Main responsibilities
- Lead a whole-school area such as teaching and learning, assessment and data, behaviour, attendance, inclusion, careers or staff development.
- Contribute to the school's aims, policies, self-evaluation and improvement planning.
- Line-manage middle leaders and hold them to account.
- Teach a timetable, usually larger than a deputy's.
- Often hold a named role: DSL or deputy DSL, SENCO, senior attendance champion, careers leader or pupil premium lead.
Statutory duties and official sources
England. The STPCD applies to maintained schools; academies follow it where contracts adopt it. Paragraph references below are to the 2025 STPCD. The 2026 edition was published on 16 October 2026; its Order comes into force on 6 November 2026, with Section 2 taking effect from 1 September 2026. See the pay guide for 2026 figures and paragraph references.
- Carry out the professional duties of a teacher and play a major role, under the headteacher's direction, in formulating aims, establishing policies, managing staff and resources and monitoring progress; undertake headteacher duties reasonably delegated. Source: STPCD 2025, paragraph 48.1.
- Assistant heads are outside the 1,265 directed-hours limit and entitled to a break of reasonable length near the middle of the day. Source: STPCD 2025, paragraphs 51.4 and 52.3.
- Named-role duties where held: DSL or deputy DSL (KCSIE Annex B), SENCO (SEND code 6.84–6.94), senior attendance champion (attendance guidance paragraph 23), careers leader (careers guidance). Source: KCSIE 2026; SEND code; Working together to improve school attendance; Careers guidance.
There is no separate statutory role of "assistant headteacher" beyond the STPCD.
Key dates in the school year (2026 to 2027, England)
Dates depend on the portfolio. Common ones:
- 1 October 2026, 21 January 2027, 20 May 2027: census days (census dates).
- 31 December 2026: pupil premium strategy statement published where the school’s 2026–27 allocation is based on more than five eligible pupils, excluding pupils eligible only for the service pupil premium (see pupil premium publication requirements) (Using pupil premium).
- 21 February 2027: GCSE and A level entries deadline; 21 March 2027: access arrangements deadline (JCQ key dates).
- 10–13 May 2027: key stage 2 tests (Primary assessments: future dates).
- 12 and 19 August 2027: A level and GCSE results days.
Common challenges and good practice
- Clear remit. Assistant head posts vary widely between schools. Write the portfolio, line management and decision rights into the job description.
- Teaching load and leadership time. Agree leadership time explicitly; the STPCD does not set a figure for assistant heads.
Common questions
- Is an assistant head part of SLT? Yes; the post is on the leadership pay range in maintained schools (STPCD Part 2).
- What is the difference between an assistant and a deputy head? A deputy must act for an absent headteacher (STPCD paragraph 48.2); an assistant head does not have that duty.
- Does an assistant headteacher work directed time? No. The 1,265-hour limit does not apply (STPCD paragraph 51.4).
- What qualification do you need? Qualified teacher status in a maintained school; no leadership qualification is required. The NPQ in senior leadership is optional (NPQ courses).
