Associate Assistant Headteacher (English) at Sturminster Newton High School

About this Role

Salary: Leadership Pay Range: L3 - L7: £54,394 - £60,145 per annum (subject to experience) - Salary quoted is prior to any pay award in 2026.

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

We are seeking an ambitious and dynamic Associate Assistant Headteacher (Head of English) to join our leadership team and drive continued excellence across the English department. Following the successful internal promotion of our current postholder, this is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional leader to build on the department's strengths and contribute to the school's continued development.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, recognised the strength of our school community, the positive culture established by leaders and our commitment to pupils' education and wellbeing. We are looking for an experienced middle leader or existing senior leader who is eager to shape whole-school strategy, lead a high-performing department and play a key role in our ongoing improvement journey.

The successful candidate will combine exceptional subject expertise with the vision, integrity and leadership skills needed to inspire students and colleagues alike.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and quality-assure the English department to secure exceptional outcomes for all students
• Lead, develop and quality-assure the whole school literacy and reading strategy to secure exceptional outcomes for all students
• Contribute strategically to whole-school priorities as part of the senior leadership team
• Champion high standards in teaching, learning and curriculum design
• Support and coach colleagues at all career stages, fostering a culture of professional growth
• Use assessment and data effectively to inform improvement planning
• Model outstanding classroom practice and positive behaviour expectations
• Support the academic and holistic development of students across the school

We are looking for a passionate and reflective leader who:

• Has a proven track record of raising student achievement in English
• Can motivate teams and lead change with clarity, empathy and ambition
• Is committed to inclusion and ensuring every student thrives
• Communicates effectively with staff, students and families
• Upholds the values and ethos of our school community

These responsibilities will sit alongside the normal responsibilities of a classroom teacher and leader in our school.

SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This will be part of safer recruitment check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern

Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the person specification and the post is subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check and Children's Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

SAST recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce and is committed to building a workforce which reflects diversity from the communities it serves. SAST values the contributions from all staff from a wide range of different backgrounds and actively seeks to promote an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and at the same time supports fair promotion and cultural acceptance. Under the provision of the Equality Act 2010 SAST welcomes applications from everyone and operates a recruitment process which is fair and does not discriminate against or disadvantage anyone because of their age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

This role is UK- based and your right to work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

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