Job Title: Head of School
Location: Parkside House School, Backworth, NE27 0AB
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Salary: Up to £65,000 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only
Start: September 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available
About the Role
At Parkside House School, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to feel safe, valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. We are seeking an exceptional Head of School to lead our specialist provision into its next exciting chapter — a passionate and ambitious leader who can inspire staff, champion safeguarding and create a culture where pupils thrive academically, socially and emotionally. This is more than a leadership position — it’s your opportunity to shape the future of a school, influence lives every day and make a lasting difference to children and young people with additional needs. As Head of School, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all aspects of school life, ensuring outstanding standards in education, wellbeing, safeguarding and school improvement. You’ll lead a dedicated and talented team, drive a positive and aspirational culture, and ensure the school continues to deliver high‑quality, therapeutic and engaging learning experiences for every pupil. Working closely with families, local authorities and external partners, you’ll play a vital role in building strong relationships and ensuring every child receives the support they need to succeed.
What You’ll Do
* Lead the school to deliver exceptional outcomes across academic, social and personal development
* Create a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where pupils and staff can flourish
* Drive excellence in teaching, learning, behaviour and therapeutic support
* Lead, develop and motivate staff through effective recruitment, CPD and performance management
* Oversee strategic planning, self‑evaluation and continuous school improvement
* Ensure full compliance with DfE, Ofsted and safeguarding requirements
* Support operational and commercial success, including occupancy and referral management
* Build strong partnerships with families, local authorities and external professionals
* Promote the values and vision of Acorn Education across the wider organisation
What We’re Looking For
* QTS or equivalent qualification
* Strong leadership experience within SEND or specialist education
* Deep understanding of safeguarding, SEND and high‑quality teaching and learning
* Excellent strategic, operational and people leadership skills
* A collaborative and solution‑focused approach
* A commitment to excellence, innovation and continuous improvement
About Us
Welcome to Parkside House School, an SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) Independent Special School with sites in Backworth and Ashington. We provide specialist teaching, small class sizes, bespoke timetables, and a nurturing, friendly environment for pupils aged KS2 Year 6–KS5. Our school supports students with SEMH needs and associated learning difficulties, including autism, ADHD, attachment disorders, and oppositional defiance disorder. Pupils thrive academically, socially, and personally, guided by a passionate, experienced team dedicated to unlocking their potential. Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence‑based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.
Benefits
* Life Assurance
* Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
* "Your Wellbeing Matters" – mental health support and physical health checks
* Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista) – health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
* Hundreds of UK and international discounts
* Cycle to Work Scheme and Electric Car Purchase Scheme
* Critical illness cover
* Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
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