Headteacher

Woodley School and College is an aspirational, inclusive and outward looking special school in Huddersfield for children aged 5-19 with complex autism. There are currently 119 students on roll. With the retirement of the current Headteacher there is now a fantastic opportunity for a new Headteacher to build on the school’s significant strengths, leading it to even greater success in the future.

The school is rated as 'Good' by Ofsted (2017), holds Autism Accreditation and is the Autism Education Trust licensed training provider for Kirklees schools and Post 16. This recognises the highest standards of autism expertise and practice and underpins the school’s important role as a schools training hub.

The school has made excellent progress in recent years through the commitment, hard work and expertise of its staff at all levels. There is an absolute commitment to doing the very best for the students and a thirst for knowledge which can improve practice. Alongside this the school benefits from excellent therapeutic support and wonderful outdoor learning facilities. These strengths will provide the foundations for the new Headteacher to lead further improvements which will ultimately empower the young people towards a successful future.

Woodley is now at an exciting stage in its development. The need for places in the special schools in the area is significant with an ever more complex cohort. The new Headteacher must have the ambition to ensure that the school is leading the way in supporting this, allowing more young people to benefit from the expertise it offers. There is also an ambition for the school to establish itself as an autism ‘Centre of Excellence’ providing support to other schools locally and further afield so that they can better meet the needs of young people in their settings.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate recent, successful and sustained impact as a senior leader along with previous experience in an SEN setting. You must be an inspirational leader of the highest moral integrity, committed to high quality teaching and learning. You should have the creativity and vision to inspire and lead change but also the focus to ensure successful outcomes are reached. Your positive attitude will inspire and engage the young people, parents/carers, staff and the local community and you must be a compassionate and strong leader who can hold staff to account whilst being accountable yourself. You must be confident, approachable and have the skills to build effective teams and also to be a team player. Above all, you will share the school’s relentless focus on providing the very best for all its young people with a vision for the continuing success and future development of the school.

To find out more about this exceptional opportunity please visit: https://webmicrosites.hays.co.uk/web/woodley-school-and-college

Contact Martin Blair at Hays Leadership for a confidential discussion, to arrange a visit to the school or to discuss making an application.

Martin Blair

T: 07736791138

E: martin.blair@hays.com

Closing date: 8am, Tuesday 4th May

Interviews: 12th and 13th May