Vocational Offer Department Lead

Job Title:             Vocational Offer Department Lead

Location:             Acorn Park School, Norwich, NR16 2HU

Salary                  £30,000 - £42,000 per annum

Hours                  37.5 hours per week

Contract              Permanent, Term Time Only

Are you a Teacher committed to improving the lives of children and young people?

We are looking for an experienced or aspiring Lead Teacher to join our fantastic team at Acorn Park, 30 minutes from Norwich. As a Vocational Offer Department Lead Teacher, you will take a creative approach to teaching pupils according to their educational needs, ensuring delivery of the school curriculum in a way that maximises children’s achievement and ability to develop.

This is a great opportunity for a Teacher who wants to set up from scratch a department that will offer creative learning opportunities for children with varied and complex needs. Your work will be challenging and rewarding in equal measure and you will be working in a school where we maintain a strong safeguarding culture, where pupils are listened to, respected and involved in as many decisions as possible.

When it comes to looking after our children, we never settle for second best. We are looking for a Teacher, with a minimum of 2 year’s experience in teaching, who shares our vision to build incredible futures by empowering vulnerable young people in the UK, to be happy and to make their way in the world.

We envision a Vocational department that can offer a variety of opportunities from cookery to cycle maintenance, decorating to graphic design, bricklaying to hair and beauty and will have within it a Design Technology offer too. As our Lead you will be coordinating these offers and teaching elements including Design Technology. 

Whilst previous experience of working in an SEN environment would be desirable, excellent teaching skills and the right motivation, personal qualities and levels of resilience are just as important.

Educated to Qualified Teacher Status, you will be calm, engaging, resilient, and have an innovative style of teaching, motivated by helping every child to reach their potential.

About us

Acorn Park is a residential Special Educational Needs (SEN) School, set within a 30acre private estate. We educate up to 107 young people across the breadth of the autistic spectrum and ensure they live, learn and play in a holistic, happy and safe environment.

Our dedicated, knowledgeable team of onsite Education specialists are part of each student’s everyday life at home, at school and during leisure activities, which guarantees that each individual makes progress.

Our classrooms are well-resourced and class groups are small, with no more than 8 young people supported by a team of at least one qualified teacher, a higher level teaching assistant and a teaching assistant in every class.  For some young people, additional support is also provided.

Our autism-specific approach means that every young person’s learning needs, communication requirements and social interaction skills are met.

Our school includes primary, secondary and post-16 provision.  For young people working within, or close to, age-related expectations, our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum.  For our secondary pupils, we offer specialist teaching in almost all subjects and a wide range of optional subjects in key stage 4. For young people with moderate or severe learning difficulties, we offer a pre-formal and semi-formal curriculum using the EYFS framework or EQUALS.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to children, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

Why join us?

We offer a friendly and inclusive working environment and the chance to be part of a fantastic multidisciplinary team, who work hard and support each other to deliver personalised, bespoke education & care. Our benefits package includes free parking, shopping discounts and cashback via our ‘Rewards Hub’, and access to content on mindfulness, fitness, recipes and much more as part of our ‘Your Wellbeing Matters’ programme.

As well as opportunities for internal promotion, you will have access to high-quality Continuing Professional Development to help pursue your own personal goals. We also offer accredited training programmes including Diplomas and NVQs, supplemented by ongoing learning opportunities.

Ultimately, all of our roles give you the opportunity to enrich the lives of young people and make a positive difference.

Options Autism is part of Outcomes First Group. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to a fully Enhanced DBS.