Assistant Headteacher (Personal Development)

The Cherwell School · OX2, South East

Closing date: 16 November 2026 at 9am10 days left
Salary: Leadership Scale: 13-17
Role: Assistant headteacher
Posted: 4 November 2026

Marston Ferry Road

Oxford

Oxfordshire

OX2 7EE

Read the full advert and apply⁠

Apply through the DfE Teaching Vacancies service advert.

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
Website: www.cherwell.oxon.sch.uk⁠ (opens in a new tab)

The school's record on Get Information About Schools⁠ (opens in a new tab)

Published school data

Showing 6 of 32 publications we hold, newest first for each source. Open the published files for values and definitions.

Published school data: retained periods and publication files
Publication	Period and coverage
DfE: Devolved formula capital allocations Published file	2026/27 · Financial year · source dated 14 May 2026 Population: 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. Technical source details Edition identifier: b82db944-44bb-421e-ad2c-11aa1c5ccbd1 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 Population record: Schools listed by URN in the 2_Schools DFC sheet; excludes NMSS and SPI sheets
DfE: Devolved formula capital allocations Published file	2026/27 · Financial year · source dated 14 May 2026 Population: 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. Technical source details Edition identifier: 4a6546b8-8677-4193-9f09-6af01ab6072c 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 Population record: Schools listed by URN in the 2_Schools DFC sheet; excludes NMSS and SPI sheets
DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England Published file	2025/26 · Autumn and spring term · source dated 15 October 2026 Geographic level: School sess_overall_percent; enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent; enrolments; sess_possible; sess_overall; enrolments_pa_10_exact Technical source details Edition identifier: d589d60a-7f48-4951-8da9-7db6c499aa60 Publication version: bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00: Population record: {"geographic_level":"School","filters":null,"source":"DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England"} Denominator record: sess_possible (absence); enrolments (persistent absence)
DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England Published file	2024/25 · Autumn and spring term · source dated 15 October 2026 Geographic level: School sess_overall_percent; enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent; enrolments; sess_possible; sess_overall; enrolments_pa_10_exact Technical source details Edition identifier: d589d60a-7f48-4951-8da9-7db6c499aa60 Publication version: bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00: Population record: {"geographic_level":"School","filters":null,"source":"DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England"} Denominator record: sess_possible (absence); enrolments (persistent absence)
DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England Published file	2023/24 · Autumn and spring term · source dated 15 October 2026 Geographic level: School sess_overall_percent; enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent; enrolments; sess_possible; sess_overall; enrolments_pa_10_exact Technical source details Edition identifier: d589d60a-7f48-4951-8da9-7db6c499aa60 Publication version: bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00: Population record: {"geographic_level":"School","filters":null,"source":"DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England"} Denominator record: sess_possible (absence); enrolments (persistent absence)
DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England Published file	2025/26 · Autumn and spring term · source dated 15 October 2026 Geographic level: School sess_overall_percent; enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent; enrolments; sess_possible; sess_overall; enrolments_pa_10_exact Technical source details Edition identifier: 79b26d03-8e91-4acf-9a3a-ab13e78aea0a Publication version: bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00: Population record: {"geographic_level":"School","filters":null,"source":"DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England"} Denominator record: sess_possible (absence); enrolments (persistent absence)

Local area context

Showing 6 of 25 publications we hold, newest first for each source. Open the published files for values and definitions.

Local area context: retained periods and publication files
Publication	Period and coverage
DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Published file	2031/32 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Population: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geographic level: Local authority Education phase: Secondary National curriculum year group: Secondary total 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. Technical source details Edition identifier: 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Population record: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geography record: Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Secondary · nc_year_group: Secondary total
DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Published file	2030/31 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Population: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geographic level: Local authority Education phase: Secondary National curriculum year group: Secondary total 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. Technical source details Edition identifier: 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Population record: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geography record: Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Secondary · nc_year_group: Secondary total
DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Published file	2029/30 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Population: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geographic level: Local authority Education phase: Primary National curriculum year group: Primary total 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. Technical source details Edition identifier: 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Population record: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geography record: Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Primary · nc_year_group: Primary total
DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Published file	2029/30 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Population: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geographic level: Local authority Education phase: Secondary National curriculum year group: Secondary total 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. Technical source details Edition identifier: 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Population record: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geography record: Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Secondary · nc_year_group: Secondary total
DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Published file	2028/29 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Population: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geographic level: Local authority Education phase: Primary National curriculum year group: Primary total 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. Technical source details Edition identifier: 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Population record: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geography record: Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Primary · nc_year_group: Primary total
DfE: Local authority pupil forecasts and planning areas Published file	2028/29 · Academic year · source dated 20 March 2026 Population: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geographic level: Local authority Education phase: Secondary National curriculum year group: Secondary total 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. Technical source details Edition identifier: 040dd40c-1a68-4474-8216-3e2c2132e8f7 Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00 Population record: Published primary and secondary phase totals by local authority or planning area Geography record: Local authority · E10000025 · education_phase: Secondary · nc_year_group: Secondary total

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, 20 March 2026
DfE: School capacity — school
2024/25
Population: State-funded mainstream primary and secondary schools in England reported by local authorities in SCAP
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.
Published file
Academic year
Technical source details
Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00
Measure code: school_places
Pupils on roll (SCAP): 2,0052024/25
Source and value: Pupils on roll (SCAP), 2024/25, Academic year, 20 March 2026
DfE: School capacity — school
2024/25
Population: State-funded mainstream primary and secondary schools in England reported by local authorities in SCAP
Published value: 2005. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 20 March 2026.
Published file
Academic year
Technical source details
Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00
Measure code: pupils_on_roll_count
Unfilled places (SCAP): 702024/25
Source and value: Unfilled places (SCAP), 2024/25, Academic year, 20 March 2026
DfE: School capacity — school
2024/25
Population: State-funded mainstream primary and secondary schools in England reported by local authorities in SCAP
Published value: 70. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 20 March 2026.
Published file
Academic year
Technical source details
Publication version: 960750dd-6ed7-4e32-a9df-3cc9132bb1a4:2026-03-20T13:51:55.6118651+00:00
Measure code: unfilled_places_count

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, 15 October 2026
DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England
2025/26 · Autumn and spring term
Geographic level: School
Published value: 7.28085%. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 15 October 2026.
Published file
Autumn and spring term
Technical source details
Publication version: bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00:
Measure code: sess_overall_percent
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, 15 October 2026
DfE: Pupil absence in schools in England
2025/26 · Autumn and spring term
Geographic level: School
Published value: 17.70231%. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 15 October 2026.
Published file
Autumn and spring term
Technical source details
Publication version: bc053a9f-7963-4523-9e7b-08df18a929bb:2026-10-15T08:30:05.2587515+00:00:
Measure code: enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent
Permanent exclusions: 02024/25
Source and value: Permanent exclusions, 2024/25, Academic year, 9 July 2026
DfE: Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England
2024/25
Geographic level: School
Published value: 0. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 9 July 2026.
Published file
Academic year
Technical source details
Publication version: 0e388e4d-3748-49a4-984c-08dece27c222:2026-07-09T08:30:02.0602325+00:00:
Measure code: perm_excl

Staff

Teachers (headcount): 1442025/26
Source and value: Teachers (headcount), 2025/26, Academic year, 17 August 2026
DfE: Size of the school workforce
2025/26
Published value: 144. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 17 August 2026.
Published file
Academic year
Technical source details
Publication version: 32476c77-5ff3-4efb-ad1e-a2173e74a4d4:2026-08-17T14:32:16.1351756+00:00:
Measure code: hc_all_teachers
Teachers (FTE): 123.62025/26
Source and value: Teachers (FTE), 2025/26, Academic year, 17 August 2026
DfE: Size of the school workforce
2025/26
Published value: 123.55. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 17 August 2026.
Published file
Academic year
Technical source details
Publication version: 32476c77-5ff3-4efb-ad1e-a2173e74a4d4:2026-08-17T14:32:16.1351756+00:00:
Measure code: fte_all_teachers
Leadership (headcount): 142025/26
Source and value: Leadership (headcount), 2025/26, Academic year, 17 August 2026
DfE: Size of the school workforce
2025/26
Published value: 14. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 17 August 2026.
Published file
Academic year
Technical source details
Publication version: 32476c77-5ff3-4efb-ad1e-a2173e74a4d4:2026-08-17T14:32:16.1351756+00:00:
Measure code: hc_leadership_teachers

Results

KS4: Attainment 8: 58.92025/26
Source and value: KS4: Attainment 8, 2025/26, Academic year · Provisional, 28 October 2026
DfE: Key stage 4 performance tables
2025/26
Geographic level: School
Population group: Total
Population breakdown: Total
Published value: 58.9. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 28 October 2026.
Published file
Academic year · Provisional
Technical source details
Publication version: 365271b7-7f8e-486b-bfdc-319204b3b8c7:2026-10-28T14:21:37.2073529+00:00:
Measure code: attainment8_average
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, 28 October 2026
DfE: Key stage 4 performance tables
2025/26
Geographic level: School
Population group: Total
Population breakdown: Total
Published value: 64.9%. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 28 October 2026.
Published file
Academic year · Provisional
Technical source details
Publication version: 365271b7-7f8e-486b-bfdc-319204b3b8c7:2026-10-28T14:21:37.2073529+00:00:
Measure code: engmath_95_percent
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, 24 July 2026
DfE: 16 to 18 performance tables
2024/25
Geographic level: School
Disadvantage group: Total
Exam cohort: A level
Published value: 40.32. Display values may be rounded.
Source dated 24 July 2026.
Published file
Academic year · Final
Technical source details
Publication version: a918dd51-e050-4e34-9179-d7e9ccc7b15b:2026-07-24T14:11:22.0308999+00:00:
Measure code: aps_per_entry

Money

Latest national finance read: income has failures; expenditure has failures.

Published deprivation FSM6 pupil premium: £262,9002026/27
Source and value: Published deprivation FSM6 pupil premium, 2026/27, Financial year, 23 September 2026
DfE: Published school deprivation FSM6 pupil premium
2026/27
Population: Schools with a published deprivation FSM6 allocation in the All_Schools sheet
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.
Source dated 23 September 2026.
Published file
Current conditions of grant
Financial year
Technical source details
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
Measure code: pupil_premium_fsm6
Devolved formula capital: £41,4912026/27
Source and value: Devolved formula capital, 2026/27, Financial year, 14 May 2026
DfE: Devolved formula capital allocations
2026/27
Population: Schools listed by URN in the 2_Schools DFC sheet; excludes NMSS and SPI sheets
Published value: 41490.629999999997. Display values may be rounded.
Published school-level DFC allocation for capital projects. Excludes responsible-body SCA and CIF awards.
Source dated 14 May 2026.
Published file
Financial year
Technical source details
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
Measure code: devolved_formula_capital
Income per pupil: £9,6862025
Source and value: Income per pupil, 2025, Reporting year ending, DfE Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool: CFR/AAR income per pupil
DfE Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool: CFR/AAR income per pupil
2025
Population: The school's published CFR or AAR return identified by URN and reporting year
Published value: 9685.816683266932. Display values may be rounded.
Published file
Reporting year ending
Technical source details
Publication version: response-sha256:79d64267d8558e1d4bb78273ad88f99d014b09bedd4eb0685a59a2efa2dc1c5f
Measure code: totalIncome

Official school links

The Cherwell School · Predecessor · 2012-04-01GIAS · 5 November 2026

School records and their figures stay separate.

Part of RIVER LEARNING TRUST (Multi-academy trust)

Latest Ofsted inspection

Graded inspection (previous framework)
Inspected 19 October 2022, published 1 December 2022 · 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) · 5 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.