Job Title
Deputy Headteacher Line Manager
Headteacher's Job Function
To deputise for the Headteacher as the senior leader in the schools and lead teaching and learning by raising and maintaining the highest standards for curriculum and delivery of meaningful outcomes.
Role Overview
The Deputy Headteacher will provide pivotal support for the operational integrity of the schools. This role will include leadership of the curriculum, teaching quality and aspects of personal development and well‑being. You will lead the school site alongside the Headteacher and, in their absence, act as the designated Headteacher for the school.
Responsibilities
- Provide leadership of the school site and act as the designated Headteacher when the Headteacher is absent.
- Lead curriculum and teaching quality, ensuring high standards for delivery of meaningful outcomes.
- Coordinate and communicate with education staff, care support teams, therapists, service development practitioners and external stakeholders to ensure children are engaged in learning and reach their potential.
- Model, mentor and provide training and support for frontline staff, advising and guiding those both leading elements of the curriculum and those new to the sector.
- Support the assessment of new children for the school services, including travelling off‑site for day placement considerations and national placements.
- Take operational responsibilities for pupil welfare, attendance, staff oversight and safeguarding.
Qualifications
- Demonstrable SEND curriculum knowledge, including legislation, and direct experience of leading teaching and learning oversight in an educational setting, ideally within SEND provision.
- Additional qualification and evidence of ongoing CPD in relation to either educational management or SEND.
- Understanding of neurodivergent profiles and a trauma‑informed approach to learning.
- Experience with vocational learning models, accredited learning and the ability to design bespoke and innovative educational input.
- Held a management position in a school or local authority, ideally in specialist SEND provision.
- Proven ability to engage with parents and other stakeholders who have often had challenging experiences with education services.
- Ability to support engagement in learning by using proactive and creative approaches, and developing learning resilience.
- Experience applying analytical outcomes, identifying trends and themes in quality assurance processes and developing suitable action and development plans.
- Excellent communication skills with a range of teams and the ability to lead effective meetings.
- Experience writing succinct and summary reports for governance or other stakeholders.
- Experience of effective mentoring and managing change.
- Use of a range of communication and mentoring styles to support staff well‑being while holding them accountable for outcomes and output.
- Direct experience supporting new learners into services, including assessment of needs, transition planning and effective information sharing with frontline staff.
- Ability to chair effective meetings, encourage reflective practice and enable solution‑focused thinking.
- Experience designing and executing action plans and providing clear success criteria.
- Motivational team player who can work with a range of agencies and individuals, including provision of coaching and mentoring support for groups or individual staff.
Inclusive Employment Statement
We’re committed to creating a workplace that celebrates and welcomes diversity in all its forms. We believe varied perspectives make us stronger and more innovative.
