Deputy Pastoral Manager

The Holden School (Firs Lane Site); Leigh; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist educational institution in the United Kingdom seeks a compassionate Deputy Pastoral Manager to enhance the support and development of pupils with social, emotional, and mental health needs. In this vital role, you'll provide pastoral care, promote positive behavior, and collaborate with staff and families to ensure every pupil thrives. If you have a passion for making a difference in children's lives, this opportunity promises a meaningful career path.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Access to mental health support services

Discount options

Qualifications

• Experience working with pupils with SEND.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Skilled at recognising when to seek support and contribute to the sharing of effective practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily pastoral support, encouragement, and care to pupils across the school.
• Work in partnership with parents/carers, teaching staff, and therapists.
• Support pupils’ personal development and emotional wellbeing.
• Help maintain a safe, orderly learning environment.

Skills

Compassionate attitude

Collaborative approach

Experience with SEND

Education

Grade C or above in Maths and English (or equivalent)

Job description

. This role does not offer sponsorship.

We are looking for a compassionate, dedicated, and proactive Deputy Pastoral Manager to join our pastoral team and help shape a nurturing, high-quality specialist environment for pupils with a wide range of social, emotional, and mental health needs, including those with autism.

About the Role

In this vital role, you will help ensure every pupil feels safe, supported, and able to thrive. Working closely with staff, pupils, and families, you will champion positive behaviour, help maintain a calm and structured environment, and remove barriers to learning—especially for pupils requiring additional support with behaviour regulation or emotional wellbeing.

Safeguarding and pupil welfare will sit at the heart of everything you do.

What You’ll Do

• Provide daily pastoral support, encouragement, and care to pupils across the school
• Work in partnership with parents / carers, teaching staff, therapists, outreach services, and other education providers
• Support pupils’ personal development, emotional wellbeing, and positive social relationships
• Help maintain a safe, orderly learning environment founded on respect, consistency, and positive behaviour
• Assist the Headteacher and staff in implementing behaviour and inclusion strategies
• Record and report key educational, behavioural, and social information in line with agreed processes
• Promote pupils’ social and emotional development through proactive, restorative approaches
• Contribute to the wider life of the school community
• Undertake agreed responsibilities aligned with performance objectives and school development priorities

As Deputy Pastoral Manager, you will play a key role in shaping the daily experiences of young people who need patience, understanding, and specialist support. You will be part of a team committed to helping pupils build confidence, develop resilience, and fulfil their potential—both in school and beyond.

Experience & Qualifications

• Grade C or above in Maths and English (or equivalent)
• Experience working with pupils with SEND
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Skilled at recognising when to seek support and contribute to the sharing of impactful, effective practice

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 Education and 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 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth 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:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “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:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• 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.