Assistant Headteacher Safeguarding and Health

Assistant Headteacher Safeguarding and Health

A progressive thinker, you will be restless for an opportunity to work in a setting where you will genuinely have the freedom to contribute to shaping a school around the way that you believe education really could be delivered.  Your passion for the safeguarding and wellbeing of students will be infectious, the proven quality of your ability to deliver outcomes outstanding, and your professional standards, safeguarding practice, expectations and relationships with pupils, parents, and colleagues exemplary.

We are a non-maintained independent specialist school with places funded by our Local Authorities.  Our school offers provision for children with mild to moderate learning difficulties such as ASD (high functioning).  We provide an education for those who might not thrive in a mainstream setting but who equally would not be suited to attending a specialist SEN school - we offer an alternative which sits in the niche just between the two.  

Our school currently has 88 students in small classes of about 8 students, and is based at Undershaw, the former home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Our aim is to ‘eliminate the impossible’ for each and every child and to become a Centre of Excellence and Influence for SEND education.  Please do visit our website for further information about Undershaw and our Facebook page to get a flavour of the school.

We are looking for an exceptional Assistant Headteacher with the professional expertise and experience to both shape and fill their post.  You will have sufficient proven experience in safeguarding and will be a DSL or DDSL currently. You may be an existing Assistant Headteacher or have other professional experience in a leadership capacity.

We offer a different shape to the school day and week.  Monday to Thursday is comprised of four extended lessons to allow for deeper learning and integrated therapies.  We want every lesson to be the very best learning opportunity and experience which is truly tailored to the development and progress journey of each individual. Every Friday afternoon is a ‘Discovery Day’ where the students engage in a range of enrichment activities led by staff, which focus on developing personal, independent and employability skills. Through engagement in the Discovery Days, our students work towards our fully accredited Undershaw Diploma, which recognises personal development and achievement of key life and independence skills.  

Collaboration is essential, and we seek a flexible and proactive practitioner who will share their expertise.  You will work with the SEND, Pastoral and Therapy teams to assimilate a proactive approach to lead safeguarding across the school. You will also have the skills to oversee the health and mental health provision of our students. We have regular multi-disciplinary meetings around students with specialist input, training and support from the Therapy team (Emotional Therapies, SaLT, OT and Physiotherapy). We invest significantly in staff professional development through a weekly extended CPD session delivered by a range of internal and external colleagues to share and develop pedagogy, SEND expertise and therapeutic strategies. We are seeking an individual that can contribute to this programme and who is also open to learning from it.

Above all, we are seeking a professional who is inspirational and dedicated and who wants to use their talents and vocation to genuinely make a difference to ensure the delivery of the best possible outcomes for each of our wonderful and talented students, championing diversity and promoting an aspirational vision for SEND education.

We welcome applications from those with existing experience gained in independent or maintained mainstream secondary schools, or in a SEND setting.  

Please read the job description and person specification attached carefully.  We offer the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, additional benefits and parking is available on or close to the school sites.  

Closing Date:  Monday 16th May 2022 at 12 noon.

Interview Date:  Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th May 2022.

Start Date:  September 2022 

Salary: L6 – L10 (£48,901 -£53,888)

All applicants must complete a school application form to be considered for this post.  Completed application forms should be sent to Lynette Dudman, HR Administrator Lynette.dudman@undershaw.education 

We welcome visits to the school. To arrange a visit or to ask any questions please contact the PA to the Headteacher karen.marshall@undershaw.education

Undershaw is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer Recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks, including overseas checks, will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.