. This role does not offer sponsorship
Are you a visionary and compassionate leader passionate about making a real difference for children and young people with additional needs? Options Autism is searching for a dynamic Head of School to spearhead our specialist provision in St Helens and empower every learner to reach their full potential.
About the Role
As Head of School, you’ll lead with heart and purpose—driving excellence across every corner of the school. Your strategic vision and hands-on leadership will foster an environment where outstanding outcomes, innovation, and wellbeing go hand in hand.
You’ll inspire a dedicated, high-performing team of professionals to deliver a rich, inclusive curriculum, embedding therapeutic and tailored approaches that unlock each student’s abilities and aspirations. Together, you’ll build a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with Ofsted and DfE standards, and achieving exceptional inspection results.
Your leadership will focus on:
1. Transformational Leadership: Champion a nurturing, safe, and motivating environment that supports the wellbeing and success of every pupil and staff member
2. Outstanding Outcomes: Ensure learners with complex needs achieve life-changing progress tailored to their unique strengths and goals
3. Curriculum Excellence: Oversee a vibrant, engaging, and relevant curriculum that meets the highest standards of teaching and learning
4. Innovative Inclusion: Embed therapeutic, inclusive, and positive behaviour strategies that empower learners and enrich school life
5. Staff Empowerment: Lead, inspire, and develop a passionate team through impactful professional growth and performance management
6. Community & Partnerships: Forge strong, collaborative relationships with families, local authorities, and community partners to enhance student experiences and opportunities
You will bring:
7. A qualified teacher (QTS or equivalent) with at least 3 years of senior leadership experience in special education
8. Senior Leadership experience in a special school
9. Primary education experience
10. A proven track record of managing curriculum, assessment, and delivering outstanding outcomes
11. Skilled in leading staff performance, development, and fostering a collaborative, motivated team culture
12. Deeply experienced in supporting children and young people with complex or challenging behaviours
13. A visionary, empathetic leader ready to innovate, inspire, and drive lasting positive change
This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a thriving SEN school within the Options Autism family—where compassion, innovation, and high standards combine to transform lives and create brighter futures for every young person.
About Us
For over 16 years Options Autism have provided support and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. 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 Options Autism?
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 the 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:
14. Life Assurance
15. Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
16. “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:
17. A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
18. 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
19. Cycle to Work Schemes
20. Electric Car Purchase Scheme
21. Critical illness cover
22. 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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