC1120-439L Position Type: Assistant Headteacher Pay Range: L8 - L12
Position Start Date: 01/09/2026 Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Permanent
Application Close: 18/05/2026 Midday Date of Interviews: TBC week commencing 18/05/26  

Job Description

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Assistant Headteacher

Full time | Salary: L8 - L12 (with potential recruitment & retention allowance for the right person)

Are you ready to take your next step in leadership? Join us as we continue our journey to deliver high-impact, inclusive education for our children and young people.

You will play a key role in shaping the future of our Service, this role will provide the opportunity to work across CSS and will allow you to have an impact on the life chances of children beyond the traditional school building.

We are seeking an innovative, creative and forward-thinking Senior Leader to join our dedicated team at Children's Support Service.

This unique opportunity would particularly suit a professional keen to move into alternative provision from a mainstream setting.

About you:

The areas of responsibility will be tailored to your strengths and expertise, and we want to hear from you if:

· You share our belief that every child and young person deserves the opportunity to "be the best they can be" regardless of the barriers they may have faced/continue to face in their lives.

· You are an aspiring or experienced senior leader, ready to take the next step in your career into alternative provision.

· You bring innovation, creativity and forward-thinking to your leadership

· You have a proven track record in improving outcomes for young people in the classroom and beyond.

· You are committed to upholding the highest standards in safeguarding.

· You are unperturbed by challenging behaviour, recognising that all behaviour is a form of communication.

· You would be prepared to work across all areas of the Service including primary, secondary, outreach and medical education.

· Deputising for absent Senior Leaders.

Your potential areas of leadership could include:

  • Behaviour- creating a positive culture where every child and young person can flourish
  • Attendance- ensuring all pupils access their education
  • Safeguarding- maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding for some of the most vulnerable children in Essex
  • Timetable- optimising resources and learning opportunities
  • Curriculum- developing an innovative, broad and balanced offer
  • Assessment- using data to drive improvement
  • Teaching and Learning- supporting staff to deliver outstanding practice
  • Medical teams - adding capacity to the oversight of medical education
  • Outreach - working alongside our outreach team to develop the offer in our mainstream schools.
  • Deputising for other colleagues within the leadership team.

We offer:

  • The chance to work in aninnovative, creative and forward-thinking alternative provisionwhere our mission is for everyone to"be the best you can be"
  • A leadership team dedicated to professional development
  • A supportive service, operating as one team
  • Opportunities to influence strategy and make a real difference to children and young people's lives beyond the classroom
  • A collaborative environment where new ideas are valued
  • The flexibility to shape your role around your strengths and expertise

And finally

If you are an aspiring or experienced leader, ready to take the next step in your career we want to hear from you. Visits or confidential discussions with Michelle Steadman Head of Service are whole-heartedly welcomed.

Children's Support Service is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments will be subject to satisfactory completion of safeguarding checks. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce and welcome applications from all background

Information about the School

The Children’s Support Service is a short stay alternative provision in Essex. We educate and support children from KS1 - KS4 as well as providing an outreach service which works to support students, staff and schools in the local area. Our schools are based in Basildon (secondary) and Wickford (primary and secondary).

Our Medical Education Team work across South and West Essex and focus on not only educating children and young people but crucially reintegrating our students back into their mainstream school.

We now offer, in partnership with Essex Local Authority Education Access Team, an education and reintegration programme for students who have been permanently excluded from any part of Essex back to their local mainstream school.

Most of our students are referred to us due to challenges they may have faced in school; many come with additional needs and require academic, emotional and social support. We pride ourselves on overcoming these challenges and ensuring every student is successful.

We offer a wide range of subjects and match a mainstream setting through our core curriculum offer. At the same time, as a 'needs -led' provision we offer extensive enrichment opportunities to our students.

We collaborate with schools and professionals who need our support, and aim to reintegrate students back into mainstream education or prepare them for other lifelong learning opportunities.

Our staff create positive, safe, caring and supportive learning environments, helping to inspire every child to 'be the best they can be.'

CSS staff benefit from flexible working arrangements, our subscription to an Employee Assistance Programme, which provides mental health and well-being support services for all staff, including 24/7 access to advice, support and counselling for our whole team.

Please note that car insurance including "business use" is required.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Information about the school

Contact Information

Lindsey D'Arcy
Alderney Gardens,, Wickford
Essex, SS11 7JZ
Telephone: 01268 552482
Email: HR.Team@css-essex.co.uk

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