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Executive Headteacher

Executive Headteacher

Drumbeat School and ASD Service

Lewisham

  • Expired
Salary:
£Competitive Salary
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Apply by:
4 March 2016

Job overview

Drumbeat School offers personalised education for pupils with autism. Currently we have 164 pupils aged 4 to 19 across two sites in Downham and Brockley. We also take a lead role in the provision of autism support across Lewisham through the provision of an ASD Outreach Service.

Our Executive Headteacher Dr. Vivian Hinchcliffe is retiring, and Governors are seeking to recruit an inspirational leader who is passionate about the service we provide and can build on the success to date, and secure our position as an outstanding provider and flagship for ASD services.

You will have a track record of success in leading a service for children who have Special Educational Needs and have an in-depth understanding of the needs of children and young people with autism. You will have an innovative approach to curriculum design and be analytical in your assessment of impact. You may be experienced at working at this level, or be aspiring to the role. Either way, your ability to work strategically and develop a vision for the whole service will be key. Experience of delivering outreach services and working with holistic support services is desirable but not essential.

The school is in a strong position, with a stable and skilled staff team, strong parental support, great facilities, and amazing pupils who surprise us every day. This is a rare opportunity to develop a centre of excellence that leads the way in improving the quality of life and opportunities for young people with autism.

For more information, visit www.pentir.com/drumbeat. For a confidential discussion about the role then please contact Maureen Nicholas (07540-222519) or Mike Phillips (07830-313915) at Pentir.

Closing date: Friday 4th March

Drumbeat School and ASD Service

About Drumbeat School and ASD Service

A Message from the Executive Headteacher

It gives me great pleasure to introduce Drumbeat School and ASD Service.

Drumbeat is a brand new special school for children and young people with autism.  Drumbeat is more than a school.  It is a service that takes a lead across Lewisham for providing advice and support to schools and families on Autism.  Our Outreach Team provide training and other specialist guidance across all settings, offering short term targeted support in mainstream settings, including working with children and staff to disseminate good ASD practice.

Our school is for children and young people with autism aged between 4 – 19 years.  We have 2 sites, one for primary to KS4 in Downham, Bromley and a 6th Form centre in Brockley.  One of our families chose the name Drumbeat. They were inspired by the American author Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862): ‘If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away.’

Our vision is simple – to put our children and young people first every time.
We want to make a difference to the lives of our children and their families, so:

  • communication is at the heart of everything we do,
  • teaching is unswervingly personalised so children and young people actively and meaningfully engage in learning.

We want a school that nurtures the holistic development of the child and young person, a school that:

  • helps pupils build upon their individual strengths and interests,
  • and actively encourages pupils to exercise control over their lives,where pupils’ voice is respected and listened to, however subtle or loud.

Our staff is made up of teachers, HLTAs, TAs and therapists.  In addition to the allocation of therapists by Lewisham’s Health Trust, we employ our own therapists and clinical psychologist.  We work in transdisciplinary ways, everyone working seamlessly together to do the best for our children and their families.

There is a strong commitment to community cohesion and the extended schools agenda.  Drumbeat offers after school clubs and holiday clubs and aims to support its families in every way possible.

Our talented, multi-disciplinary staff team has high expectations of our children and young people and we aim to provide the kind of special education that parents want for their children and interventions that are at the cutting edge of autism practice. We invest heavily in our staff.  They are all keen to develop their knowledge and expertise, through CPD and research based practice.  Our staff benefit from a strong portfolio of in-house ASD training and the school encourages master’s level study in Autism at Birmingham and Canterbury universities.

The best way to learn about our work is to visit and spend time with our staff and pupils.  Whatever the reason for your interest in Drumbeat, we will make you very welcome.

Dr Vivian Hinchcliffe

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Applications closed