Associate Assistant Head - Coaching and Professional Development

Associate Assistant Head - Coaching and Professional Development 
Mayfield Special Needs School 
Full-Time:  Permanent

Competitive Salary: Leadership Pay Range   £57,137 to £63,070 Pro Rata 1.0 FTE 
(L5plus Depending on experience) Please note there is also a teaching responsibility with this role.

Start Date:  01 September 2026

We are a dedicated and inclusive special educational needs school committed to providing outstanding education and care for pupils with a diverse range of needs. Our nurturing environment, skilled staff team, and strong community ethos enables every learner to thrive, achieve, and develop independence.

We are seeking an inspirational and experienced leader to join our senior leadership team as an Associate Assistant Headteacher. This is a key role supporting the strategic direction of the school while ensuring the highest standards of teaching, learning, and pastoral care for our pupils.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Headteacher and senior leaders to drive school improvement, champion inclusive practice, and support staff development across the school.

Key Responsibilities:
•    Lead and embed a coaching culture that strengthens teaching quality and accelerates staff growth at every career stage.
•    Design, deliver and evaluate a coherent, evidence informed Professional Development (PD) programme aligned to school priorities.
•    Improve classroom practice through high impact coaching, instructional feedback, and precise development pathways (ECT, ITT, Early Career, developing and expert teachers, and support staff).
•    Assure the quality of CPD and its impact on pupil progress, inclusion and wellbeing.
•    Establish and quality assure coaching cycles (diagnose → model → deliberate practice → in class feedback → review).
•    Provide instructional coaching and/or mentoring for identified staff (ECTs, new staff, colleagues requiring support, aspiring leaders).
•    Curate and deliver evidence informed CPD – relevant and appropriate for our context
•    Commission external expertise as appropriate.
•    Ensure CPD is accessible and inclusive.
•    Define impact measures 
•    Report regularly to SLT/Governors on implementation, participation, and outcomes; refine provision in response to evidence.
•    Lead/coordinate teaching & learning reviews, peer observations, and moderation linked to PD priorities.
•    Line manage designated staff (e.g., mentors/ECTs/cover HLTA), setting clear objectives and providing supportive challenge.
•    Oversee ECT/ITT: induction quality, mentor training, fidelity to statutory requirements, and timely assessment points.
•    Manage and support with progression and support succession planning.
•    Maintain robust CPD systems 
•    Ensure safeguarding, health & safety, data protection
•    Champion a learning culture: psychological safety, collaboration, reflective practice, and professional curiosity.
•    Work with curriculum leads, curriculum block groups, SENCO, behaviour leads and senior leaders to align PD with curriculum, SEND provision, behaviour and wellbeing.
•    Build partnerships with and external providers; share and import best practice.

We Are Looking For Someone Who: 
•    Holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) 
•    Has leadership experience
•    Is passionate about education 
•    Has experience working within a special school or specialist provision 
•    Has strong knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice 
•    Has excellent communication and organisational skills 
•    Is passionate about inclusion and improving outcomes for vulnerable learners

Please note the job description is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post. It will be reviewed annually 

Safeguarding
Mayfield Special School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and appropriate pre-employment checks.

For a tour of the school or to ask for further information please contact the school on: 01946 691253

For an application pack please visit our website www.mayfield.cumbria.sch.uk   
Alternatively, please contact school: [email protected]

Closing Date: 12 noon, Monday 18th May, 2026
Shortlisting:  Monday 18th May 2026
Interview Date: Friday 22nd May, 2026