Head Teacher

We’re Witherslack Group – and we want every child and young person to thrive. At our inspirational schools, we offer outstanding opportunities, experiences and support. Each one offers state-of-the-art learning resources, specialist facilities and qualified, experienced staff. And as our young people learn and grow, we encourage our team to develop too. If you’re ambitious and resilient, we’ll give you the chance to build an exciting career in a fast-growing organisation, where you’re free to achieve your potential. 

The school is a co-educational, independent specialist day and residential school for young people with social communication difficulties, ASD and speech, language and communication difficulties. The school benefits from fantastic grounds, including a farm and forest school areas, these areas provide therapeutic support and allow to school to also offer a broad curriculum to our pupils including our post 16 students. You’ll have a real passion for working with young people with SEN and will be dedicated to leading a challenging and highly rewarding community. This will ensure you inspire your team, delivering the best for our young people, and working together to maintain an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating. With your leadership, staff will develop into excellent classroom practitioners. Meanwhile, you’ll excel at leading a unique school and upholding the highest standards. Your challenge also involves upholding the highest standards and adding to the commercial success of the school: you’ll aim for occupancy of up to 130 young people aged 5-19, placement stability, cost efficiency and the development of growth plans.  

The school has a range of fantastic learning areas including a full size sports hall, separate hall, and specialist classrooms for science, food technology, D&T and computing. These support our extensive GCSE offer to pupils. We also have 4 sensory rooms and a sensory integration room. Pupils are supported in small class sizes (maximum of 8), by well qualified and experienced staff who are able to offer an extensive range of academic, practical, vocational, sport and leisure activities, to support both a young person’s academic achievements and social and communication skills. The school is highly equipped to support our vocational offering, it includes kitchens to support catering qualifications; salons for hair, beauty and customer care qualifications; and motor vehicle and construction areas. This approach allows each young person to equip themselves with the skills and practical experience they need for life beyond school and into their chosen career.

Our current outstanding Head Teacher is moving into an Executive Head Teacher role to open a brand new flagship school for us in Windsor, creating this exciting opportunity for a new Head Teacher at Pontville.

Your profile

You will have experience as Head Teacher, running a top Ofsted rated school for young people with SEN.  You’ll need patience and great communication skills that you’ll use when dealing with young people as well as parents, carers and staff. Enthusiastic and resilient, you’ll be a multi-talented professional who’s committed to education, and stays calm in challenging situations. In return, we’ll help you innovate and continue your professional development. You can expect both support and challenge from our Regional Director, as well as access to a range of specialists. These include School Improvement Partners, Safeguarding, Behaviour and Inclusion Team, Assessment and Quality Evaluation experts, Clinical Team and the Group Commercial team. Naturally, you’ll have the chance to network with other Head Teachers and senior Group leaders.  

About us

Witherslack Group is a leading provider of specialist education and care for children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs, communication difficulties (autistic spectrum disorders, Asperger’s Syndrome, speech, language and communication needs), complex learning needs and challenging behaviours. With 100% of our young people going on to further education, training or employment. Each one has its own specialist therapeutic team, full of qualified, experienced experts. They include Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Psychiatrists, Psychotherapists, Mental Health Practitioners and Occupational Therapists. As we continue to grow, both in terms of the number of settings we have and also the regions we operate in, we will maintain our sector leading Ofsted ratings, educational outcomes and levels of therapeutic support, as this will enable us to inspire more young people to find their own story of success.

For children with complex, challenging needs, the level of care and education must go above and beyond. That’s what drives us, here at Witherslack Group. With our high staff-to-child ratio and in-house clinical teams, we’re proud to have won a reputation for excellence. Our aspirational homes, schools and ethos help us achieve the best possible outcomes. In short, we’re enhancing life opportunities.

Rewards

We know you’re going to do great things. We offer a salary and benefits package that’s among the best in our sector. You will receive a competitive salary, company car / car allowance, 10% performance related pay, long term incentive scheme (up to 30% per annum), teacher’s pension, family private health care, and relocation if you decide to make a big move. 

If you would like to discuss the role further, or to arrange a visit to the school, please contact Justine Sims, Head teacher 01695 578734.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

Closing Date: 6th October 2019

Interviews: 16th and 17th October 2019 (2 full days)

Start Dates: ASAP