Location: Stottesden, Shropshire
Salary: £75,000 per annum
Reports to: Regional Director
Key Responsibilities
- Provide clear, ambitious and values-led leadership for Vicarage Park School.
- Develop and implement a strategic vision that supports school improvement, sustainable growth and outstanding outcomes for pupils with SLD and complex needs.
- Lead the school through its next phase of development, embedding high standards across education, safeguarding, behaviour and therapeutic practice.
- Drive a culture of aspiration, accountability and continuous improvement across the school community.
- Work collaboratively with the Regional Director and wider Compass leadership teams to align school priorities with organisational strategy.
- Ensure the curriculum is ambitious, personalised and appropriately adapted to meet the diverse needs of pupils.
- Promote consistently high-quality teaching, learning and assessment across the school.
- Establish high expectations for behaviour, attendance, engagement and achievement.
- Use data, observation and quality assurance processes to monitor progress and drive improvement.
- Ensure pupils are well prepared for adulthood, independence and their next stage of education or life.
- Ensure safeguarding remains central to all aspects of school life and practice.
- Promote a therapeutic, trauma-informed and child-centred culture that supports pupils’ emotional wellbeing and development.
- Work closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure pupils receive integrated and holistic support.
- Maintain full compliance with safeguarding legislation, Independent School Standards and regulatory requirements.
- Foster an environment where pupils feel safe, valued, respected and able to thrive.
- Lead, motivate and develop a multidisciplinary staff team through coaching, support and clear accountability.
- Create a positive and inclusive culture aligned with Compass values of Integrity, Courage and Care.
- Ensure staff feel supported, valued and empowered to deliver high-quality practice.
- Lead effective performance management, supervision and professional development across the school.
- Support recruitment, retention and succession planning to strengthen long-term school capacity.
- Ensure the school operates safely, effectively and in line with all statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Lead preparation for Ofsted inspections and maintain strong inspection readiness at all times.
- Monitor budgets, resources and staffing effectively to support sustainable school growth.
- Build positive relationships with local authorities, parents/carers and external professionals.
- Promote the reputation of Vicarage Park and Compass Community Schools as trusted specialist education providers.
Candidate Profile
Qualifications
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
- National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) desirable.
- Relevant SEND qualification or substantial specialist SEND experience desirable.
Experience
- Significant leadership experience within SEND or specialist education settings.
- Strong understanding of Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), complex needs and therapeutic approaches to education.
- Proven track record of driving school improvement and improving outcomes for children with additional needs.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams within complex educational environments.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, compliance and regulatory requirements within specialist education.
- Experience of preparing for and leading Ofsted inspections.
Attributes
- Ambitious and aspirational for all children and young people.
- Inspirational leader who can motivate teams and build a positive culture.
- Resilient, reflective and solutions-focused.
- Child-centred and values-led in approach.
- Strong communicator able to build trust with pupils, families, staff and external stakeholders.
- Organised and strategic, with the ability to balance operational leadership and long-term development.
Success in this role looks like
- Vicarage Park demonstrates clear and sustained improvement across education, safeguarding and pupil outcomes.
- Pupils experience high-quality, personalised education that supports progress, independence and wellbeing.
- Staff feel supported, motivated and aligned to a shared vision and culture.
- The school develops a strong reputation for safe, therapeutic and aspirational practice.
- Regulatory standards are consistently met and inspection readiness is embedded.
- The school grows sustainably while maintaining high standards of care, education and safeguarding.
- Families, local authorities and stakeholders view Vicarage Park as a trusted and high-quality specialist provision.
