Overview and Responsibilities
Assistant Head of School (Pastoral) – Aurora Hedgeway
Location: Pilning, South Gloucestershire, BS35 4JN
Contract Type: Full-time/Permanent
Hours: 40 hours per week
Salary: £51,773 - £55,747 (L1 – L4)
Aurora Hedgeway is a dynamic and inspiring provision for children and young people aged 7-19 with a primary or secondary diagnosis of Autism and related social and communication needs.
The Aurora Group
The Aurora Group is an innovative provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
We are currently looking for an experienced Full Time Assistant Head of School for our Aurora Hedgeway School. The school supports young people aged with a primary or secondary diagnosis of Autism and related social and communication needs.
The role:
As Assistant Head of School (Pastoral), you'll work closely with the Head of School, Principal and Senior Leadership Team to lead and manage all aspects of pastoral care and safeguarding. You'll take responsibility for driving high standards of behaviour, attendance and wellbeing, and supporting staff to deliver inclusive, therapeutic approaches that meet the needs of all learners.
Your responsibilities will include:
* Leading whole-school safeguarding strategy, culture and compliance as DSL.
* Driving inclusive, trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches across the school.
* Overseeing pastoral systems to support behaviour, attitudes and personal development.
* Leading attendance improvement and behaviour support plans.
* Coaching staff and delivering CPD on de-escalation, communication and SEND-informed practice.
* Line managing pastoral and safeguarding staff and deputies.
* Contributing to school improvement planning and governance reporting.
For the full job description, please click the link below:
Assistant Head (Pastoral) Hedgeway .docx
Skills and Qualifications
About You:
We're looking for someone with:
Essential Qualifications
* Recognised teacher training qualification – PGCE / QTS or QTLS / Diploma in Teaching.
Essential Experience
* Proven experience teaching in SEND or alternative provision.
* Leadership of pastoral, behaviour or safeguarding at whole-school level.
* Strong communication and ability to manage complex situations.
* Experience line managing and developing staff.
* Ability to work effectively with external agencies.
Benefits and Additional Information
What's on Offer at Aurora?
We believe in supporting you as much as we support the children and young people in our care. Here's a snapshot of the fantastic benefits waiting for you:
Grow with Us – Training & Development
Learning never stops at Aurora We offer a wide range of training programmes and career development opportunities to help you build your skills and reach your goals.
Save Money on Everyday Essentials
With the rising cost of living, our Perkbox app helps you stretch your money further:
* Discounts on groceries, phone plans, internet, dining out, gym memberships & more
* Access to our Cycle to Work and Car Scheme
Competitive Pay & Reward
We regularly benchmark our pay and benefits to stay ahead of the curve. You'll enjoy:
* Enhanced Annual Leave
* Company Sick Pay
* Enhanced Pension
* Life Assurance
24/7 GP Access – For You & Your Household
Need a doctor? No problem. Book a phone or video appointment anytime, day or night. This service covers everyone in your household.
UK Health Cash Plan
Cover everyday healthcare costs like dental and optician bills. You and your children are included in the scheme, and you can upgrade to add your partner too
Employee Assistance Programme
Your wellbeing matters. Get confidential support on a wide range of issues, including:
* Freephone counselling (available 24/7)
* Online tools and resources
Refer a Friend – Earn £1,000
Know someone who'd be a great fit? Refer them and get rewarded (*Terms apply)
How to apply?
For candidates that haven't worked in this sector before please be aware that for regulatory reasons the application process is far more detailed and thorough compared to other sectors.
Please complete the online application form in full, including all employment and education details, and provide a personal statement that makes us keen to speak to you.
If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Adele in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at
Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.
The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.
This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled.
Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.