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Deputy vs assistant headteacher: role comparison

Understand the similarities and key differences between deputy and assistant headteachers, and get to grips with which might work best in your school.

Last reviewed on 12 February 2026See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 7245
Contents
  1. Deputy and assistant headteachers share many professional duties
  2. Both roles are paid on the leadership pay range
  3. Teaching requirements will depend on your school's context
  4. Deputy headteachers are strategic, assistant headteachers are operational
  5. Deputy headteachers must deputise in the headteacher's absence
  6. The ‘best’ leadership structure depends on your school
  7. Check with the relevant people before making changes to a staff member’s job title

Deputy and assistant headteachers share many professional duties

In maintained schools, as well as carrying out the professional duties of a teacher, both roles play a big part in:

  • Formulating the aims and objectives of the school
  • Working on the policies that will help achieve them
  • Managing staff and resources to that end
  • Monitoring progress towards their achievement

Both roles must also "undertake any professional duties of the headteacher reasonably delegated by the headteacher".

This is set out in paragraph 48.1 of the STPCD.

Academies: check if your deputy and/or assistant headteachers are contractually entitled to the conditions set out in the STPCD. If they are, their duties will be the same as for maintained schools. If they’re not, you can set your own conditions for each role.

Both roles are paid on the leadership pay range

Maintained schools: this will be based on the leadership pay range in the STPCD.

Academies: where