Search

Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral & Whole-School Leadership)

Cambridge Maths School

Salary

Leadership Scale

Contract

Permanent / Part or Full Time

Start Date

January, 2027

Apply By

October 13, 2026

Email

Salary

Leadership Scale

Contract

Permanent / Part or Full Time

Start Date

January, 2027

Apply By

October 13, 2026

Email

Join one of the UK’s most distinctive and successful sixth form schools

Cambridge Maths School (CMS) is seeking to appoint an exceptional Assistant Headteacher to join our ambitious and innovative leadership team.

Developed in association with the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Maths School is a specialist sixth form for students with a passion and aptitude for mathematics and the mathematical sciences. Located in purpose-built facilities in the heart of Cambridge, the school offers A Levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics.

Since opening in 2023, CMS has rapidly established itself as one of the country’s highest-performing sixth forms. We combine academic excellence with a deep commitment to widening participation, ensuring that talented young people from all backgrounds can access an outstanding education and progress to the most competitive university courses and careers.

This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding leader to help shape the next stage of the school’s development.


The Role

We are seeking an exceptional school leader who will play a key role within the Senior Leadership Team and help drive the continued success of Cambridge Maths School.

The successful candidate will:

  • Be an outstanding teacher, capable of teaching at least one of the school’s specialist subjects: Mathematics (including Further Matematics), Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science or Physics.
  • Contribute strategically to the leadership and development of the school.
  • Lead and develop a significant pastoral or whole-school area.
  • Support the highest standards of teaching, learning, achievement and student experience.
  • Work closely with staff, students, families and external partners to ensure every student thrives academically and personally.
  • Contribute to the continued development of CMS as a nationally significant centre of excellence for post-16 education.


Areas of Responsibility

The Assistant Headteacher will lead and oversee the school’s pastoral provision, ensuring that every student is supported to thrive academically, socially and personally.

Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care

  • Student wellbeing and mental health.
  • Strategic leadership of pastoral systems and processes.
  • Early intervention and targeted student support.
  • Attendance, engagement and participation.
  • Student behaviour, culture and expectations.
  • Student voice, leadership and community engagement.

Safeguarding, Inclusion and Equity

  • Safeguarding and child protection.
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Support for vulnerable, disadvantaged and underrepresented students.
  • Development of an inclusive school culture where all students feel a sense of belonging.
  • Liaison with families, external agencies and partner organisations.

Personal Development, Careers and Enrichment

  • Leadership of the school’s personal development programme.
  • Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG).
  • Oversight of careers guidance, work experience opportunities and employer engagement.
  • Strategic leadership of super-curricular programmes, ensuring students have access to rich academic experiences beyond the classroom.
  • Oversight of student enrichment, leadership opportunities and wider personal development activities.
  • Promotion of widening participation initiatives and ambitious progression pathways for all students.


The successful candidate will work closely with staff, students, families and external partners to ensure Cambridge Maths School continues to deliver an exceptional student experience alongside outstanding academic outcomes.

About You

We are looking for a candidate who:

  • Is an excellent classroom practitioner with a strong track record of success.
  • Has successful middle or senior leadership experience within a school or sixth form setting.
  • Has experience of leading and developing staff and teams.
  • Demonstrates a strong commitment to student wellbeing, safeguarding and inclusion.
  • Possesses excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills.
  • Has the vision, credibility and resilience required to make a significant contribution to school improvement.
  • Is passionate about widening participation and enabling talented young people from all backgrounds to succeed.
  • Shares the values, ambition and ethos of Cambridge Maths School and the Eastern Learning Alliance.

Applications are welcomed from experienced Assistant Headteachers, aspiring senior leaders, or exceptional middle leaders ready to take the next step in their career.


Why Join Cambridge Maths School?

Working at CMS provides a unique opportunity to help shape one of the most innovative and academically ambitious schools in the country.

We offer:

  • Highly motivated, intellectually curious and exceptionally talented students.
  • A collaborative, supportive and ambitious staff team.
  • A culture that values professionalism, innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Close links with the University of Cambridge and leading academic and industry partners.
  • Outstanding opportunities for professional development and career progression.
  • Significant scope to shape strategic developments within a growing school.
  • A reduced teaching allocation to support leadership responsibilities.
  • Opportunities to contribute to nationally recognised outreach and widening participation initiatives.

What can ELA offer you?

ELA offer a sector leading staff benefits offer alongside bespoke, high quality CPD programmes, cross-trust events, and exceptional opportunities for career development within our innovative family of schools.

  • ELA know that our strength is our people, so we prioritise staff wellbeing, retention and development. Over 95% of ELA staff say they’re proud to work in their school.
  • ELA are firm believers in the power of recognising, celebrating, and rewarding talent: our track record in terms of retention, internal promotion opportunities and wider career development is excellent.
  • ELA staff enjoy a sector leading staff benefits package alongside bespoke, high quality CPD programmes, cross-trust events, and exceptional opportunities for career development within our innovative family of schools.
  • You can find out all about our Trust and staff offer here.

ELA staff benefits include: 

  • Reduced contact time to enable professional development;
  • EAP with access to counselling & physiotherapy; 
  • Health care cash plan; 
  • Paid annual family day; 
  • Extensive discount club access; 
  • Cycle to work schemes; 
  • Enhanced parental leave; 
  • Flexible work practices; 
  • Laptop & mobile phone payment plans; 
  • Generous annual leave allowance for support staff; 
  • Discounted gym membership for all staff. 

Our Trust is committed to equal opportunities, to safeguarding and the promotion of the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  All staff are expected to share this commitment and undergo the appropriate checks.  All positions within the Trust are subject to enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references along with a Certificate of Good Conduct if applicable.  Only applications submitted on using the ELA application form will be accepted.  We do not accept applications by CV.  You can view our safeguarding policy here.

Please send a completed application form and covering letter to: Alicja Kowalska, Cambridge Maths School, 119 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AZ or e-mail: . Due to the high volume of applicants, we receive for certain roles, we reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier that the advertised date if we have received applications that reach the criteria.

All shortlisted applicants should expect to be called for interview no more than 5 working days after the closing date. If you have not heard from us by then, your application has not been successful. Visits to Cambridge Maths School are welcome. 

Advert specific downloads.

Application Forms and Policies.

Site Search