Assistant Head of Year

Salary: Support Staff Pay Scale F: £25,669 to £27,844 pro-rata per annum (Actual) (£28,598- £31,022 full time/full year equivalent)

Full Time: 37 hours per week

Working Weeks: 40 weeks

Assistant Head of Year - Championing Behaviour, Attendance and Student Achievement. This role will be based at Hethersett Academy, Queen's Road, Hethersett, Norwich, NR9 3DB. A September start is preferred, subject to completed onboarding checks.

As Assistant Head of Year at Hethersett Academy, you will play a key role in supporting the pastoral care, wellbeing, and behaviour of students within your assigned year group. You will work closely with the Head of Year, tutors, and the wider inclusion team to promote positive behaviour, improve attendance, and ensure all pupils are ready to learn and thrive. You will also liaise with parents, external agencies, and staff to provide timely support and interventions, contributing to a safe and inclusive school environment.

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference in students’ lives by providing mentoring, supporting safeguarding, and helping pupils overcome challenges that affect their learning. You will also support school policies, participate in assemblies and year group activities, and play an active part in fostering a positive school ethos. Strong communication, organisation, and problem-solving skills are essential, along with a commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.

This role is intended for Year 8 at the outset but can be assigned to other year groups over years.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Support the Head of Year in promoting positive behaviour and enforcing school policies consistently.
• Mentor and coach pupils, providing interventions to address behavioural, emotional, or pastoral needs.
• Monitor attendance and punctuality, liaising with parents and the Attendance Officer to improve outcomes.
• Support the delivery of tutor time and year group activities, fostering a positive ethos.
• Work closely with safeguarding leads to identify and address welfare concerns, including DSL duties if trained.
• Liaise with parents, staff, and external agencies to provide timely support for pupils.
• Support pupils with SEND and additional needs, developing tailored interventions.
• Contribute to monitoring cycles, including pupil perception, learning walks, and progress tracking.
• Participate in rewards, assemblies, and school-wide initiatives to promote achievement and engagement.
• Uphold equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring all pupils feel safe and supported.

About You:

The ideal candidate will be a highly professional and approachable individual with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to build positive relationships with pupils, parents, staff, and external agencies. They will have experience supporting pastoral care, behaviour management, and attendance initiatives, with the ability to mentor and intervene effectively with students. Strong organisational skills, resilience, and the ability to work independently are essential, along with a sound understanding of safeguarding, SEND, and equality, diversity, and inclusion. A proactive, solutions-focused approach and a commitment to helping all pupils achieve their potential are key qualities for success in this role.

Essential:

• GCSEs in English and Maths (or equivalent) and a relevant Level 3 qualification.
• Experience building positive relationships with pupils, staff, parents, and the wider school community.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organisational skills, with the ability to work independently and under pressure.
• Knowledge of behaviour management strategies, safeguarding procedures, and supporting pupils with additional needs.
• Ability to monitor pupil progress, provide constructive feedback, and contribute to a positive and inclusive learning environment.

Desirable:

• Degree-level qualification.
• Experience of working in schools during Ofsted inspections.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop staff or pupils in individual or team settings.
• Knowledge of school curriculum, age-related expectations, and assessment frameworks.
• Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.

Why Join Inspiration Trust

At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You’ll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration, and innovation. We provide opportunities for growth and empower you to make a real impact in schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. As part of our thriving network of talented teachers, leaders, and support staff, you’ll receive a varied professional development programme designed to help you be the best you can be.

We offer:

• Generous annual leave, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with excellent employer contributions
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
• Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
• Free parking at most sites
• Personalised CPD and development programmes
• A structured and specific induction programme.

*Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.

About Us 

Hethersett Academy is one of East Anglia’s top-performing schools, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all areas. Inspectors have highlighted how much pupils value their education at the academy - "Pupils flourish at this school. They attend regularly, arrive on time and present themselves impeccably. Pupils respect each other and their surroundings. Bullying is rare. Pupils know that if bullying does happen, staff deal with it effectively and promptly. Pupils have very high expectations of their own and others’ behaviour. They value every minute of learning time."

A growing village school with a strong history in the local community, Hethersett Academy is conveniently located just off the A11, making it a popular choice for families in Wymondham, south Norwich, and the surrounding areas.

We are part of the Inspiration Trust; a thriving family of schools across Norfolk and North Suffolk, recognised nationally for pupil progress and excellence in teaching and leadership. We believe every young person deserves the best education, regardless of background. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.

The Trust offers extensive networks and opportunities to collaborate with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to delivering outstanding professional and learning opportunities for all staff, supported by a rich programme of continuing professional development led by some of the country’s leading educational thinkers and practitioners.

For information on what it is like to live and work in Hethersett, click here. Hethersett Academy is rated Outstanding by Ofsted. The academy inspected in January 2016 when it was ranked as Outstanding in every area assessed. Since then, the school has doubled in size and a Section 8 inspection in September 2022 resulted in another Outstanding rating.

Next Steps

Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.

To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.

When you start your application, you will receive several emails from our application provider, Vacancy Filler. Please be aware that some email providers may mistakenly mark these messages as spam. To avoid missing important updates, we recommend checking your spam or junk folders regularly throughout the application process and marking these emails as safe.

Closing date for applications: 12pm on Tuesday 4th August 2026

Interview date: Thursday 20th August 2026 

Please note that these interviews will take place during the school summer holidays. As a result, we are unable to offer alternative interview dates or times. Candidates are kindly asked to ensure they are available to attend on the scheduled interview date. 

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.