This article examines the emergence of assistant heads onto the landscape of primary school leadership. Through the use of job descriptions, questionnaires, interviews and a case study, the functions that assistant heads are performing in primary schools is examined and their opinions, attitudes and beliefs about their work are considered. The data for this study were gathered from 57 job descriptions received from assistant head posts from across the country during spring 2002. The job descriptions were analysed for management responsibilities carried out by the assistant heads, teaching time and whether their work involved deputising. In addition 31 questionnaire responses were received from the original sample. These questionnaires examined the attitudes of the assistant heads to their work and used both a Likert scale and written responses. The final part of the data gathering process involved telephone interviews with twelve of the questionnaire respondents. This study illustrates how the role of assistant head has the potential to alter the way in which primary schools are structured. This study also reveals that the assistant head could play a significant role in establishing the right culture in a school whether as a quasi deputy, a subordinate deputy, or within a niche role.