Assistant Headteacher - Teaching and Learning

Assistant Headteacher Job Description - Teaching and Learning Maternity cover 1 year fixed term

Title: Assistant Headteacher

Project Team: Teaching Staff

Reports to: Deputy Headteacher

Grade: Leadership 12-16 (£67,898- £75,049)

Hours: 32.5 Hours (full-time), all year round, 52 weeks per year (with some requirement to work occasional out of hours)

At Q3 Langley Our vision for learning is based around the whole child, ensuring no child is left behind. Our unique,innovativeand exciting curriculum in Year 7 provides anexcellent transition from Primary School. This enables pupils from all starting points to make rapid progress and enjoy their learning whilst improving their literacy skills.

Within TheTrust we are proud that our ethnically and culturally diverse community is fully represented by the students and staff at each Academy. The Q3 ethos; 'to seek that which is good, that which is right and that which is true,' fully embraces the fundamental British Values of democracy; the rule of law; individual liberty; mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

Students will be taught in mixed-attainment classes for their Core lessons. These follow the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects - English, mathematics, science, modern foreign languages,geographyand history. Outside of the Coresubjectsstudents follow a carousel of teaching in the Horizon or Innov8 curriculum. This broad and balanced curriculum focuses on developing knowledge and skills in computing, business, design, religious studies, PSHE, art, dance,dramaand music.

We use strategies within the curriculum and beyond to ensure these values are communicated and acted upon.

At theAcademyour spiritual, moral,socialand cultural (SMSC) education permeates through the curriculum, supports the development of the 'whole child'and includes the teaching and development of British Values.

The Academyseeksto continuously review and evaluate its work by gaining external accreditation. The successful completion of the awards listed belowdemonstratesthat SMSC and British Values are incorporated into the daily life of the Academy:

Discovering Democracy Award for promoting youth participation and democracy in schools

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Army Cadet Force

Sandwell Shape Awards

Furthermore, our Wednesday afternoon offer of either physical education or enrichment will ensure all students take an active part in developing skills and talents they may not know existed before! No wonder we are the proud winners of Secondary School of the Year with Education Today in 2024and alsoshortlisted as TES Secondary School of the Year in 2024.

Find more information here: Q3 Academy Langley - Home

Want to make a difference to young people?

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey within an educational community that values increasing opportunities, improving outcomes for our students.

Key Duties and Responsibilities 1. Strategic Leadership of Teaching & Learning

• Lead whole-school strategy to secure consistently high-quality teaching across all departments.
• Use research-informed approaches to improve pedagogy and ensure strong alignment with the school's ethos of high expectations.
• Analyse teaching, attainment and progress data to identify strengths, gaps, and priorities for improvement.
• Oversee the design, sequencing and quality assurance of curricula in collaboration with subject leaders.

2. Staff Development, CPD & Professional Learning

• Support the whole-school CPD programme, ensuring it is purposeful, evidence-based and aligned with school improvement priorities.
• Provide coaching, instructional mentoring and personalised development for staff to maximise teaching quality with specific leadership of our Step Lab programme.

3. Quality Assurance of Teaching

• Implement and oversee learning walks, book reviews, lesson visits and departmental reviews to ensure teaching is consistently strong.
• Lead whole-school moderation and standardisation processes to secure accurate assessment and robust teacher judgments.
• Report regularly to SLT and governors on teaching standards, CPD effectiveness and areas for strategic focus.

4. Curriculum, Assessment & Standards

• Ensure all departments deliver well-sequenced, knowledge-rich curricula that support deep learning.
• Oversee assessment frameworks, ensuring they are valid, reliable and used effectively to inform teaching.
• Identify underperformance at class, cohort and subject level, implementing rapid improvement plans where needed.

5. Leadership of Innovation & Pedagogical Improvement

• Lead whole-school adoption of high-impact TLAC teaching strategies (e.g., Rosenshine, retrieval practice, modelling, explicit vocabulary instruction).
• Drive initiatives that enhance engagement, challenge, and the learning climate across the academy.
• Champion inclusive teaching practices that meet the needs of all learners, including SEND and disadvantaged pupils.

6. Line Management & Middle Leadership Development

• Line-manage designated curriculum leaders or teaching & learning leads, supporting them to drive improvement in their areas.
• Line-manage and support a specific year group from a pastoral perspective alongside our innovative year group model.
• Hold middle leaders to account for curriculum quality, teaching standards, outcomes and intervention impact.
• Support recruitment, induction and retention of high-quality teaching staff.

7. Contribution to Whole-School Leadership

• Contribute fully to SLT strategic planning and school improvement priorities.
• Lead our whole-school Ethos Week for KS3 (February each year).
• Lead and support the numerous Visit Days the school hosts each year for example DfE Hub days and Exemplary Leadership Programme.
• Support academy routines, behaviour expectations, safeguarding culture and daily operations.
• Represent the school externally where teaching & learning expertise is required (e.g., networks, Trust events, DfE hub work).
• Support subjects in the running of after school or holiday intervention sessions as agreed.

Person Specification - Assistant Headteacher (Teaching and Learning) Education & Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status
• Good honours degree
• Evidence of professional development e.g. NPQSL or working towards
• Higher degree (Desirable)
• KS4 GCSE or similar examiner with experience in the last three years

Skills, Abilities and Experience

• Successful senior or middle leadership experience
• Strong track record of improving specific subject outcomes over a 3 year period
• Experience leading curriculum development and quality assurance
• Outstanding classroom practitioner
• Proven record of raising standards across KS3-KS5
• Ability to use data effectively
• Experience managing staff teams

For full details of the post please see attached Job Description and Person Specification

Why The Mercian Trust? As one Trust weshare a common purpose. We call it our social mobility and social justice mission tochange our communities through thevery bestequitableeducation. When we get this right, itenables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local,nationaland international community. Our recent achievements include:

Sustainable Growth- becoming one of the largest and most diverse trusts in the region

Social Mobility & Social Justice- National recognition for the Trust's two selective grammar schools who the mostsuccessful on the number of local disadvantaged students passing the entrance and joining the schools

Increasing Opportunities- Opening brand-new purpose-built campus in Walsall Town Centre including an alternative provision for students at risk at permanent exclusion from mainstream schools alongside a Digital Skills Hub to provide professionals and employers

Pioneering Spirit- National recognition for pioneering work around youth mental health, includingestablishingan in-house multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and allied health professionals delivering interventions and providing support to vulnerable students

Outward Looking- Organising and hosting the region's first Youth Suicide Conference (2023) and Youth Violence Conference (2024) at Villa Park

Innovation and Improvement- A multi-million-pound investment in the digital infrastructure of Trust schools and our Digital Skills Hub underpinning the ongoing transformation of how staff teach, students learn, leaders lead and the whole Trustoperatesin readiness for the AI-supercharged careers and workplaces of the future.

Want to be a part of something extraordinary? Find out more: The Mercian Trust - Home

What can we offer you Benefits:

• Financial, Health and Lifestyle
• discounts on everyday purchases (Eden Red)
• a comprehensive free of charge health plan (UK Health Care)
• a cycle to work scheme via Halfords
• access to the Blue Light Card

For furtherbenefits including education sector leading CPD: The Mercian Trust - What we can offer you

The Mercian Trustis committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.
. click apply for full job details