Assistant Head
Autism Unlimited
Bournemouth
- Expired
- Salary:
- Teaching Leadership Scale Pay L4-8
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Head Teacher at Portfield School. Portfield School supports children and young people with autism and associated difficulties aged 3 – 19. The school offers specialist facilities such as our therapy pool and sensory room which create a bespoke environment. This is to plan our future developments.
This role will include supporting the Head Teacher to provide strategic leadership for Portfield School which secures success and continuous improvement that ensures a high standard of teaching and learning to enable every student to achieve their full potential.
- Taking operational responsibility of the school in the absence of the Deputy and Head
- Working closely with the DSL to maintain safety
- Providing strategic leadership in the development of SEN
- Supporting the improvement of teaching & learning
- Contribute to our overall effectiveness with new ideas and innovative thinking
- Managing employee performance
- As with all staff safeguarding & promoting the welfare of children.
- There will also be a requirement to teach in class
What we would like from you:
- A background in successful innovation or leading school initiatives/managing change.
- Involvement of school development planning, writing, delivering, monitoring.
- Able to lead, motivate, support, challenge and thereby raise standards.
- Ability to model the highest expectations of conduct, safe practice and resilience
- Good understanding of all the Key Stages.
- Previous experience of working with student with Autism.
- Degree and Qualified Teacher Status
- A calm exterior coupled with quick thinking and effective problem solving
- Willing to drive a school mini bus
What we would give you in return:
- Teaching Leadership Scale Pay L4-8
- Teachers Terms & Conditions
- Teachers Pension
Autism Wessex is committed to safeguarding the welfare of the people we support.
Due to safer recruitment checks we will request references prior to interview. Please inform us if you do not want us to request a reference from your current employer.
All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced disclosure from the DBS and satisfactory employment references.
About Autism Unlimited
- Autism Unlimited
- Portfield School, Parley Lane, Christchurch
- Dorset
- BH23 6BP
- United Kingdom
Founded in 1968 by parents of children with autism, The Wessex Autistic Society is a voluntary organisation, which aims to ensure that all people with autism and related conditions, and their carers in the Wessex region, have access to appropriate education, care, support and development services.
Wessex Autistic Society runs the Portfield School and is situated on the edge of the Bournemouth/Christchurch area next to Bournemouth International Airport. The school caters for up to 80 day and residential students, all of whom have Autistic Spectrum Disorders and associated learning difficulties. The LEAs wishing to take advantage of our facilities fund places at Portfield individually.
The school moved into new purpose-built premises at the end of 2002. The new school was largely funded by monies raised locally and nationally through the Domino Appeal, which continues to support further development of the school and the site. Facilities are therefore very good indeed.
Students at Portfield range in age from just 3 years old up to 19 years old and so opportunities to work in different age bands exist. Class sizes are between six and eight, and staff numbers per class depend on the needs of each student and the mix of abilities. Each class has a teacher responsible for the quality of education for their students, and for the teamwork necessary to achieve the best possible standards. The teacher is supported by at least one teachers assistant and a number of classroom assistants. The TAs deputise for the teacher to allow for non-contact time and in the event of short-term absence.
The very nature of the work at Portfield demands a close working relationship by all in the team, including parents and residential staff. The school has a strong positive ethos, and a great deal of importance is placed on appointing good team members to a family-friendly environment.
Ethos
Portfield recognises the overwhelming need to provide students with a functional means of communication at the earliest opportunity on entry to the school. This may be verbal, pictorial, symbolic or involve signing. All education at the school is based on rewarding what is good and the development of life skills is encouraged and promoted from an early age, within the context of a broad and balanced curriculum.
Use of the community is encouraged as an essential part of generalising learning and developing specific skills.
The school is also committed to the development of a total learning environment, where staff and students continually learn from each other and develop their skills and knowledge.
At Portfield, and throughout the Wessex Autistic Society, Autistic Spectrum Disorders are respected as part of individual character and differences. Staff at the school try hard to make it a fun place to learn, so that students remain keen to experience the school day.
Management
All staff members, led by the Headteacher, take a part in managing the school, with teaching staff taking a variety of coordinating responsibilities for subject areas.
Parents
The school has a parent support group which meets at the school. Many of the parents also take part in the Friends Association, which raises funds and supports the school generally.
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