Job Description

Application closing date
05/11/2025
Location
Halifax
Salary
Salary: L33 - L37. The starting salary will be negotiable dependent upon experience.
Package
Full Time
Job category/type
Schools
Application Form.docx
Job description
Ravenscliffe High School is an innovative and ambitious generic 11-19 specialist school in Halifax. It is Calderdale's only maintained secondary specialist school, catering for the needs of over 250 students with a range of additional needs including moderate, severe, profound, and complex learning difficulties.




Students may also have autism, speech, language and communication needs, physical/medical difficulties, sensory impairments, and SEMH needs. The Governors are seeking to appoint a substantive Headteacher who shares their single-minded ambition to constantly progress and modernise everything the school does so that it continually improves outcomes for its students.



The school has an outstanding reputation locally and beyond and has consistently been judged by Ofsted, most recently in October 2022, as an outstanding Specialist School. Student numbers have increased significantly in recent years from 134 students in 2014 to the current 258 on role. This growth is predicted to continue in future years.



This expansion in numbers resulted in Ravenscliffe becoming a two-site school from September 2018, with the opening of a site at Spring Hall. Expansion has continued at the Skircoat Green site, with the addition of a five-classroom annexe in 2021, and work is about to begin on a four-classroom extension at the Spring Hall site.



The school has the highest aspirations for its students. It is focused on its simple aim of recognising and responding to their individual needs and providing them with a relevant and challenging curriculum whilst working closely with parents and carers.




This is all within a safe, happy, stimulating and supportive environment built on positive relationships, good communication, recognising and celebrating achievement and mutual support.




At the school's heart is a partnership between an experienced and committed SLT, a top-quality staff team with genuine expertise in the field of SEND, and its many stakeholders.




The new Headteacher must continue to nurture these relationships and work collaboratively to ensure the ongoing success of the school.



This is an exciting time for the school as it continues to develop and enhance all aspects of its provision. If you share this determination and ambition, this is an outstanding opportunity to develop in a forward thinking and outward looking school.




As the only maintained secondary specialist school in the LA, the Headteacher will also play a significant role, working alongside primary and LA colleagues, in shaping the strategic direction for SEND provision across the borough.



Candidates must be able to demonstrate recent, successful and sustained impact as a senior leader along with previous experience in a SEND setting.




You must be an inspirational leader, committed to high quality teaching and learning. You should have the creativity and vision to inspire and lead change alongside the focus to ensure successful outcomes are reached.




Your positive attitude will inspire and engage students, parents and carers, staff and the local community and you must be a compassionate and strong leader who can hold staff to account whilst being accountable yourself.




You must be confident, approachable, and resilient and, above all, share the school's relentless focus on providing the very best for all of its students with a vision for its continuing success and future development.



For a confidential discussion about the role, or to arrange a tour of the school in advance of an application, please contact Gareth Hunter, School Business Manager in the first instance.




Ravenscliffe High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff to share this commitment.




All appointments are made subject to an enhanced DBS check. In addition, all shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online public search in line with DfE guidance and KCSiE 2025.



We are an equal opportunities employer, and welcome applications from all members of the community.

Closing date - Wednesday 5th November 2025 at 9am

Interviews for shortlisted candidates - Thursday 20th November 2025

Phone number: 01422 358621


Email: gareth.hunter@ravenscliffe.calderdale.sch.uk.



#LI-DNI