. This role does not offer sponsorship.
The Holden School is seeking an exceptional Deputy Headteacher – Quality of Education to join our senior leadership team and play a pivotal role in delivering outstanding education for children and young people with complex needs.
Working in close partnership with the Headteacher, you will help lead a supportive, inclusive and high-performing school community—driving excellence in teaching, learning and behaviour support, while ensuring every pupil is supported to achieve their full potential.
This is a rewarding leadership opportunity for an experienced, resilient and values-driven professional who is passionate about inclusive education and collaborative, multi-disciplinary working.
About the Role
As Deputy Headteacher at The Holden School, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the school, with a clear focus on curriculum leadership, quality of education and positive behaviour support.
You will be a key member of the multi-disciplinary team, working closely with education, residential and clinical colleagues to ensure a joined-up approach that delivers the best possible outcomes for pupils. You will model outstanding practice, inspire staff and build strong, effective relationships with families, professionals and regulatory bodies.
Key Responsibilities
1. Work with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to secure high standards across all aspects of school life
2. Act as overall curriculum lead, ensuring coherence, quality and progression across the school
3. Lead on positive behaviour support, including oversight of Behaviour Support Plans in collaboration with the clinical team
4. Monitor pupil progress and targets to ensure individual outcomes are achieved
5. Participate in referral assessments and placement decision-making
6. Work as a core member of the multi-disciplinary team, linking education, care and clinical provision
7. Ensure compliance with safeguarding procedures, SEND Code of Practice and relevant legislation
8. Maintain effective partnerships with families, carers, external professionals and partner organisations
9. Model and promote high-quality practice in teaching, assessment and behaviour support
10. Undertake agreed teaching responsibilities
Staff Leadership and Management
11. Support recruitment, induction, training and professional development of staff
12. Line manage staff through supervisions, appraisals, probation reviews and wellbeing processes
13. Delegate responsibilities appropriately and support staff to meet expectations
14. Promote and embed company values, policies and regulatory standards across the team
15. Deputise for the Headteacher and represent the school as required
This role is suited to an experienced, resilient and collaborative leader who is committed to inclusive practice and improving outcomes for pupils with additional and complex needs.
Who we are looking for
You will have:
16. Experience teaching children and young people with autism, complex needs and/or challenging behaviour
17. Experience leading on the quality of education
18. Knowledge of Ofsted frameworks and inspection processes
19. Proven experience managing and developing staff
20. Experience managing budgets and resources effectively
21. Strong leadership and people-management skills
22. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
23. Strong organisational, IT and time-management skills
24. Strong knowledge of safeguarding and regulatory requirements
25. Ability to work independently and collaboratively
26. Degree and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
27. Relevant sector qualifications
28. Willingness to undertake further training as required
29. Full UK Driving Licence
30. Strong commitment to company values and inclusive education
About Us
The Holden School is an independent specialist day school for boys and girls aged from 5 to 16, catering for pupils with a wide range of needs in Lancashire, Manchester and surrounding areas. Our dedicated team work together to ensure successful outcomes for pupils who often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life. We are a Therapeutic Led, Trauma Informed School providing individualised curriculums for our students supported by our Class Teams, our Pastoral Team and our own Therapists.
We pride ourselves in steering pupils in the right direction, nurturing aspiration to progress them academically and socially, to encourage them to take pride in their achievements. Socially, we build confidence in our students, so they are able to have a greater understanding of the wider community in which they live.
We are part of Acorn Educationand can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running
Why join Acorn Education?
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 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:
31. Life Assurance
32. Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
33. “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:
34. A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
35. 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
36. Cycle to Work Schemes
37. Electric Car Purchase Scheme
38. Critical illness cover
39. 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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