A Day in the Life of an SEN Assistant Head Teacher

The Roles of An Assistant Headteacher

I thought I would try something a bit different for today’s post. I am going to try to outline my day as Assistant Headteacher (AHT) of a special school. Today was not particularly remarkable, it was a mixture of planned events and times I had to react to situations.

I got to work at 7.30 and checked my emails, I had some application forms for new PBS instructors for a course we are running in May, this is a great chance to collaborate with colleagues from other schools. I am really looking forward to this It will be the first course run after we achieve our BILD accreditation (fingers crossed)

Then I quickly designed the covers to the folders for new instructors being trained in March from our school and the two other principal instructor’s schools. The office staff have kindly agreed to make these up. So I printed a mock-up. At 8 I met our speech and language practitioner to travel to Dover to meet a year 11 referral whose mother has recently moved to the county (we have more students join us across the school and year than September in year 7).

It was a great meeting with a really happy boy and his mum, we encouraged them to come and visit the school as the next step of the process.

The drive back was a great chance to catch up and talk about transition and some ideas we had about making the process easier for our students at the end of each year.

On return to school, I had a meeting about safer recruitment with our HR manager then reviewed and shortlisted candidates for new learning support assistants. This took a long time as we had received three times as many applicants as previously due to the closure of a local school.

After a quick chat with a colleague about how to proceed with a student who refused to come into class, I went to my own class (I teach the second half of the week) for lunch. One of the students had become unsettled so we had a chat and enjoyed school dinner together.

I then had my 1:1 meeting with the Boss to discuss training for a local charity. Then about rewriting the marking and feedback policy, with ways to share good practice (I wrote a blog on my thoughts here).

I was then distracted by the battery packs that had arrived for the BBC MICRO:BIT for a few minutes before replying to an email about the new assessment software our group of schools is meant to be using.

The other assistant head then called to say there was an issue with the transport for two of the students so we drove them home and to respite. Another great opportunity for a catch-up that seems harder to fit in these days!

A quick catch-up with our Middle leadership team then home to plan lessons for tomorrow!

Job Roles and Responsibilities of an Assistant Headteacher in a UK School

I thought it would be useful to give a quick overview of the roles and responsibilities of an assistant head. I am also looking a lot at values-based leadership for the Senior Leadership MSc I am completing so have added some thoughts about this.

Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Leadership and Management:
   • Assist the Headteacher in the overall management and leadership of the school.
   • Lead specific initiatives or areas of the school’s development plan.
   • Support the development and implementation of school policies and procedures.
   • Manage staff, including performance management, professional development, and mentoring.
2. Teaching and Learning:
   • Oversee curriculum development and ensure high standards of teaching and learning.
   • Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning across the school.
   • Lead on assessment and data analysis to inform teaching practices and improve student outcomes.
   • Support teachers in developing and sharing best practices.
3. Pastoral Care:
   • Promote student well-being and address pastoral issues.
   • Develop and implement strategies to support students’ social, emotional, and academic needs.
   • Work with parents and external agencies to support student welfare.
4. Administration:
   • Assist in the development and management of the school budget.
   • Ensure compliance with statutory requirements and school policies.
   • Manage day-to-day operational issues, such as timetabling and resource allocation.
5. Community Engagement:
   • Foster strong relationships with parents, carers, and the wider community.
   • Represent the school at meetings and events.
   • Promote the school’s ethos and values within the community.

Modelling Values Throughout the Day

An Assistant Headteacher can model their values by:

1. Respect:
   • Greet students, staff, and parents warmly, showing genuine interest in their well-being.
   • Listen actively and respond thoughtfully to others’ viewpoints and concerns.
   • Ensure interactions with everyone in the school community are characterised by empathy and fairness.
2. Integrity:
   • Demonstrate honesty and transparency in all communications and decisions.
   • Follow through on commitments and promises made to students, staff, and parents.
   • Address issues and challenges directly and ethically, setting a standard for moral courage.
3. Authenticity:
   • Be consistent in actions and words, aligning daily behaviour with the school’s values and vision.
   • Share personal experiences and reflections that illustrate key values and lessons.
   • Show vulnerability and humility, admitting mistakes and learning from them.
4. Courage:
   • Stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
   • Encourage and support staff and students to take risks and innovate.
   • Address conflicts and issues head-on, fostering a culture of open dialogue and resolution.
5. Service:
   • Put the needs of students and staff above personal convenience or preference.
   • Volunteer for tasks and responsibilities that benefit the school community.
   • Show a commitment to professional development and lifelong learning, inspiring others to do the same.
6. Humility:
   • Acknowledge the contributions and successes of others, giving credit where it is due.
   • Seek feedback and be open to constructive criticism.
   • Be approachable and willing to learn from everyone in the school community.
7. Wisdom:
   • Make decisions that consider long-term impacts and the well-being of all stakeholders.
   • Balance the needs of different groups within the school community.
   • Share knowledge and insights to help others grow and develop.

By embodying these values in their daily actions, an Assistant Headteacher can set a powerful example and positively influence the school’s culture and environment.