Job description
HEAD OF YEAR
Salary - M1 (£32,916) to UPS3 (£51,048)
+ TLR 2A(£9000)
Commencing September 2026
Are you passionate about pastoral care and student success? Can you inspire, support, and lead a year group to achieve their full potential?
The Role
As Watling Academy continues to grow, we are excited to welcome another Head of Year to our pastoral team from September 2026. We are seeking a dedicated Head of Year to lead, inspire and nurture the academic and personal development of students. As a Head of Year at Watling Academy, you will:
- Lead and manage the achievement, progress and pastoral provision for a year group, ensuring every student is supported to thrive.
- Champion student welfare, working closely with tutors, parents/carers and external agencies to create a safe and supportive environment.
- Monitor and track progress, attendance and behaviour, implementing interventions where necessary to help students stay on track.
- Support students through key transitions, helping them navigate the challenges and opportunities of a new academic year, whether settling into new routines, preparing for exams or embracing new responsibilities and opportunities.
- Be a key part of our supportive team, collaborating with colleagues to deliver an engaging and enriching curriculum that meets the needs of every student.
About Watling Academy
Watling Academy is an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ secondary school situated on the western edge of Milton Keynes, encompassing the Whitehouse and Fairfields developments. Opening in September 2020, our school is a new and vibrant learning community for students aged 11-18. We are excited to have opened the Watling Academy Sixth Form to our first cohort of Year 12 students in September 2025, which will provide further educational opportunities. Our core values of Respect, Responsibility and Kindness embody the ‘Watling Way’ and are integral to the way we interact, learn and grow together as a community.
For more information about our school, please explore our website: www.watling.academy
Learn more about why you should join us by downloading the attached Watling Academy Recruitment Pack
About The Alliance Schools Trust
The Alliance Schools Trust is driven by our mission of Care, Education and Opportunity. We prioritise care by ensuring that no student or staff member ever feels anonymous. Everyone is recognised, valued and supported, creating a strong sense of belonging within our community. Our commitment to education is reflected in our proven track record of academic success, consistently outperforming both Milton Keynes and national averages. We offer opportunity through supportive and dynamic learning environments, where every student can thrive and be well-prepared for future success in higher education or employment. For staff, we offer extensive opportunities for professional development and progression within our growing network of schools, empowering you to advance your career within a united, forward-thinking Trust.
We are recognised as leaders in raising educational standards both within our Trust and in the schools we support. We are proud to appoint motivated, highly qualified staff who thrive in a culture where collaboration and the spirit of partnership are central to everything we do.
How to Apply
Due to our commitment to safer recruitment practices, we can only accept applications through My New Term. Please do not submit CVs.
The Alliance Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS check is required for all successful applicants.
E-mail: hr@tastrust.org.uk
Headteacher: Mrs Emma Anderson
Applications close: Monday 22nd June 2026, 9am
About this school
Watling Academy
Free schools · Secondary · Ages 11–18
- Pupils
- 1,500
- Avg teacher salary
- £46,589
- Pupil:teacher ratio
- 22.6:1
- Academy trust
- THE ALLIANCE SCHOOLS TRUST
Average (mean) teacher salary · DfE School Workforce Census 2024/25
View full school profileOfsted rating key
Not rated= no current Ofsted judgement — typically a new school, a recently-converted academy not yet inspected, or a school type Ofsted doesn’t grade.
Location
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Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP