Job Description
Headteacher
Location: Oldham
Salary: 75000 to 85000
Start: January or February 2026
Contract: Full time, Permanent
About
A new independent specialist school in Oldham is preparing to open after Easter 2026, and we are looking for an experienced Headteacher to lead it from the ground up.
The school will provide day education for pupils aged 5 to 16 with a wide range of SEND needs including social emotional and mental health needs, communication and interaction needs, trauma histories, and pupils requiring highly individualised learning pathways. The provision is designed for smaller class sizes, therapeutic input, structured routines, and a curriculum built around progress, regulation, and long term outcomes.
This is not a maintenance role. You will be responsible for establishing the culture, systems, curriculum, safeguarding framework, and operational standards from day one, supported by a wider senior leadership network from a national specialist education provider.
The role
This is a full leadership remit. You will:
* Lead the opening, development, and ongoing performance of the school
* Create and embed a strong safeguarding culture with robust compliance and reporting
* Design and deliver a curriculum model that meets the needs of a diverse SEND cohort
* Build, mentor, and performance manage a multidisciplinary staff team
* Shape behaviour and wellbeing systems that reflect a therapeutic, relational approach
* Lead the school improvement strategy with clear priorities, timelines, and accountability
* Ensure full compliance with Independent School Standards
* Establish quality assurance processes, data tracking, assessment cycles, and documentation
* Work closely with external professionals, commissioners, local authorities, and parents
* Drive a culture of high expectations for pupils while maintaining high support
* Prepare the school for inspection and work towards an outstanding rating
* Lead by example, modelling the values expected across the community
This is for someone who can manage complexity, drive standards, and stay calm when things aren’t tidy.
What the ideal candidate looks like
You’ll need to already understand the realities of leading a specialist provision. They want someone who has:
* Significant experience as a Headteacher in a SEND environment (not an aspiring Head)
* Proven success improving or establishing a specialist school
* Deep understanding of SEND practice across primary and secondary age ranges
* A track record of building effective staff teams and managing performance
* Strong operational and strategic leadership skills
* Excellent understanding of safeguarding frameworks
* Thorough knowledge of the Independent School Standards
* Expertise in curriculum design for diverse and complex needs
* The resilience to lead through uncertainty, change, and growth
* A person centred leadership style with high challenge and high support
* Outstanding communication skills
* QTS
If your background is mainstream only, or you’ve never steered a SEND school through inspection or improvement, this won’t be the right fit.
What’s on offer
You will be joining a well established specialist education group with a high functioning senior leadership network, structured professional development, and strong operational support. Benefits include:
* Occupational sick pay
* Christmas bonus
* Blue Light Card
* Referral scheme (up to 2500)
* Life assurance
* Financial wellbeing support
* Tastecard
* Ongoing training and leadership development
* Therapeutic training and wellbeing support
* Employee assistance programme
* High quality CPD
* Free eye checks
If you want to shape a new specialist school from the ground up — with real autonomy and real responsibility — this is a rare opportunity to do it properly.