Assistant Headteacher (Personal Development)
The Cherwell School · OX2, South East
- Closing date
- 12 days left
- Salary
- Leadership Scale: 13-17
- Role
- Assistant headteacher
- Posted
You apply on the DfE Teaching Vacancies service advert, not here.
Job description
The Cherwell School is seeking an outstanding, ambitious and visionary leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Assistant Headteacher (Personal Development). The successful candidate will take a strategic lead in the school’s approach to Personal Development ensuring a coherent programme extends access to the curriculum and wider experiences. They will ensure our students build character, confidence, resilience, and independence, preparing them effectively for their future. Given the Teaching School status of the school and our commitment to staff development, the successful candidate will have ample opportunity to develop their own professional learning. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who is passionate about the provision of a rich learning experience for students. Should you wish to be part of our future, we welcome your application. About our school:- We are a high performing and oversubscribed comprehensive school in Oxford with approximately 2,000 students on roll, including 680 in the Sixth Form. We are delighted that we were judged ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted (October 2022), as we feel this is a fair reflection of the school, not least as we recognize that we have the capacity to develop and improve further. We consider ourselves to be a school which has at its heart “opportunity, responsibility, excellence” and we aim to make this a deeper reality for all of our students and staff in the years to come. Our aims are supported by our designation as a National Teaching School and as a School Centred Initial Teacher Training provider. We are committed to the professional learning and career development of our staff and work in conjunction with the River Learning Trust to continue to raise standards. We value the wellbeing of our staff and aim to support colleagues throughout their working lives. Staff report high levels of wellbeing and attribute this to factors such as: Well designed, sequenced and resourced curricula which are centralised Feedback and marking approaches which are carefully considered for impact and workload Clear, centralised Behaviour for Learning System; pastoral teams supported by non-teaching deputy year leaders Lower than typical contact hours for classroom teachers and middle leaders Excellent in-house and external CPD opportunities and regular opportunities for career development within the school and trust Professional support for ECTs provided by experienced teams of staff If you would like to have a confidential conversation about the role, prior to application, please email Louise Scott (lscott@cherwellschool.org) or phone 01865 558719. Education has the power to change lives, communities and society for the better. At RLT we believe that we can achieve more for our pupils, trainees, staff and communities by working together rather than alone. Schools in RLT are united by a common belief in the benefits of working together, and by our commitment to shared principles. OUR VISION is for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously and sustainably: to be better faster together. OUR ‘WHY?’ is that children and young people ‘only get one go’ in school and therefore as part of RLT we aim to ensure the best possible ‘go’ for our pupils. OUR ‘HOW?’ is through the highest support and challenge for our schools and each other, underpinned by our principles. Our employees benefit from a wide variety of support including extensive continuing professional learning and development opportunities, wellbeing and staff networks and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS) for all staff. For more information on what it is like to work for the Trust, and the benefits you could access, please see our “Working in RLT” guide. This role includes regulated activity relevant to children. The River Learning Trust and The Cherwell School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates. Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link List of offences that are not filtered
School at a glance
The Cherwell School
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire
- Region
- South East
- Religious character
- Does not apply
The school's record on Get Information About Schools (opens in a new tab)
Published school data
Showing 6 of 32 retained publications in source order, newest editions first within each source. Open the published files for values and definitions.
| Publication | Period and coverage |
|---|---|
| DfE: Devolved formula capital allocations Edition b82db944-44bb-421e-ad2c-11aa1c5ccbd1 · https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a0330cdcd2e0e8b5b20b4ae/school-capital-funding-allocations-for-2026-to-2027.xlsx:2026-05-14T11:00:06+01:00 Published file | 2026/27 · Financial year · source dated 14 May 2026 Schools listed by URN in the 2_Schools DFC sheet; excludes NMSS and SPI sheets Published school-level DFC allocation for capital projects. Excludes responsible-body SCA and CIF awards. |
| DfE: Devolved formula capital allocations Edition 4a6546b8-8677-4193-9f09-6af01ab6072c · https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a0330cdcd2e0e8b5b20b4ae/school-capital-funding-allocations-for-2026-to-2027.xlsx:2026-05-14T11:00:06+01:00 Published file | 2026/27 · Financial year · source dated 14 May 2026 Schools listed by URN in the 2_Schools DFC sheet; excludes NMSS and SPI sheets Published school-level DFC allocation for capital projects. Excludes responsible-body SCA and CIF awards. |
| DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England Edition d589d60a-7f48-4951-8da9-7db6c499aa60 · bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00: Published file | 2025/26 · Autumn and spring term · source dated 15 October 2026 {"geographic_level":"School","filters":null,"source":"DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England"} · sess_possible (absence); enrolments (persistent absence) sess_overall_percent; enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent; enrolments; sess_possible; sess_overall; enrolments_pa_10_exact |
| DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England Edition d589d60a-7f48-4951-8da9-7db6c499aa60 · bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00: Published file | 2024/25 · Autumn and spring term · source dated 15 October 2026 {"geographic_level":"School","filters":null,"source":"DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England"} · sess_possible (absence); enrolments (persistent absence) sess_overall_percent; enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent; enrolments; sess_possible; sess_overall; enrolments_pa_10_exact |
| DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England Edition d589d60a-7f48-4951-8da9-7db6c499aa60 · bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00: Published file | 2023/24 · Autumn and spring term · source dated 15 October 2026 {"geographic_level":"School","filters":null,"source":"DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England"} · sess_possible (absence); enrolments (persistent absence) sess_overall_percent; enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent; enrolments; sess_possible; sess_overall; enrolments_pa_10_exact |
| DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England Edition 79b26d03-8e91-4acf-9a3a-ab13e78aea0a · bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00: Published file | 2025/26 · Autumn and spring term · source dated 15 October 2026 {"geographic_level":"School","filters":null,"source":"DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England"} · sess_possible (absence); enrolments (persistent absence) sess_overall_percent; enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent; enrolments; sess_possible; sess_overall; enrolments_pa_10_exact |
Local area context
Showing 6 of 25 retained publications in source order, newest editions first within each source. Open the published files for values and definitions.
| Publication | Period and coverage |
|---|---|
| DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Edition 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 · 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Published file | 2031/32 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Secondary · nc_year_group: Secondary total · Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Local authority pupil forecasts, with 2024/25 actuals, for the published phase total. Future periods are forecasts, not observed pupil counts. Planning area codes belong to this SCAP edition and are not assumed stable across editions. |
| DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Edition 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 · 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Published file | 2030/31 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Secondary · nc_year_group: Secondary total · Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Local authority pupil forecasts, with 2024/25 actuals, for the published phase total. Future periods are forecasts, not observed pupil counts. Planning area codes belong to this SCAP edition and are not assumed stable across editions. |
| DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Edition 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 · 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Published file | 2029/30 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Primary · nc_year_group: Primary total · Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Local authority pupil forecasts, with 2024/25 actuals, for the published phase total. Future periods are forecasts, not observed pupil counts. Planning area codes belong to this SCAP edition and are not assumed stable across editions. |
| DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Edition 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 · 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Published file | 2029/30 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Secondary · nc_year_group: Secondary total · Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Local authority pupil forecasts, with 2024/25 actuals, for the published phase total. Future periods are forecasts, not observed pupil counts. Planning area codes belong to this SCAP edition and are not assumed stable across editions. |
| DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Edition 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 · 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Published file | 2028/29 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Primary · nc_year_group: Primary total · Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Local authority pupil forecasts, with 2024/25 actuals, for the published phase total. Future periods are forecasts, not observed pupil counts. Planning area codes belong to this SCAP edition and are not assumed stable across editions. |
| DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Edition 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 · 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Published file | 2028/29 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Secondary · nc_year_group: Secondary total · Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Local authority pupil forecasts, with 2024/25 actuals, for the published phase total. Future periods are forecasts, not observed pupil counts. Planning area codes belong to this SCAP edition and are not assumed stable across editions. |
Showing 15 of 28 published figures, up to three per group. Open each source for the full published data.
Pupils
- School places (SCAP)
- 2,0752024/25
Source and value: School places (SCAP), 2024/25, Academic year, 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00
Published value: 2075. Display values may be rounded.
Published school capacity survey places, including sixth form and excluding nursery places; not the current GIAS capacity.
Source dated 20 March 2026.
Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00
Academic year
- Pupils on roll (SCAP)
- 2,0052024/25
Source and value: Pupils on roll (SCAP), 2024/25, Academic year, 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00
Published value: 2005. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 20 March 2026.
Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00
Academic year
- Unfilled places (SCAP)
- 702024/25
Source and value: Unfilled places (SCAP), 2024/25, Academic year, 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00
Published value: 70. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 20 March 2026.
Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00
Academic year
Attendance and behaviour
- Overall absence
- 7.3%2025/26 · Autumn and spring term
Source and value: Overall absence, 2025/26 · Autumn and spring term, Autumn and spring term, bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00:
Published value: 7.28085%. Display values may be rounded.
DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England
Source dated 15 October 2026.
Publication version: bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00:
Autumn and spring term
- Persistent absence
- 17.7%2025/26 · Autumn and spring term
Source and value: Persistent absence, 2025/26 · Autumn and spring term, Autumn and spring term, bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00:
Published value: 17.70231%. Display values may be rounded.
DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England
Source dated 15 October 2026.
Publication version: bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00:
Autumn and spring term
- Permanent exclusions
- 02024/25
Source and value: Permanent exclusions, 2024/25, Academic year, 0e388e4d-3748-49a4-984c-08dece27c222:2026-07-09T08:30:02.0602325+00:00:
Published value: 0. Display values may be rounded.
DfE: Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England
Source dated 9 July 2026.
Publication version: 0e388e4d-3748-49a4-984c-08dece27c222:2026-07-09T08:30:02.0602325+00:00:
Academic year
Staff
- Teachers (headcount)
- 1442025/26
Source and value: Teachers (headcount), 2025/26, Academic year, 32476c77-5ff3-4efb-ad1e-a2173e74a4d4:2026-08-17T14:32:16.1351756+00:00:
Published value: 144. Display values may be rounded.
DfE: Size of the school workforce
Source dated 17 August 2026.
Publication version: 32476c77-5ff3-4efb-ad1e-a2173e74a4d4:2026-08-17T14:32:16.1351756+00:00:
Academic year
- Teachers (FTE)
- 123.62025/26
Source and value: Teachers (FTE), 2025/26, Academic year, 32476c77-5ff3-4efb-ad1e-a2173e74a4d4:2026-08-17T14:32:16.1351756+00:00:
Published value: 123.55. Display values may be rounded.
DfE: Size of the school workforce
Source dated 17 August 2026.
Publication version: 32476c77-5ff3-4efb-ad1e-a2173e74a4d4:2026-08-17T14:32:16.1351756+00:00:
Academic year
- Leadership (headcount)
- 142025/26
Source and value: Leadership (headcount), 2025/26, Academic year, 32476c77-5ff3-4efb-ad1e-a2173e74a4d4:2026-08-17T14:32:16.1351756+00:00:
Published value: 14. Display values may be rounded.
DfE: Size of the school workforce
Source dated 17 August 2026.
Publication version: 32476c77-5ff3-4efb-ad1e-a2173e74a4d4:2026-08-17T14:32:16.1351756+00:00:
Academic year
Results
- KS4: Attainment 8
- 58.92025/26
Source and value: KS4: Attainment 8, 2025/26, Academic year · Provisional, 365271b7-7f8e-486b-bfdc-319204b3b8c7:2026-10-28T14:21:37.2073529+00:00:
Published value: 58.9. Display values may be rounded.
DfE: Key stage 4 performance tables
Source dated 28 October 2026.
Publication version: 365271b7-7f8e-486b-bfdc-319204b3b8c7:2026-10-28T14:21:37.2073529+00:00:
Academic year · Provisional
- KS4: English and maths at grade 5 or above
- 64.9%2025/26
Source and value: KS4: English and maths at grade 5 or above, 2025/26, Academic year · Provisional, 365271b7-7f8e-486b-bfdc-319204b3b8c7:2026-10-28T14:21:37.2073529+00:00:
Published value: 64.9%. Display values may be rounded.
DfE: Key stage 4 performance tables
Source dated 28 October 2026.
Publication version: 365271b7-7f8e-486b-bfdc-319204b3b8c7:2026-10-28T14:21:37.2073529+00:00:
Academic year · Provisional
- 16–18: A level points per entry
- 40.322024/25
Source and value: 16–18: A level points per entry, 2024/25, Academic year · Final, a918dd51-e050-4e34-9179-d7e9ccc7b15b:2026-07-24T14:11:22.0308999+00:00:
Published value: 40.32. Display values may be rounded.
DfE: 16 to 18 performance tables
Source dated 24 July 2026.
Publication version: a918dd51-e050-4e34-9179-d7e9ccc7b15b:2026-07-24T14:11:22.0308999+00:00:
Academic year · Final
Money
- Published deprivation FSM6 pupil premium
- £262,9002026/27
Source and value: Published deprivation FSM6 pupil premium, 2026/27, Financial year, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab0f5733f8e4e96a6a66a8e/pupil-premium-allocations-for-the-2026-to-2027-financial-year-september-2026.xlsx:2026-09-23T12:00:01+01:00
Published value: 262900. Display values may be rounded.
Published school-level deprivation FSM6 allocation only; excludes looked-after and previously looked-after children, alternative-provision census allocations and service pupil premium. This is not total pupil premium.
DfE: Published school deprivation FSM6 pupil premium
Source dated 23 September 2026.
Publication version: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab0f5733f8e4e96a6a66a8e/pupil-premium-allocations-for-the-2026-to-2027-financial-year-september-2026.xlsx:2026-09-23T12:00:01+01:00
Financial year
- Devolved formula capital
- £41,4912026/27
Source and value: Devolved formula capital, 2026/27, Financial year, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a0330cdcd2e0e8b5b20b4ae/school-capital-funding-allocations-for-2026-to-2027.xlsx:2026-05-14T11:00:06+01:00
Published value: 41490.629999999997. Display values may be rounded.
Published school-level DFC allocation for capital projects. Excludes responsible-body SCA and CIF awards.
DfE: Devolved formula capital allocations
Source dated 14 May 2026.
Publication version: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a0330cdcd2e0e8b5b20b4ae/school-capital-funding-allocations-for-2026-to-2027.xlsx:2026-05-14T11:00:06+01:00
Financial year
- Income per pupil
- £9,6862025
Source and value: Income per pupil, 2025, Reporting year ending, response-sha256:79d64267d8558e1d4bb78273ad88f99d014b09bedd4eb0685a59a2efa2dc1c5f
Published value: 9685.816683266932. Display values may be rounded.
DfE Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool: CFR/AAR income per pupil
Publication version: response-sha256:79d64267d8558e1d4bb78273ad88f99d014b09bedd4eb0685a59a2efa2dc1c5f
Reporting year ending
Official school links
- The Cherwell School · Predecessor · 2012-04-01GIAS · 4 November 2026
These are separate school records. Their figures are not combined.
Part of RIVER LEARNING TRUST (Multi-academy trust)
- Gillotts School (opens in a new tab)
- Chipping Norton School (opens in a new tab)
- The Cherwell School (opens in a new tab)
- Seven Fields Primary School (opens in a new tab)
- The Marlborough Church of England School (opens in a new tab)
- Gosford Hill School (opens in a new tab)
- Cutteslowe Primary School (opens in a new tab)
- Cheney School (opens in a new tab)
- Wheatley Park School (opens in a new tab)
- Bayards Hill School (opens in a new tab)
- and 21 more
Latest Ofsted inspection
Graded inspection (previous framework)
Inspected , published · S5 Inspection · number 10211899
- Overall effectiveness
- Outstanding
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding is effective
- Yes
- Sixth form
- Outstanding
Ofsted's inspection reports for this school (opens in a new tab)
Sources
- Get Information About Schools (Department for Education) (opens in a new tab) · 4 November 2026
- Ofsted monthly management information: state-funded schools, latest inspections (opens in a new tab) · 30 September 2026
- DfE: Devolved formula capital allocations (opens in a new tab) · 2026/27 · Financial year · 14 May 2026
- DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England (opens in a new tab) · 2025/26 · Autumn and spring term · 15 October 2026
- DfE: School capacity — school (opens in a new tab) · 2024/25 · Academic year · 20 March 2026
- DfE: Schools, pupils and their characteristics (opens in a new tab) · 2025/26 · Academic year · 4 June 2026
- DfE: Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England (opens in a new tab) · 2024/25 · Academic year · 9 July 2026
- DfE: Pupil to teacher ratios (opens in a new tab) · 2025/26 · Academic year · 17 August 2026
8 further sources are not listed here; displayed figures retain their own source links.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Prepare for your interview
Vacancies are from the DfE Teaching Vacancies service (opens in a new tab), as the school published them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.