Overview
and Responsibilities
Assistant Headteacher
Location: Merstham, Surrey
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £, - £, (L3 – L7 Fringe)
Hours: hours per week
Closing Date: noon //
Aurora Chaldon School
As part of our growth strategy, Aurora is really pleased to be opening Chaldon School, a brand-new SEND Secondary School in Merstham for young neurodivergent people aged -. The school will support young people, with attending the main site and young people supported at our satellite site in Caterham, based at Caterham Education Centre. Chaldon School is part of a close network of Aurora Schools in Surrey. Staff and students benefit from strong school-to-school links which include sharing best practice, resources and running joint events.
All of our students have access to a broad and exciting curriculum, allied to the national curriculum, personalised to meet their needs, interests and passions. Our model of small classes, high levels of classroom support and a supernumerary multi-disciplinary intervention team enables us to give students “every opportunity to achieve.” By supporting students to develop the social communication, sensory processing and emotional regulation skills they need to overcome any barriers to curriculum and community access, we aim to prepare our students to be independent young people who can develop safe, meaningful relationship in the community and feel empowered to follow their individual aspirations towards further education training or employment.
Key to the success of this new school will be the appointment of two highly effective Assistant Headteachers to join us on this exciting project!
This is an exciting progression opportunity within senior leadership where you would be integral to opening a unique SEND provision and implementing a broad and exciting curriculum in collaboration with colleagues from the Surrey network and the wider Aurora group. We want a dynamic, creative and flexible leader who can ensure great outcomes for students, collaborating closely with our multi-disciplinary team, pastoral lead and SENCO.
Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the school when required, please see the link below for our full job description:
Key Duties:
1. To play a key role in the overall smooth running of the school.
2. To support and develop teaching and learning through coaching, demonstrating and modelling good practice to ensure consistently high standards of ‘quality teaching first’.
3. To lead by example, and by positively encouraging, coaching and mentoring and supporting training and development for all members of the team.
4. To take lead responsibility for ensuring the best possible curriculum offer, provision, well-being, progress and achievement for all children especially through enrichment, creative learning, extended services, partnerships and collaboration.
5. To work with the Head of School to ensure that the school offers a high quality, exciting, engaging, well resourced, differentiated and well-matched curriculum for all children.
6. To develop positive relationships within the school, within the Surrey Schools and the wider Aurora Team and externally, which support the running and developing of the school towards and sustaining outstanding.
7. To act as Exam Officer for the site, working with subject teachers to ensure examinations and accreditation processes are in place and that JCQ requirements are met.
8. To lead on Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance and work with the wider school team to deliver a Careers Framework that supports KS4 pupils on their pathway to adulthood.
9. To lead in a curriculum area, such as Careers, across all Surrey Schools
Skills and Qualifications
Essential Qualifications
10. QTS or QTLS is essential.
Desirable Qualifications
11. Accredited training in specific areas of special education,. Autism, Dyslexia etc.
12. Management/leadership qualification
Essential Experience
13. Proven track record of excellent creative and structured teaching within relevant key stages and/or special needs environment.
14. Experience of holding responsibility for and turning policy into effective and successful practice.
15. Leadership of a significant area or phase or inclusion, including responsibility for raising standards across the whole school.
16. Effective team management and working collaboratively and effectively with others.
17. Communicating effectively to a wide range of different audiences though a range of different mediums.
18. Successful management of complex scenarios and conflict resolution
19. Effective relationships working successfully with a range of external agencies
Benefits and Additional Information
You will also benefit from a generous package that includes:
20. Life assurance
21. Competitive Pension
22. Perkbox - offering high street discounts
23. Employee assistance programme
24. Car lease scheme
25. Fully funded training and qualifications
26. Bike to work scheme
27. Free membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more.
How to Apply:
Please complete an online application form in full, remembering to include all employment and education details. If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Liz in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at