Deputy Headteacher

Outcomes First Group; Knaphill; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista)

Health, wellbeing and insurance

Discounts across UK providers

Cycle to Work Scheme

Critical illness cover

Family Growth Support

Job summary

Castle Garden School, Guildford, seeks an experienced Deputy Headteacher to lead educational strategy and school improvement. You will work closely with the Headteacher to shape an engaging, personalised curriculum for students with autism and complex needs.

You will oversee teaching quality, safeguarding, and student wellbeing while developing staff and collaborating with families and external agencies. A driving licence and ongoing professional development are expected.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading education teams and improving outcomes.
• Experience working with autism, complex needs or challenging behaviours.
• Strong knowledge of SEND legislation, safeguarding and regulatory requirements.
• Effective leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• People management and staff development capabilities.
• Willingness to undertake professional development and drive positive change.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and strengthen curriculum provision to be engaging and inclusive.
• Lead, coach and develop education staff for high standards.
• Oversee assessment, targets and student progress to deliver positive outcomes.
• Collaborate with education, care and clinical colleagues for personalised support.
• Work with families and external agencies towards shared goals.
• Support safeguarding, QA, recruitment, planning and school improvement.
• Deputise for the Headteacher and maintain a safe, purposeful school environment.

Skills

Educational leadership

Staff development

Curriculum development

Behaviour management

Stakeholder communication

Education

Degree & QTS

Job description

Could You Be the Leader Who Helps Turn Potential into Progress?
Every student has their own strengths, challenges and ambitions. At Castle Garden School, we're looking for a dedicated Deputy Headteacher who understands that exceptional education begins with understanding the individual.
We're seeking an experienced and enthusiastic education leader who can bring fresh thinking, high expectations and a practical, hands-on approach to improving outcomes for young people with autism, complex needs and behaviours that challenge.
You'll have the opportunity to make your mark across the school, from shaping an engaging and personalised curriculum to helping colleagues develop their skills and confidence. Working closely with the Headteacher, you'll help ensure that high-quality teaching, positive behaviour support and student wellbeing remain central to everything we do.
This is a role for someone who enjoys being involved, leading by example and finding creative solutions to challenges. You'll combine educational leadership with meaningful involvement in the daily life of the school, helping create an environment where students feel understood, supported and motivated to achieve.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Shape learning experiences: Coordinate and strengthen curriculum provision, ensuring teaching is engaging, inclusive and adapted to students' individual abilities and needs.
• Bring out the best in colleagues: Lead, coach and support education staff, promoting professional growth, effective teamwork and consistently high standards.
• Make progress meaningful: Oversee assessment, individual targets and student progress, ensuring learning and support strategies lead to positive outcomes.
• Champion positive behaviour: Work alongside clinical professionals to develop and review Behaviour Support Plans that help students build confidence, independence and emotional resilience.
• Create a joined-up approach: Bring together education, care and clinical colleagues to ensure students benefit from consistent, personalised support.
• Strengthen relationships: Work collaboratively with families, carers and external agencies, ensuring everyone involved in a student's development is working towards shared goals.
• Support school excellence: Contribute to safeguarding, quality assurance, staff recruitment, operational planning and the continuous improvement of school provision.
• Lead when it matters: Support and deputise for the Headteacher, making informed decisions and helping maintain a safe, positive and purposeful school environment.

You’ll be an approachable and confident leader who combines strong educational knowledge with the ability to inspire others., A degree and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Teaching experience supporting students with autism, complex needs and/or behaviours that challenge.
Experience managing, motivating and developing staff.
Strong knowledge of SEND legislation, safeguarding and regulatory requirements.
Effective leadership, communication and organisational skills.
Good understanding of people management practices and the ability to implement positive change.
Confidence making decisions, managing competing priorities and responding effectively to challenges.
A collaborative approach, with the ability to work across education and multidisciplinary teams.
A commitment to high-quality specialist education and achieving positive student outcomes.
A driving licence and willingness to undertake further professional development.

Experience of Ofsted or Estyn inspections, residential education or financial management would be beneficial.

A Leadership Role Where Your Contribution Matters

Some of the most important achievements in specialist education happen through the everyday moments: a student becoming more independent, a colleague finding a new way to engage a learner or a young person achieving something they previously thought was impossible.

As Deputy Headteacher at Castle Garden School, you'll help make those moments possible by creating the conditions for excellent teaching, strong relationships and meaningful progress.

If you're ready for a leadership opportunity where you can influence change, develop others and make a lasting difference to young people's futures, we'd love to hear from you.

About Our School

Castle Garden School is a brand-new independent specialist school for students with autism between 5 - 11 years of age.
Castle Garden School strives to provide effective, specialist education and support to autistic students and their families, which will allow students to achieve their full potential in education and life. Located in the town centre of Guildford, the school provides primary education and offers a unique mix of education and support to students within a wide spectrum of needs and abilities. Personalised teaching and learning in an autism specific environment allows students' individual needs to be addressed completely and their capabilities fully realised.

We are proud to be a part of OFG Education who in 2025 were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the sixth year running.

About UsAt OFG Education, we believe every student deserves an education designed around who they are. Through high expectations, deep expertise and truly personalised education, we help students realise their potential and prepare for successful futures.Building on more than 20 years of experience, we are bringing our approach to more students and communities around the world. Across the UK, Iberia and the Gulf, our schools combine the strength, expertise and high standards of an international education group with the individuality of each school and the communities they serve.Whatever your role, joining OFG education means contributing to our shared ambition: empowering every student to success through truly personalised education.

Why Join Us?

We place students and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

OFG Education 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, OFG Education 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.