Deputy Head Teacher

Witherslack Group Ltd.; North East; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Referral scheme

TPS Pension

Wellbeing resources

DBS process covered

Well-resourced environments

Job summary

Witherslack Group Ltd. is seeking a Deputy Head Teacher for Hartwell School in Stockton-on-Tees to lead with the Head Teacher in shaping the school's future for pupils with SEMH, ASD and related needs.

You will be responsible for securing high‑quality teaching, robust safeguarding and strategic staffing, while supporting a caring, inclusive environment. The role offers strong progression and collaborative leadership within a well‑resourced setting.

Qualifications

• Requires Teaching Qualification (QT status).
• Minimum 2 years leadership/management experience.
• Commitment to raising teaching and learning quality.
• Understanding of what constitutes good behaviours for learning.
• Proven leadership and coaching abilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop a staff team.

Responsibilities

• Set the school vision with the Head Teacher for SEMH/ASD needs.
• Ensure the right staffing and plans are in place to meet pupils' needs.
• Support colleagues to improve teaching and learning across the school.
• Lead with resilience and dedication, guiding pupils to achieve.
• Collaborate with management and specialists to drive school improvement.

Skills

QT Status

Leadership experience

Drive for improvement

Behaviour for learning

Leadership coaching

Interpersonal skills

Job description

P lease note: that applications for this role will close on the 30th September with interviews scheduled for 13th October.

Those Huge Small Victories

Our Deputy Head Teachers are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things. There’s lots of ups and downs, and to some of our young people, sitting through a lesson can be a big win. We call these huge small victories and whilst they may seem small on the surface, they add up to make a big difference

Get out what you put in

You’ll be working with children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder/Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs . Alongside the Head Teacher, you’ll set the vision for the future of the school, ensuring we have the right people and plans in
place to see that our young people leave feeling proud of what they’ve achieved. You will need to be resilient and dedicated, but those huge small victories that you achieve will be something you’re really proud of.

It can be a tough journey, but the positive steps forward will more than make up for it. As a Deputy Head Teacher at Witherslack Group, you’ll get all the support you need to succeed, from the broader management team, to a range of supporting specialists. Your colleagues will be the best at what they do, the school environments will be well-resourced and we’ll be with you every step of the way, helping you build a rewarding teaching career.

One of the best environments in SEND

Hartwell School is an independent specialist day school providing high quality education, based in Stockton-on-Tees. The school meets the needs of a diverse group of pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Autism, and a range of other conditions.

The recent Ofsted rating of Good has established the school as one of the leading specialist provisions in the North East.

What we do for you

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the education sector. With us, you’ll get to bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:

Training: A full induction and on the job training

Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays

Progression: If career development is your thing, most of our head teachers have been promoted from within our group

Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefitshere

Pension:we offer a range of pensions to suit your lifestyle needs including Teachers’ Pension and our very attractive TPS alternative

Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance

Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts

Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schoolshere

A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time

Bring your whole-self to work

Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs – and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. You’ll be more than a Deputy Head Teacher, you’ll be able to connect with our pupils because of:

• You’ll need previous teaching experience and have Qualified Teacher Status
• You’ll also need a minimum of 2 years leadership and management experience
• Your drive to raise the quality of teaching and learning
• Your understanding of what good behaviours for learning look like
• Your effective leadership and coaching skills
• Your knowledge of how best to use your interpersonal skills to develop a strong staff team

Interested in joining us?

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and that they truly belong.

As a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference- especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognised as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we’ll be there every step of the way.

By building a diverse and inclusive team, we’re better able to support the children, young people and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

Special Education / Careers in Care / Careers in Special Education / Working with Children / SEMH / SEN / ASD