Deputy Headteacher

Lime Tree Education Search Ltd; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Independent Special School North Derbyshire seeks an experienced Deputy Headteacher to lead with the Headteacher in shaping educational provision and safeguarding across the school.

The role covers teaching, curriculum development, staff development and trauma-informed behaviour support, with emphasis on SEMH and safeguarding. DBS checks and professional standards are required for the successful candidate.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership experience within a special school, specialist setting or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of SEMH, SEND, behaviour and trauma-informed practice.
• Safeguarding understanding including CSE vulnerabilities.
• Experience of leading, developing and challenging staff.
• Strong knowledge of teaching, learning, curriculum and school improvement.
• Ability to build effective relationships with pupils, families, residential colleagues and external agencies.
• QTS or QTLS and understanding of inspection/regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead teaching, learning, curriculum and assessment across the school.
• Develop staff and maintain high professional standards.
• Support behaviour, attendance and pastoral provision within a trauma-informed approach.
• Provide leadership around safeguarding, SEND and multi-agency working.
• Contribute to school improvement, QA and wider operational leadership.

Skills

Senior leadership

Trauma-informed practice

Staff development

Curriculum & school improvement

Relationship building

Knowledge of SEMH/SEND/behaviour

Education

QTS or QTLS

Job description

Deputy Headteacher

Independent Special School North Derbyshire

Permanent Term Time

January 2027

LTE Search is working with an independent specialist school in North Derbyshire to appoint an experienced Deputy Headteacher to work closely with the Headteacher and play a central role in the continued development of the school.

The school provides therapeutic education for a small cohort of young people with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs and complex safeguarding profiles. Pupils may have experienced significant trauma, disruption and barriers to education, with some presenting vulnerabilities relating to child sexual exploitation (CSE) and other safeguarding concerns.

The setting provides a highly individualised and structured approach, with small classes, high levels of staff support and personalised education and behaviour plans designed around each pupil's needs, abilities and starting points.

This is a school where strong, visible leadership matters. The successful Deputy Headteacher will need to be confident operating in a complex environment, providing clear direction to staff, maintaining high professional standards and ensuring that education, safeguarding, behaviour and pastoral support work together effectively.

The Role

The Deputy Headteacher will work closely with the Headteacher, providing visible leadership across the school and supporting the continued development of its educational provision.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

• Leading teaching, learning, curriculum and assessment across the school
• Developing staff and maintaining high standards of professional practice
• Supporting behaviour, attendance and pastoral provision within a trauma-informed approach
• Providing strong leadership around safeguarding, SEND and multi-agency working
• Contributing to school improvement, quality assurance and the wider operational leadership of the school

The role will also deputise for the Headteacher when required and play an active part in developing the culture, standards and day-to-day effectiveness of the school.

The Person

We are looking for a strong and experienced senior educational leader who is confident working with young people with SEMH and complex safeguarding needs.

You will ideally bring:

• Proven senior leadership experience within a special school, specialist setting, alternative provision or other complex educational environment
• Strong knowledge of SEMH, SEND, behaviour and trauma-informed practice
• A thorough understanding of safeguarding, including the vulnerabilities associated with child sexual exploitation (CSE)
• Experience of leading, developing and challenging staff
• Strong knowledge of teaching, learning, curriculum and school improvement
• The ability to build effective relationships with pupils, families, residential colleagues and external agencies
• QTS or QTLS and a good understanding of relevant inspection and regulatory requirements

Above all, this role requires a leader who is confident taking responsibility, making sound decisions and providing strong day-to-day leadership. You will need to be visible, consistent and prepared to challenge when necessary, while maintaining a therapeutic and relationship-based approach with young people and staff.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to take a significant leadership role within a small special school where the Deputy Headteacher will have a direct influence on the culture, standards and day-to-day experience of both pupils and staff.

Working closely with the Headteacher, you will help ensure that safeguarding, behaviour, pastoral support and education are joined up effectively, while continuing to develop teaching, curriculum and staff practice.

For an experienced Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher, Head of School or other senior educational leader with strong specialist experience, this represents an opportunity to play a significant role in the continued development of a therapeutic education setting supporting highly vulnerable young people.

The school offers a competitive package, alongside an enhanced pension scheme, life assurance, funded training and qualifications, enhanced maternity and paternity provision and a range of employee wellbeing and discount benefits.

The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check. Online searches will be conducted as part of the safer recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.