Overview
Job Title: Head of School
Location: St Helens
Salary: Up to £70,000.00 per annum depending on experience (Not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent Term Time Only
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship
4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial: You can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours) while still receiving your full-time pay. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.
About the role
As Head of School, you\'ll lead with heart and purpose—driving excellence across every corner of the school. Your strategic vision and hands-on leadership will foster an environment where outstanding outcomes, innovation, and wellbeing go hand in hand.
You\'ll inspire a dedicated, high-performing team to deliver a rich, inclusive curriculum, embedding therapeutic and tailored approaches that unlock each student\'s abilities and aspirations. You\'ll build a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with Ofsted and DfE standards, and achieving exceptional inspection results.
Your leadership will focus on:
* Transformational Leadership: Champion a nurturing, safe, and motivating environment that supports the wellbeing and success of every pupil and staff member
* Outstanding Outcomes: Ensure learners with complex needs achieve life-changing progress tailored to their unique strengths and goals
* Curriculum Excellence: Oversee a vibrant, engaging, and relevant curriculum that meets the highest standards of teaching and learning
* Innovative Inclusion: Embed therapeutic, inclusive, and positive behaviour strategies that empower learners and enrich school life
* Staff Empowerment: Lead, inspire, and develop a passionate team through impactful professional growth and performance management
* Community & Partnerships: Forge strong, collaborative relationships with families, local authorities, and community partners to enhance student experiences and opportunities
You will bring:
* A qualified teacher (QTS or equivalent) with at least 3 years of senior leadership experience in special education
* Senior Leadership experience in a special school
* Primary education experience
* A proven track record of managing curriculum, assessment, and delivering outstanding outcomes
* Skilled in leading staff performance, development, and fostering a collaborative, motivated team culture
* Deeply experienced in supporting children and young people with complex or challenging behaviours
* A visionary, empathetic leader ready to innovate, inspire, and drive lasting positive change
This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a thriving SEN school within the Options Autism family—where compassion, innovation, and high standards combine to transform lives and create brighter futures for every young person.
About Us
For over 16 years Options Autism have provided support 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 proud to note 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 knowing 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 enhanced safeguarding checks and a fully enhanced DBS.
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 mental health support services and physical health checks
Benefits
* Flexible benefits through Vista: health, wellbeing, insurance benefits, and discount options
* Cycle to Work Schemes
* Electric Car Purchase Scheme
* Critical illness cover
* Family Growth Support – enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
Additional information
* We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
* Note: We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the adverts should we receive a sufficient level of interest.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people and will carry out necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
We aim to keep applicants informed throughout the process. We do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other costs incurred by applicants due to delays or changes in the compliance process.
Contact and application
We reserve the right to contact suitable applicants directly. Please note, some roles advertised are posted directly by the employing organisation and not by the AoC Recruitment Team.
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