Deputy Headteacher (Epping)

Outcomes First Group; Ivy Chimneys; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista)

Cycle to Work Scheme

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Critical illness cover

Family Growth Support

Job summary

The Tower School in Epping seeks an inspirational Deputy Headteacher to support the Headteacher in shaping strategic direction, curriculum development and a high-quality education for pupils with autism and complex needs.

You will lead with ambition, drive improvement, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure safeguarding, academic progress and positive outcomes for students. This role is permanent, term-time only, with a salary of £66,000 per year and starts November 2026.

Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a relevant degree
• Significant teaching experience within SEND, specialist education or complex needs settings
• Experience supporting students with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and behaviours that challenge
• Proven leadership and people management experience
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, SEND legislation and regulatory expectations
• Experience of school improvement and Ofsted inspection processes
• Excellent communication, organisation and decision-making skills
• The ability to inspire, challenge, coach and develop colleagues
• A strong commitment to maintaining high standards and improving outcomes for students

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership, helping shape the direction and continued development of the school
• Lead the curriculum, ensuring students experience an ambitious, engaging and high-quality education that reflects their individual needs and future aspirations
• Monitor student progress, attainment and outcomes, using evidence and data to identify priorities and ensure effective interventions are in place
• Lead positive behaviour approaches and help create a calm, nurturing and inclusive environment where students can engage and succeed
• Work collaboratively with education, clinical and wider specialist teams to provide coordinated support around each student
• Recruit, coach and develop colleagues, building a confident, skilled and high-performing team
• Develop strong relationships with families, carers, Local Authorities and external professionals to strengthen outcomes for students
• Champions safeguarding, compliance and continuous school improvement, supporting readiness for Ofsted and regulatory inspections

Skills

Leadership

People management

Communication

Decision making

Inspire teams

Education

QTS

Relevant degree

Job description

Deputy Headteacher

Location: The Tower School, Epping, CM16 4BA

Hours: 37.5 per week | Monday to Friday

Salary: £66,000 per annum (not pro rata)

Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only

Start: November 2026

UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Lead with Ambition. Influence the Whole School. Help Shape Brighter Futures. The Tower School is looking for an inspirational and ambitious Deputy Headteacher to join our leadership team and play a key role in the continued development of our specialist school. This is an opportunity for an experienced education leader to have genuine influence across the school. Working closely with the Headteacher, you’ll help shape strategic direction, lead curriculum development, strengthen teaching and learning and ensure every student receives an ambitious and meaningful education.

Supporting students with complex needs, autism and associated social, emotional and behavioural needs, you’ll combine high expectations with an understanding of individual needs, helping create an environment where students feel safe, supported and able to achieve.

You’ll also inspire and develop colleagues, champion positive practice and play an important role in driving continuous improvement across the school.

What you will be doing

• Work alongside the Headteacher to providestrategic and operational leadership, helping shape the direction and continued development of the school
• Lead the curriculum, ensuring students experience anambitious, engaging and high-quality education that reflects their individual needs and future aspirations
• Monitor student progress, attainment and outcomes, using evidence and data to identify priorities and ensure effective interventions are in place
• Lead positive behaviour approaches and help create a calm, nurturing and inclusive environment where students can engage and succeed
• Work collaboratively witheducation, clinical and wider specialist teams to provide coordinated support around each student
• Recruit, coach and develop colleagues, building a confident, skilled and high-performing team
• Develop strong relationships with families, carers, Local Authorities and external professionals to strengthen outcomes for students
• Championsafeguarding, compliance and continuous school improvement, supporting readiness for Ofsted and regulatory inspections

What you will bring

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a relevant degree
• Significant teaching experience withinSEND, specialist education or complex needs settings
• Experience supporting students withAutism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and behaviours that challenge
• Proven leadership and people management experience
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, SEND legislation and regulatory expectations
• Experience ofschool improvement and Ofsted inspection processes
• Excellent communication, organisation and decision-making skills
• The ability to inspire, challenge, coach and develop colleagues
• A strong commitment to maintaining high standards and improving outcomes for students

About Us

At 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.

About Our School

The Tower School is an independent specialist day school in Epping, Essex, supporting 62 pupils aged 11-18 with autism and complex needs. We provide a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where pupils feel secure, valued and ready to learn.

Through personalised support, unconditional positive regard and a broad curriculum that combines academic achievement with life skills and personal development, we help every pupil make meaningful progress from their individual starting points.

Guided by our values of Safe to Learn, Supported to Grow and Successful for Life, we empower young people to develop confidence, independence and the skills they need to thrive in adulthood.

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.

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.

Benefits

• Life Assurance
• 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.