How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?
At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.
Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So, whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.
Job Title: SEN Secondary Teacher
Location: New Barn School, Newbury, RG20 8HZ
Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum depending on experience (Not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm | Wednesday 8.30am - 5pm
Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only
Start Date: January 2026
UK applicants only – This role does not offer sponsorship.
Are you a passionate, creative, and dedicated teacher who believes every young person deserves the chance to succeed? At New Barn School, part of Acorn Education, we’re looking for an inspirational SEN Secondary Teacher to join our thriving community — a place where innovation, compassion, and high expectations go hand in hand.
Here, you’ll have the opportunity to transform lives through education, helping pupils with SEMH and additional needs grow in confidence, resilience, and curiosity. Every day will bring new challenges — and new rewards — as you guide learners to reach their full potential in a supportive, inclusive environment.
About the Role
As an SEN Secondary Teacher, you’ll take the lead in a curriculum area, designing engaging, creative, and differentiated lessons that inspire learning and promote achievement.
You’ll:
* Tailor teaching to meet a wide range of learning needs and abilities
* Collaborate closely with support staff to ensure every pupil receives the right guidance and care
* Mentor and support colleagues, fostering best practice across the school
* Provide constructive feedback to SLT, parents, and carers to track and celebrate progress
* Use positive, trauma-informed approaches to support pupils who may display challenging behaviours
* Model and promote the school’s ethos of respect, compassion, and growth
What You’ll Bring
* Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
* Full UK Driving Licence
* A passion for working with pupils with SEMH or additional learning needs
* Creativity, resilience, and a reflective teaching approach
* Strong communication and teamwork skills
* A genuine belief in the power of education to change lives
About Us
New Barn School offers a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum to boys and girls, aged 6 – 19 years who have Social, Emotional and Mental Health complexities.
New Barn School takes full advantage of its beautiful settings and fosters a love for using the outdoor curriculum including forest school, farm experiences and horse riding. The School is within a commutable distance of Swindon, Oxford, Andover, Basingstoke and Reading and other surrounding towns and villages.
Our services offer a stable, secure and supportive environment, in which the pupils and young people we care for can develop the skills and confidence necessary to help them fulfil their potential.
Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education. 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 Acorn Education?
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.
*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit
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.
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