Key Role Information

Salary
Leadership Pay Scale with Fringe Allowance
Job type
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Closing
20/04/2026 12:00
Interview
To be confirmed
Contract term
AYR - All year round
Pay grade
Leadership Pay Scale - Fringe
Department
LEAD
Key stage
Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4
Hours per week
32.50
Weeks per year
52.143
Visa sponsorship
No

Your Role

The Gatwick School is looking to recruit a dynamic, enthusiastic and experienced Associate Assistant Headteacher on a permanent or fixed term basis.

This role is perfect for someone who is ambitious to take the next step towards senior leadership and is a proven exceptional teacher who has a track record of great KS4 outcomes.

You may be a Head of Department, Key Stage leader or Pastoral leader, we do not believe title or length of service immediately show impact, instead we are looking for people with our values of high standards and expectations, that can show impact of results, teaching and middle leadership.

We are primarily looking for candidates with an English or Maths teacher background and or someone with a love for all things culture (behaviour and personal development).

The role will enable someone to lead within a their chosen department area, utilising their skill set as an exceptional teacher, while taking on whole school responsibilities and working closely, as a member of the wider senior leadership team, gaining valuable experience, allowing them to confidently be ready to step into a full senior leadership post within a year to 18 months (should they wish).

We are willing to be flexible for the right candidate, so are open to exploring this role in a part time capacity or within a fixed term remit, should this be something that the right person is looking for.

This is an incredibly exciting time to join The Gatwick School, with:

  • Staff turnover significantly below the national average
  • Most recent staff survey (summer 2025) stating:

o  100% of staff feel the behaviour policy is aligned to their values;

o  100% of staff feel leaders in the school consistently enforce the behaviour policy; and

o  100% of staff feel leaders listen and respond to concerns about behaviour

o  100% of staff feel they can have an input into the decision made that relate to their role

o  97% of staff believe the school is well led and managed

o  100% of staff feel satisfied in the amount of responsibility they have

o  92% of staff feel leaders are considerate of their wellbeing

o  100% of staff feel leaders use CPD to encourage, challenge and support improvement

o  100% of staff feel staff of all different cultures and backgrounds are valued

  • Outcomes from reception to year 11 all in line or above national average (Summer 2024-25)
  • Attendance of pupil above national average
  • Suspensions and exclusions significantly better than the national average
  • International school partnership becoming established, with annual staff trips to America
  • Good Ofsted rating (May 2024)
  • Top 50 most improved school in the country (Summer 2024)

All of this while we look to grow as a school to have outcomes in the top 25% in the country for progress in the summer of 2027; an exceptional Ofsted rating; ranked as the school of choice in the borough; increase our outreach and school to school support, with more schools joining our successful Aurora Academies Trust; and most importantly maintain our happy family of staff and students who enjoy coming to school every day.

In return for your passion and commitment, we offer:

  • A supportive team who place our values of chances, choices, and culture at the centre of all that we do with a commitment to raising pupil achievement and aspirations
  • Extensive professional development opportunities, including Aurora Trust-wide CPD
  • Fringe allowance
  • Two week half term
  • All-through primary and secondary with opportunity for input on curriculum development
  • Exciting opportunities to work with primary colleagues on enrichment days to enhance secondary readiness for children
  • A spacious well-equipped and well-resourced learning environment
  • A skilled and committed SLT who are devoted to improving outcomes for all children and staff
  • The opportunity to be part of a multi-academy trust that has collaboration at its heart and will support you every step of the way
  • Enhanced paternity leave, in excess of the Green and Burgundy Books
  • Aurora Academies Advantage scheme - this includes access to free and confidential advice on a range of topics via the Employee Assistance Programme, online GP service, cycle to work scheme, discounts to high-street shops and health and well-being support

If you are interested in finding out more, we strongly suggest that you arrange a tour of the school - please contact the school on info@thegatwickschool.org.uk or 01293 538779.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive suitable applications. Therefore, we recommend submitting you application as soon as possible.

Please note that we can only accept applications submitted through our recruitment platform, SAMPeople Recruit, so kindly apply there.

Qualifications

Qualified Teacher Status essential
Honours Degree qualificationessential
Higher education qualification (E.g. MA, NPQSL, NPQH)desirable
Coaching or mentoring qualification and or experiencedesirable

Skills

Experience

Proven success in getting positive outcomes for students in KS4essential
Some successful experience of leading on cross subject initiatives that have contributed to raising achievement. Experience of embedding innovative strategies for Assessment for Learning and Learning to Learnessential
Successful experience in implementation of monitoring, evaluation and review process to improve the quality of teaching and learningessential
Experience of leading, supporting and managing others, both individuals and teams, ensuring high quality performanceessential
Proven success in raising achievement for a group of studentsessential
Experience of working with external agencies such as CAMHS
Successful leadership, management, review and evaluation of a whole school initiative
Experience as a successful middle leader
Work in school to school support

Leadership

Ability to enhance performance by motivating and developing staff, successful use of team building techniques, support of ECTs and inducting staff with new responsibilitiesessential
Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines under pressureessential
Ability to carry out the job descriptionessential
Ability to participate in and promote performance and exhibition of students’ work as an integral part of School lifeessential
Excellent communication and presentation skillsessential
Ability to lead and manage own work effectively and take responsibility for own professional developmentessential
Proven ability to identify and implement strategies to raise standards of Teaching and Learningessential
The ability to communicate calmly and negotiate solutions in complex and often difficult situations, with parents, students and the local communityessential
Ability to analyse and interpret student data and set challenging targetsessential
The ability to bring plans to fruitionessential
Ability to manage the process of change effectively and thereby deliver major projects through to a successful outcome by continuously reviewing and evaluating progressessential
The ability to make sound judgments based on objective criteriaessential
The ability to motivate and inspire staff and studentsessential

Personal Attributes

Awareness of and commitment to equal opportunities and valuing diversityessential
Flexible, adaptable, results orientated and able to prioritise, resilient under pressureessential
Enthusiastic and Exceptional teacher, with a proven track record of excellent results in public examinationsessential
Record of excellent attendance and punctualityessential
Creative approaches to enhancing the learning environmentessential
Willingness to work hardessential
Enthusiasm for and commitment to the achievement of the School’s overall vision for success at allessential
To command and demand respect from the school communityessential
A commitment to “personalising learning” for all students in the schoolessential
The aspirations, talent and enthusiasm to become a Headteacher

About Us

The Gatwick School opened in 2014 as an all-through primary and secondary school, located just a few minutes south of London Gatwick Airport. We currently have over 1000 pupils in the school. In the secondary phase, we are four-form entry throughout Years 7-11, whilst our Primary phase is two-form entry from Reception to Year 6. Our pupils are drawn from Crawley, Horsham, East Sussex and Surrey.

Under new leadership since September 2023, the school has undergone rapid improvement, and has ambitious plans for creating the best possible experience for our students, equipping them with all the skills they need for success, both now and in the future. We want all students and staff to be proud members of our TGS family. At its core, The Gatwick School stands as two small schools, one BIG family. In our recent Ofsted inspection (May 2024) Ofsted wrote “Pupils feel part of ‘one big family’ in this ambitious and unique all-through school”. We believe in providing students with chances and choices, and a truly unique culture of inclusivity and ambition, which enables all to thrive. In this culture, all members of the TGS will have more chances, so they can have more choices in their future.

The Gatwick School opened in 2014 as a unique all-through school serving both primary and secondary students. We currently educate over 1,000 pupils, with a two-form entry in our Primary phase (Reception to Year 6) and a four-form entry throughout Years 7 to 11 in our Secondary phase. As one of the few schools in the country offering continuous education from age 4 to 16, we take great pride in supporting our pupils’ academic journey and personal growth from early childhood through to young adulthood.

Under new leadership since September 2023, the school has undergone rapid improvement, and has ambitious plans for creating the best possible experience for our students, equipping them with all the skills they need for success, both now and in the future. We want all students and staff to be proud members of our TGS family.

At its core, The Gatwick School stands as two small schools, one BIG family. In our recent Ofsted inspection (May 2024) Ofsted wrote “Pupils feel part of ‘one big family’ in this ambitious and unique all-through school”. We believe in providing students with chances and choices, and a truly unique culture of inclusivity and ambition.


‘I love working at TGS because it truly feels like one big family. It’s not often you find a workplace where, the support we give each other is so exceptional. We come together during challenging times and take time to celebrate the good moments as well. It makes it easy to show up every day when you have such a strong, caring team around you.’

Vicki Haridimou




The Gatwick School

Emily Sturt

esturt@auroraacademies.org.uk

23
Gatwick Road
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 9TP

Safeguarding Information


Aurora Academies Trust is 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. Online searches will also be carried out on shortlisted candidates.


Aurora Academies Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.