Job Description

Contract:

Full-time (40 hours per week)

Salary:

52,000-55,000 per annum, depending on experience

Base:

Multi-site (Ashington, Stannington, Blyth) - Note: You will be initially based on our Ashington site to support a transition for a new leadership team.

Reports to:

Executive Headteacher; member of the Executive Leadership Team

Line management:

Senior staff team

Teaching commitment:

3 days (13.5 hours) per week initially - focused on targeted SEN intervention/support

Safeguarding designation:

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Overview

We are seeking an ambitious, compassionate, and resilient leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with complex needs, neurodiversity, and social, emotional, and communication differences.

This is a key leadership role within a multi-site specialist school, requiring both strategic insight and hands-on engagement. The successful candidate will be a skilled communicator, an experienced teacher, and a reflective practitioner who can foster trauma-informed, relational approaches across the school community.

You will model calm, consistent leadership, ensuring that high expectations for learning, safety, and wellbeing are maintained while supporting staff and pupils in a highly dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Compliance

Support the Executive Headteacher in leading and developing all aspects of school performance, culture, and compliance. Contribute to the School Development Plan, staff action plans, and quality assurance frameworks. Ensure full compliance with Independent School Standards, Ofsted requirements, and commissioning agreements. Maintain positive and professional relationships with stakeholders, including parents/carers, external agencies, and commissioning partners. Lead site-based monitoring, ensuring consistent implementation of policies, safeguarding, and high-quality teaching and learning across all sites.

Teaching, Learning, and Behaviour Support

Teach across sites (initially three days per week), modelling inclusive, trauma-informed practice and adaptive teaching for pupils with EHCPs and complex needs. Promote a school-wide culture of relational behaviour support, using restorative approaches and emotional regulation strategies. Coach and mentor staff in managing dysregulated behaviour safely and positively, including supporting Positive Handling (Level 2) implementation. Support curriculum design to ensure meaningful, personalised learning pathways.

Safeguarding and Wellbeing

Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, supporting the Executive Headteacher (DSL) in all safeguarding matters. Maintain oversight of safeguarding practice and systems (CPOMS, SCR), ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant reporting. Promote a culture of vigilance, curiosity, and professional reflection in safeguarding practice. Work closely with mental health leads and pastoral teams to address holistic needs, ensuring educational, therapeutic, and emotional interventions align.

Staff Leadership and Development

Line manage senior staff, providing supervision, appraisal, and day-to-day guidance. Support the professional growth of all team members through mentoring, coaching, and constructive feedback. Ensure that workload, wellbeing, and staff safety are prioritised in a complex, emotionally demanding environment. Lead or support recruitment, induction, and ongoing CPD for new staff.

School Culture and Community

Model high professional standards and promote the school's values and ethos. Foster an inclusive, respectful, and nurturing environment where pupils feel safe, understood, and motivated to learn. Engage families and carers as key partners in their child's development and progress. Represent the school professionally at meetings, reviews, and multi-agency forums.

Person Specification

Essential

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Senior leadership experience (minimum 6 years), ideally within SEMH, specialist, or alternative provision settings. Proven success in leading staff and managing safeguarding processes. Deep understanding of SEN, neurodiversity, trauma, attachment theory, and the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Ability to implement and monitor trauma-informed and relational behaviour support approaches. Strong understanding of KCSIE, EHCP frameworks, and multi-agency working. Evidence of improving attendance, engagement, and curriculum delivery in complex settings. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including experience leading complex meetings and handling sensitive situations with diplomacy. Exceptional organisational and administrative skills, with rigorous attention to detail. Commitment to ongoing professional development and reflective practice.

Desirable

NPQH or equivalent leadership qualification (or willingness to undertake). DSL training (or willingness to undertake). SENCO qualification (or willingness to undertake). Positive Handling Level 2 or equivalent. Experience of managing commissioning or service level agreements. Experience leading therapeutic, vocational, or outdoor learning programmes.

Safeguarding & Expectations

This post is subject to enhanced DBS checks and all safer recruitment procedures.The successful candidate must complete Positive Handling Level 2 training within six months of appointment due to challenging behaviour on site.Some home visits and off-site meetings may be required.All duties will be carried out with due regard to the school's safeguarding, equality, and health & safety policies.

Any other duties and responsibilities within the scope of the role. All duties and responsibilities must be carried out with due regard to the school's existing policies such as Child Protection, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities and Data Protection etc.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 52,000.00-56,000.00 per year

Ability to commute/relocate:

Ashington NE63: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):

Would you be available to commence work on 5/1/26?
Experience:

Leadership: 6 years (required)
Licence/Certification:

QTS (required) NPQH or similar (preferred)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person