Head of School – Haywards Farm School (Associate Headteacher) | Full-Time | Competitive Salary Benefits Location: Theale, West Berkshire Are you an experienced school leader with a passion for inclusive education and a deep commitment to making a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable young people? At Haywards Farm School, part of Amegreen Children’s Services, we’re looking for an outstanding Head of School to join our specialist provision for children who require a nurturing, highly personalised approach to learning. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead a dedicated school community that transforms the futures of pupils with complex needs, often including trauma, attachment difficulties and barriers to accessing mainstream education. About the Role As Head of School, you’ll work in close partnership with our Executive Headteacher, taking a central role in leading the school’s daily operations, culture, and continued development. While the Executive Head retains legal responsibility as Headteacher, you will: Lead and inspire staff to deliver exceptional teaching and tailored support Promote a strong safeguarding culture and positive relationships throughout the school community. Ensure the highest standards of care, behaviour, learning and wellbeing. Drive school improvement, policy development, and curriculum planning. Lead on day-to-day management, ensuring the school runs smoothly, safely and in line with independent school standards. Work with families, external professionals and the wider Amegreen team to provide truly holistic support for each pupil. Model high expectations and lead by example in creating a school culture where every child feels safe, valued and empowered to thrive. You will have delegated responsibility for many aspects of school leadership and be trusted as the school’s most senior leader on-site day-to-day. Who We’re Looking For We are seeking a compassionate, highly capable leader with: Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Substantial experience in a senior leadership role (Head of School, Deputy Head or Assistant Head) A strong understanding of SEND, safeguarding, and inclusive education A proven ability to lead, motivate and develop staff teams Knowledge of independent school standards and educational best practice The confidence and capability to take full operational responsibility for a specialist setting A commitment to relational, trauma-informed approaches to teaching and leadership Experience in therapeutic or alternative education environments would be an advantage. Why Join Haywards Farm School? At Haywards Farm, you’ll find more than just a job—you’ll become part of a small, passionate team with a shared belief that every child deserves a second chance. We offer: A unique opportunity to lead in a values-driven, therapeutic setting Strong support from an experienced Executive Head and senior leadership A collaborative, forward-thinking organisational culture High staff-to-pupil ratios and a nurturing environment Opportunities for professional development and leadership growth The reward of seeing real progress in pupils who have often been failed by mainstream systems If you’re a resilient, reflective and inspiring leader who shares our vision for personalised, trauma-informed education—we’d love to hear from you. Be part of something life-changing. Help us shape brighter futures. Equality and Diversity: Amegreen is committed to being an organisation that allows people to be their authentic selves in a safe and inclusive environment. We are actively building diverse teams therefore we welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We want to create an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute their best work and develop to their full potential. If you require any accessibility adjustments to support your application, please contact us. Safeguarding and GDPR: Amegreen Children’s Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Therefore, all positions are subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and references. Adherence to Safeguarding and GDPR requirements and training on these policies and processes is mandatory for all employees. All employees are expected to understand and promote effective Safeguarding and GDPR practices in all aspects of their employment with Amegreen Children’s Services. Successful candidates will be required to go through a thorough safeguarding onboarding process which requires a full employment history review along with a completed enhanced DBS check