Most leadership roles in SEND education ask you to do more with less, celebrate tiny wins in isolation, and hope your team stays standing. This one is different: you'll step into a thriving school where those huge small victories genuinely add up, your team is the best at what they do, and the facilities and support mean you can actually focus on what you came here to do - transform young lives
Picture a school where autism and social, emotional and mental health needs are understood so deeply that two completely separate, bespoke learning environments sit harmoniously under one roof. That's where you'll be working. Your job is to stand alongside the Head Teacher and set the vision for this place, knowing that the young people who walk through the door will leave feeling proud of what they've achieved - even if that achievement started as something that looked impossibly small
You'll be leading a team of specialists who genuinely know their craft. Not because they were hired to fill a gap, but because this school has built something rare: an environment where talented teachers want to stay and grow. You'll have access to specialists, a properly resourced school, and a management team that's with you every step of the way. The results speak for themselves - Ofsted outstanding verdicts, external recognition, and most importantly, real outcomes that matter to the young people and families
Your resilience and dedication won't go unnoticed or unrewarded. This provider has a track record of promoting Head Teachers from within its group, so if career development matters to you, you'll have a genuine pathway forward. You'll work full school holidays - time to actually recover - and you'll be part of an organisation that understands that bringing your whole self to work means you can connect with pupils in ways that matter
What you will be doing
- Set and drive the vision for the school's future alongside the Head Teacher, ensuring the right people and plans are in place to help young people succeed
- Lead and coach a specialist teaching team, raising the quality of teaching and learning across both ASD and SEMH cohorts
- Develop and embed behaviours for learning that help young people with complex needs thrive in the classroom
- Work with the broader management team and supporting specialists to ensure every young person gets the tailored support they need
- Contribute to the school's continued development and external recognition as a centre of excellence in SEND education
Why you will love working here
- Competitive salary of £62,251 - £68,691 with excellent benefits package that rewards your commitment
- Full school holidays so you actually get time to rest and recharge
- Comprehensive training including full induction and ongoing professional development, with a genuine pathway to Head Teacher role
- Flexible benefits including life insurance you can adjust to your needs, medical cover for opticians and dentist appointments, high-street discounts, and a choice of pensions including Teachers' Pension and an attractive TPS alternative
- Wellbeing support including employee assistance programme and wellbeing tools, plus a refer-a-friend scheme worth £1,000 every time you bring someone brilliant to the team
- Beautiful, well-resourced working environments with the very best facilities and a team of genuine specialists who excel at what they do
Is this you?
- You're a qualified teacher with proven teaching experience and current Qualified Teacher Status
- You've got real leadership and management experience, and you know how to build a strong team through effective coaching and interpersonal skills
- You understand what good behaviours for learning look like and you're driven by the idea of raising the quality of teaching and learning
- You're resilient enough to handle the ups and downs of working with young people with complex needs, and you celebrate the small victories because you know they matter
- You're passionate about inclusion and neurodiversity - you get that every young person comes with a different background and set of needs, and that's a strength
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.