Assistant Headteacher: Safeguarding (DSL), Behaviour and Culture

The opportunity:

The Assistant Headteacher (Safeguarding, Behaviour and Culture) is a pivotal leadership role within the school, combining strategic responsibility for safeguarding and child protection as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with oversight of behaviour, culture and student welfare across Years 7-11.

This role plays a central part in creating and sustaining a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment in which all students can flourish. Working closely with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will lead the development, implementation and evaluation of safeguarding, attendance and behaviour strategies, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements while promoting the school's values of Positivity, Respect, Integrity, Courage and Endeavour.

As a highly visible and influential leader, the Assistant Headteacher will work collaboratively with staff, students, families and external agencies to secure outstanding safeguarding practice, foster a positive and respectful school culture, and support students' personal development. The role also carries responsibility for delivering safeguarding training and guidance to staff, ensuring that safeguarding remains at the heart of the school's work.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly skilled and dedicated Senior Leadership Team, helping to shape a school culture where every student feels safe, valued and able to succeed. The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering our vision of ‘Forging our paths; building the future’, embedding our values of Positivity, Respect, Integrity, Courage and Endeavour, and ensuring that every student is supported to develop and celebrate their individual strengths and interests within an environment that fosters positive relationships, promotes equality and celebrates diversity.

What we offer:

• A unique selling point as a school within an all girls’ schools trust
• An excellent working environment that prioritises the wellbeing of its staff and students
• Access to Health & Wellbeing Cash Plan for individual and dependants
• A vibrant CPD programme with the opportunity to pursue National professional qualifications and collaborate across the trust.
• A two-week October half-term break
• A generous contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free tea/coffee/squash available in the staff room
• Staff end-of-term social events

Our commitment to you:

At Nonsuch High School for Girls, staff are our most valued asset, and we are deeply committed to wellbeing, professional growth, and creating a supportive working environment. Our Trust-wide Wellbeing Strategy ensures manageable workload expectations, with no written reports, limited data drops, and a clear, progression-focused assessment framework. Staff benefit from a collaborative and friendly community, an exciting programme of professional development, and family-friendly policies, including flexible leave and access to an on-site day care nursery. With a maximum teaching load of 43 periods per fortnight, extended mid-morning breaks, and the flexibility to leave the site during non-teaching time, we are committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and supporting staff wellbeing.Situated in 22 acres of beautiful grounds, we offer excellent facilities, a proactive support team, and a strong culture of development through mentoring, CPD, and cross-Trust networking opportunities.

Key responsibilities for the role include:

• To be the Designated Safeguard Lead and to play a key role in the leadership and management of the school, working closely with the Head and SLT in developing, implementing and monitoring a shared strategy and vision for the school.
  
• To lead and oversee safeguarding and attendance procedures, ensuring compliance with statutory guidance, managing concerns effectively, and working closely with external agencies, staff, and families to protect students' welfare.
  
• To lead and oversee the develop and implementation of behaviour policies and strategies, promoting a positive school culture, to support staff in managing behaviour effectively.
  
• To lead and have oversight of students' personal development, fostering an inclusive and respectful school culture embedding the school’s values across all areas.
  

• To teach four periods per cycle; applications from all subject backgrounds are encouraged.
  

The successful candidate will:

• be a qualified teacher with QTS (or an equivalent recognised teaching qualification) and a degree-level qualification or equivalent.
  
  
• be a proven classroom practitioner and experienced leader with a strong track record of improving student outcomes, safeguarding, attendance, behaviour, wellbeing, and pastoral provision, alongside successfully leading teams and driving whole-school improvement through effective collaboration with families and external agencies.

• be a strategic and highly effective leader, able to translate whole-school priorities into clear, measurable actions, exercise sound professional judgement, lead staff development, communicate high expectations, manage competing priorities, and build strong, credible relationships with students, families, staff, governors and external agencies.
  

• be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, upholding high expectations, inclusion, student wellbeing and a respectful school culture, while demonstrating integrity, resilience and collaborative leadership that builds trust and reflects the ethos and values of Nonsuch High School for Girls and the Girls' Learning Trust.
  

Key Application Dates:

• Shortlisting Date: Monday, 28th September 2026
  
  
• Interview Date: Wednesday, 7th October 2026
  
• Start Date: January 2027

Please see our Recruitment Pack for more details about our school, the job description and person specification.

Early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found.

Sponsorship:

We are not able to offer sponsorship to non-settled individuals for a Skilled Worker Visa.