Assistant Headteacher – SEND

A very exciting opportunity has arisen for an inspirational, dynamic and strategic Assistant Headteacher to join our team and make a significant contribution across Years 5 to 8 at Hexham Middle School. This is a new post on our Senior Leadership Team, and we are looking for a driven, enthusiastic and ambitious professional who places inclusion at the heart of what they do. The Assistant Headteacher will be responsible for shaping our pupils to be respectful young people who have a strong engagement in their learning and achievement and who have high aspirations for themselves and their futures.

The postholder will have responsibility for SEND provision across the school including being the school’s SENDCo. The successful candidate will be driving forward our inclusive and relational culture and will be at the forefront of supporting our pupils to thrive during their time in middle school.  As part of our wider leadership team, you will work to know each of our pupils as individuals, work with them to identify and reduce any barriers to their belonging, engagement and achievement and ensure that all pupils can strive to achieve their potential. The postholder will have a significant role in whole school improvement including contributing to the development of curriculum, teaching and learning and ensuring positive attendance for pupils with additional needs.

You will have very high ambition for all pupils with a sharp focus on those who face disadvantage and have additional needs and vulnerabilities. You will lead the school’s SEND provision including fulfilling all statutory responsibilities and shaping an inclusive curriculum which empowers all pupils to succeed. You will be at the centre of coordinating the school’s multi-agency approach and will build close working relationships with families and professionals. If you believe in embedding relational and inclusive practice in everything you do, this is a significant opportunity for you to have whole school impact in a supportive, forward-thinking and highly ambitious working and learning environment.

Key areas of responsibility: 

• As SENDCo, lead the school’s statutory SEND responsibilities and oversee the robust implementation of policy and practice across the school.
• Provide strategic leadership for all SEND systems, processes and approaches including the school’s professional liaison with external stakeholders and lead the school’s SEND team including coordinating a wide-ranging pupil support offer and a large team of support staff.
• Have strategic leadership of the school’s SEND provision and support for pupils with additional needs (including the role of SENDCo) ensuring that pupils access a fully inclusive learning environment and broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum.
• Lead a culture of inclusion and support where all pupils feel a sense of belonging with a particular focus on reducing identified barriers for pupils with additional needs and those who face disadvantage.
• As designated teacher for looked after children, lead an ambitious, multi-agency approach which ensures a strong sense of belonging, engagement and achievement for those who are looked after or post-looked after.
• Build an inclusive curriculum which places ambition for all at its core and work with colleagues to ensure that high-quality adaptive practice is embedded across the school.
• As Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, work as part of our team to carry out safeguarding tasks including multi-agency meetings, referrals and maintaining accurate records.
• Promote positive attitudes to learning and maintain a positive and respectful school culture in which all staff know and care about pupils as individuals within the wider school community.

About HMS:

We are a large and flourishing middle school with over 600 pupils set in the historical market town of Hexham and are co-located with Queen Elizabeth High School as part of Hadrian Learning Trust. In September 2021, we moved into brand new school buildings with state-of-the-art learning facilities. We cherish the strong partnerships that exist between pupils, parents/carers, staff and the local community making this a successful, friendly and welcoming school.  Pupils at Hexham Middle School have an eagerness to learn and achieve very well academically. We pride ourselves on the positive relationships we build and the individualised care and support we give the children in our school. The school is situated in Hexham – a short drive from Newcastle and with local transport links to both Carlisle and Newcastle.

What we can offer you:

We are very proud of our school and everything that makes it a great place to be: a friendly, supportive and highly-dedicated staff team; delightful young people who behave and engage very well; a culture of continual professional development and improvement; investment in staff and very close working links with the high school and other schools in the local Partnership. We place a high value on our personal development programme and are very proud of the varied enrichment activities that form part of our wider educational experience for pupils in all year groups. The postholder will access:

• A supportive induction package and professional development
• A comprehensive package of wellbeing and health support
• The chance to work alongside an experienced and driven team of staff
• Free gym membership on site
• Ample on-site parking
• A very pleasant, modern working environment in the market town of Hexham

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to obtain a satisfactory Certificate of Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Next steps:

If you wish to discuss this vacancy, please contact our HR team on [01434] 610300. Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit our school and can arrange appointments via hr@qehs.net or by calling the school office. Candidate visits are scheduled for the below times, but please contact us to arrange alternative opportunities should you be unable to join us on:

• Wednesday 18^th March 4.00pm
• Monday 23^rd March 1.30pm

Application packs are available from our website at http://www.hexhammiddleschool.co.uk/ or via My New Term. If you wish to apply, please complete the application form via My New Term – this is an online application platform.

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 31 March 2026 9.30am    

Shortlisting: Wednesday 1 April 2026

Interviews: Friday 24 April 2026

Start date: 1 September 2026