Job Description
* Sir Peter Hall School, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7PJ
* Salary: £89,830 - £104,040 per annum L25 – L31 (Teachers’ Pension Scheme)
* Hours: Full time
* Contract: Permanent, required from January 2026.
* Reference: 7599
Join our team as Headteacher at Sir Peter Hall School.
Are you a compassionate and visionary leader ready to make a lasting impact on the lives of children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs? Unity Schools Partnership is seeking an exceptional Headteacher to lead one of our specialist SEMH schools. This is a unique opportunity to join a forward-thinking trust committed to inclusion, innovation, and excellence in education.
Following a period of sustained and successful interim headship, Sir Peter Hall, an SEMH School, is seeking to appoint a substantive head to lead the school through its next stage of development. If you are a truly inspirational, highly motivated and forward-thinking individual, with the energy and passion to change lives and have proven experience of impacting upon whole school development and improvement, this could be an excellent opportunity for you.
Sir Peter Hall, a proud member of the Unity Schools Partnership, is seeking an inspiring, visionary Headteacher to lead our vibrant school community into a new chapter. We are on an exciting journey to be an outstanding provider for our students, and we welcome applications from driven and determined individuals with a passion for teaching diverse learners.
Naturally, working at a specialist setting for SEMH will involve working with the more challenging learners so resilience, a sense of humour, empathy and the desire to motivate education professionals and learners whatever their background or ability will be key to being successful in this role.
We are looking to hear from professionals with the ability and ambition to inspire a team to deliver outstanding learning. We are looking for someone who knows how to bring a creative and innovative approach to improving performance and support for our pupils and their families. An excellent communicator, you will become an ambassador, as the role will include working in partnership with parents, local authorities and other stakeholders. You will be passionate about finding imaginative and creative ways to engage the learners in their learning.
What we offer:
* A collaborative network: As part of Unity Schools Partnership, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with a network of dedicated leaders and educators across our Trust
* Professional growth: We support your career with ongoing professional development, a rich network of resources, and access to best practices
* A welcoming community: Join a school that values each member’s contribution, embraces diversity, and champions student success at every level
* State-of-the-art facilities: Lead a school equipped with excellent facilities, designed to support a rich, modern curriculum.
What we’re looking for:
* Proven leadership experience
* A deep understanding of trauma-informed practice and inclusive pedagogy
* A collaborative and resilient leadership style
* A commitment to professional development and continuous improvement
* A strategic thinker committed to driving high standards in academic, vocational and personal development
* A passion for inclusive education and a dedication to supporting every child’s journey.
Take the next step in your leadership journey with us
If you’re ready to lead Sir Peter Hall School with vision, compassion, and a commitment to excellence, we would love to hear from you. Join us in shaping the future of education within a forward-thinking partnership that values innovation, collaboration, and community impact.
Apply today and make a difference!
Unity Schools Partnership is a Multi Academy Trust of 40 schools, with approval to open four further special and primary schools in the near future. The ambition of Unity Schools Partnership is to achieve a step change in the quality of education provided by primary, secondary and special schools and that its schools are achieving top quartile performance by 2028. The trust expects its work to be characterised by ethical leadership, an ambition for improvement at pace and the expectation that remarkable change can happen.
Students on roll: 63
To find out more:
For an informal discussion, arrange a visit to the school or to find out more about the role, please contact Georgina Ellis, Executive Director of SEND on gellis@unitysp.co.uk or calling 07826068941. Please do visit the school’s website
Please read the job description (pdf) and candidate information pack (pdf) .
How to apply:
Please use the following link to apply https://candidate.unitysp-careers.co.uk/281544SJD
Closing date: 9am, Monday 7 July 2025.
Interview date: Monday, 14 July 2025.
Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.
In line with safer recruitment, we are unable to accept CVs. Failure to complete an application form satisfactorily may result in not being shortlisted for the post.
Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks. We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.
We care deeply about inclusive working practices and diverse teams. If you’d prefer to work part-time or as a job-share, we’ll facilitate this wherever we can – whether to help you meet other commitments or to help you strike a great work-life balance. We’re keen to ensure we’re designing an organisation that works for everyone, so we particularly encourage applications from different under-represented groups.
About The Team
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING
To apply, please follow the application process detailed above.
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