Higford School
England
Salary:
£44,310.00 per annum
Job type:
Full Time, Fixed Term
Apply by:
17 October 2025
Job overview
At OFG, we work smarter so you can spend more time doing what makes you happy
Job Title: Class Teacher – Maternity Cover
Location: Higford School, Near Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 9ET
Salary: £44,310 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8.00am – 4.00pm
Contract: Fixed Term (Maternity Cover) ending January 2027, Term Time Only
Start: January 2026
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
As part of our continued growth, we are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Class Teacher (Maternity Cover) to join our close-knit team at Higford School, part of Options Autism.
About the Role
You will have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of pupils with autism, learning difficulties, and complex needs. This is more than a teaching role – it is an opportunity to help pupils flourish, thrive, and reach their full potential in a supportive and inclusive environment.
You will plan and deliver engaging lessons every day, using creative and innovative methods to spark curiosity and excitement in the classroom. At Higford School, you can work imaginatively, making full use of our extensive resources and expert support, while ensuring students' personal development and wellbeing are given as much priority as their academic progress.
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking a passionate and motivated teacher with excellent communication skills, who can connect with pupils with autism and complex learning needs while actively contributing to the school's vision and direction.
Our schools are unique, with their own special atmosphere, resources, and opportunities. You will become part of the school "family," building strong, caring relationships with pupils, collaborating with colleagues, and liaising with professionals from previous educational settings to ensure the best outcomes for each student.
Requirements
UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent.
Experience working with pupils with autism, learning difficulties, or complex needs is desirable.
Passion for inclusive, personalised education.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
About Us
Options Higford is a specialist school set in 28 acres of beautiful Shropshire countryside. We provide a high quality, holistic education for up to 60 autistic students who also have associated behavioural needs. Class groups have five students in with at least 1:1 staffing. We provide personalised curriculums for each student based on their individual needs and aim to support them to make progress academically, socially, with skills for life, regulating their emotions and accessing the community.
For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils 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.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.
Why join Options Autism?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
"Your Wellbeing Matters" – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
1
Recruiter contact:
Email us
Call us
About Higford School
Higford School
Higford Hall, Shifnal
Shropshire
TF11 9ET
United Kingdom
Higford is a DfE registered School, offering day and residential placements and has achieved Autism Accreditation with the National Autistic Society for Quality Autism provision. We offer adapted and differentiated access to the National Curriculum for students at key stage 2-4, supplemented by ASDAN programmes 'New Horizons' and 'Transition Challenge'. For students at key stage 5 we offer a vocational and life-skills curriculum, based around the ASDAN 'Personal Progress' award, supplemented by additional units of work or accredited programmes as appropriate, including community
We offer an exceptional range of activities and amenities designed to promote the development of life skills and apply learning across a range of contexts. These include:
* Classrooms designed specifically for young people with autism and complex needs
* A 'Sensory Hub' made up of a range of different sensory rooms in which students can explore new sensory experiences and take control of their environments, including a water play room, wellbeing room, sensory room, health hub (incorporating sauna and gym) and soft play room
* A sports hall and ball-court for PE and sporting activities
* A bistro area for shared dining
* Outdoor facilities including a sunken trampoline, playground, climbing-frame, swings and extensive grounds where students can engage in adventurous physical activity
Our multi-disciplinary team approach offers a holistic service based on sound knowledge and understanding of autism and what works in supporting learning for people with Autism and additional needs. Our clinical team is based on-site and includes speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and nursing services. We offer a high ratio of staff to pupils, generally 1:1 support provided with a class of up to 5 students. All staff have comprehensive training, focusing on the specialist knowledge necessary to support the complex needs of our students.
We aim to ensure we support the development of young people who are: happy and confident with a positive self-esteem, able to learn independently and cooperatively, independent and sociable, able to communicate their feelings, wishes and needs and are able to make choices, manage their own behaviour and enjoy life.
Please note that you are wholly responsible for fact checking in respect of the information provided by schools. Please also check for the latest visa and work permit requirements that may apply. Tes is not responsible for the content of advertisements or the policies adopted by advertising schools. Tes asks that all schools followTes' Fair Recruitment Policy.