Deputy Principal

Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust; Dorking; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS or TPS pension schemes

Salary sacrifice schemes

Employee wellbeing support

Employee discounts

Season ticket loan

Employee referral scheme

Progression pathways

Job summary

Unified Academy is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust in Dorking and is seeking an ambitious Deputy Principal to join the Senior Leadership Team. You will shape the strategic direction of the school, champion high quality teaching, and balance therapeutic support with an ambitious, accessible curriculum.

You will lead a trauma-informed approach, oversee safeguarding, and empower staff across teaching, therapy, and pastoral teams to secure excellent outcomes for vulnerable learners.

Qualifications

• Substantial and recent experience of teaching pupils/students with special needs, including autism.
• Experience of working effectively with young people who present with a range of challenging behaviour.
• Proven ability in building and leading a staff team.
• Generate enthusiasm for new ideas in both students and staff, and inspire others with confidence and professional autonomy.

Responsibilities

• Therapeutic & Strategic Leadership: Shape a trauma-informed school culture that reduces barriers to learning and prioritizes emotional regulation.
• Curriculum & Engagement: Lead an innovative, flexible curriculum that blends academic progress with vital life skills and vocational opportunities.
• Positive Behaviour Support: Oversee robust, non-punitive behaviour support frameworks, working closely with therapists and external agencies.
• Staff Empowerment: Coach, mentor, and build resilience among a dedicated team of teachers, teaching assistants, and pastoral staff.
• Safeguarding: Act as a key leader in safeguarding, ensuring strict compliance and exceptional care for vulnerable learners.

Skills

SEN experience

Leadership

Staff development

Trauma-informed practice

Job description

Location: Unified Academy, Chart Lane South, Dorking, RH5 4DB

Working Pattern: Full time, all year round

Unified Academy, located in Dorking, is a special school for boys aged 9 to 16, who have social, emotional, and mental health needs. Many of our students also face moderate learning and attachment difficulties.

The school takes a highly personalised approach to education, with small class sizes and carefully tailored lessons that consider the individual needs, interests, and abilities of each student. This ensures that their learning is purposeful, engaging, and relevant.

The team at Unified Academy are driven to secure the best possible outcomes for their students by nurturing them to become well-rounded, confident adults with high aspirations for their future. To find out more about us visit our school website.

We are seeking an ambitious, trauma-informed, inspirational, and compassionate Deputy Principal to join our Senior Leadership Team. Working closely with the Principal, you will help shape the strategic direction of our school, championing an environment of high quality teaching and learning where our students feel safe, valued, and empowered to succeed. You will be a driving force in balancing therapeutic support with an ambitious, accessible curriculum.

Key Responsibilities:

• Therapeutic & Strategic Leadership: Shape a trauma-informed school culture that reduces barriers to learning and prioritizes emotional regulation.
• Curriculum & Engagement: Lead an innovative, flexible curriculum that blends academic progress with vital life skills and vocational opportunities.
• Positive Behaviour Support: Oversee robust, non-punitive behaviour support frameworks, working closely with therapists and external agencies.
• Staff Empowerment: Coach, mentor, and build resilience among a dedicated team of teachers, teaching assistants, and pastoral staff.
• Safeguarding: Act as a key leader in safeguarding, ensuring strict compliance and exceptional care for vulnerable learners.

Key Requirements:

• Substantial and recent experience of teaching pupils/students with special needs, including autism, to a high standard
• Experience of working effectively with young people who present with a range of challenging behaviour
• Proven ability in building and leading a staff team
• Generate enthusiasm for new ideas in both students and staff, and inspire others with confidence and professional autonomy

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme).
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme.
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme).

Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.

Unified Academy is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.

We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.

Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.

As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.

It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.

Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.

To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.

Closing Date: Friday 13 November 2026

Interviews will take place: w/c Monday 30 November 2026

To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.

Safeguarding Statement

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.