Assistant Headteacher - Teaching and Learning at River Academy

About This Role

Due to the growth of River Academy, we are looking to appoint an Assistant Headteacher to start in September 2026. River Academy opened in September 2024 with 180 students and seven students in its resource base. From September 2026, student numbers will increase again as the school welcomes its next cohort of Year 7 students. The school is currently oversubscribed, with waiting lists in all year groups, and expects continued high demand for September 2026.

You will join a strong and committed school team, contributing to the delivery of clear routines and the setting of expectations in line with the River Way.

River Academy has a strong focus on calm, purposeful learning environments. Classrooms are quiet, corridors are calm, and systems are designed to reduce workload so teachers can focus on their teaching craft. Tutor time is carefully structured and includes reading, assemblies and settling activities to support learning throughout the day. Students are expected to demonstrate good manners, strong oracy skills, and high standards of personal and academic presentation.

Reflecting this focus on consistency and high expectations, River Academy is ranked in the highest decile across all DfE attendance measures, and Sparx homework completion rates consistently exceed 98%.

The Assistant Headteacher shares in the leadership and corporate responsibility of River Academy, supporting the Headteacher and School Advisory Board to secure high-quality education, continuous improvement and strong professional practice across the school.

• Lead agreed priorities within the School Improvement Plan.
• Support the calm daily running of the school and promote good order and discipline.
• Safeguard the wellbeing of students, colleagues and visitors.
• Organise work effectively so that colleagues, students and parents feel well supported.
• Support resource management, staff deployment and appraisal processes.
• Lead creative cover and recruitment arrangements for named areas.
• Attend and report to School Advisory Board meetings.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of educational developments and share best practice.
• Act as a professional role model and support whole‑school activity when required.
• Promote the school effectively within the community.

• Ensure effective implementation of the Standards Strategy.
• Support the school to maintain an outstanding Quality of Education.
• Lead curriculum development, review and evaluation to meet learner needs, statutory requirements and cost‑effectiveness.
• Monitor national and local developments and apply them appropriately to the school’s offer.
• Analyse performance data and present findings to SLT and SAB.
• Lead the raising of teaching and learning standards across the school.
• Contribute to the wider distribution of leadership.

• Support the development and delivery of an ambitious school vision.
• Lead improvement planning, implementation and impact evaluation.
• Promote teamwork and value contributions from all members of the school community.
• Contribute to ongoing school self‑evaluation.

• Lead staff training on effective teaching and learning.
• Promote active student involvement in their learning.
• Oversee target‑setting for individuals and groups.
• Plan and implement strategies to secure positive behaviour for learning.
• Lead monitoring and evaluation of classroom practice.
• Lead mentoring to support colleagues in improving pedagogy.

• Promote equal opportunities and safeguard wellbeing.
• Contribute to the school ethos of respect, dignity and integrity.
• Support collaborative partnerships within the school and wider community.
• Support recruitment and induction of new colleagues.
• Set ambitious expectations for own performance and for others.
• Support professional standards and staff development, signposting training opportunities.
• Support the line management of year groups and departments.

• Lead the teaching and learning work of the school.
• Lead the development and implementation of improvement plans and policies in allocated areas.

• Develop a strong understanding of the school community.
• Contribute to policies and practice promoting equality and challenging discrimination.
• Support opportunities for students…