Secondary Deputy Head Teacher

£67,898 - £75,049 + excellent benefits

Please note that this role is expected to commence in September 2026, although we can be flexible for the right candidate.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close this advert early. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible

Our Deputy Head Teachers are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things. There’s lots of ups and downs, and to some of our young people, sitting through a lesson can be a big win. We call these huge small victories and whilst they may seem small on the surface, they add up to make a big difference

We are looking for an experienced and passionate secondary leader who can inspire both students and staff, regardless of subject specialism or previous secondary background. Working alongside the Head Teacher, you will help shape the strategic direction of the school, drive high standards across teaching and learning, and create an environment where every young person feels supported to achieve their potential.

You’ll be leading within a specialist setting supporting children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs, so resilience, adaptability and compassion are essential.

The role can be challenging at times, but the progress our young people make - academically, socially and emotionally - makes every moment worthwhile. As a Deputy Head Teacher within Witherslack Group, you’ll be supported every step of the way by an experienced leadership team, specialist colleagues and a wider network that is fully committed to helping both staff and students thrive.

You’ll work in a well-resourced environment with colleagues who are passionate about what they do, giving you the opportunity to build a rewarding leadership career whilst making a genuine difference every single day.

You’ll be joining Abbeywood School, which opened in 2019, located in a newly refurbished building with every aspect designed to consider the needs of our pupils. Complemented with a highly experienced and dedicated staff team, Abbeywood has grown, both in terms of pupil numbers and reputation, and was recently rated as Good by Ofsted. We provide a range of educational options for young people with ADHD, ASD, Asperger’s and SEMH, including an extensive provision of vocational courses.

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the education sector. With us, you’ll get to bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:

• Training: A full induction and on the job training
• Holiday:
  You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays
• Progression:
  If career development is your thing, most of our head teachers have been promoted from within our group
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefits here
• Pension: we offer a range of pensions to suit your lifestyle needs including Teachers’ Pension and our very attractive TPS alternative
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schools here
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time

Our young people come from all walks of life, with diverse experiences, backgrounds and needs — and we believe our workforce should reflect that diversity too. We want leaders who can inspire, engage and genuinely connect with young people, helping them feel understood, valued and supported to succeed.

You’ll be more than a Deputy Head Teacher - you’ll be a visible, resilient and compassionate leader who can build strong relationships with both students and staff.

To be successful in this…