Deputy Principal

MyNewTerm; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Break Through School in London seeks an ambitious Deputy Principal to join its leadership team and guide learners with SEND/SEMH needs. You will work closely with the Principal to uphold high expectations, lead staff development and shape a strong, inclusive curriculum.

You will be visible, supportive and decisive, ensuring safeguarding, attendance and learner progress are prioritised while building trusted relationships with families and external partners.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in a school setting.
• Deep understanding of SEND and SEMH.
• Experience in curriculum development and learner assessment.
• Excellent safeguarding knowledge and professional boundaries.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-quality teaching and learning across the school.
• Shape and sequence a purposeful curriculum for diverse learners.
• Oversee behaviour, safeguarding, attendance and learner support.
• Support staff development, supervision and performance.
• Prepare school for inspections and ensure ongoing school improvement.
• Use assessment data to drive learner progress and school improvement.
• Represent the school with families, authorities and external partners.
• Prepare the school for inspection and development.

Skills

Leadership experience

SEND knowledge

Curriculum development

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication skills

Decision making under pressure

Decision making

Calm under pressure

Job description

We are not looking for someone to simply help run a school.

We are looking for a leader who wants to make a real difference to young people who may not always have experienced success in education.

At Break Through School, our learners have a range of SEND and SEMH needs. Many have experienced barriers to learning, disrupted education or previous school placements that have not worked for them. Our job is to change that experience.

We want every learner to feel safe, understood, challenged and genuinely proud of what they can achieve.

We are now looking for an ambitious, compassionate and highly motivated Deputy Principal to join our leadership team and help take the school through its next stage of development.

This is a hands‑on leadership role. You will be visible, approachable and actively involved in school life. You will know our learners, support our staff and work alongside the Principal to ensure that high expectations are reflected in every classroom and every part of the school day.

The role

No two days at Break Through School are the same.

One moment you may be supporting a teacher to strengthen classroom practice, the next working with a learner who is struggling to regulate, meeting with a family, reviewing attendance or helping shape the next stage of our curriculum.

You will need to be comfortable with that.

You will work closely with the Principal to lead and develop:

• high‑quality teaching and learning across the school;

• a purposeful, ambitious and well‑sequenced curriculum;

• consistent approaches to behaviour, relationships and learner support;

• safeguarding and pastoral practice;

• attendance and engagement;

• staff development, supervision and performance;

• effective use of assessment and learner progress information;

• strong relationships with families, local authorities and external professionals;

• school improvement and self‑evaluation;

• compliance with the Independent School Standards and wider statutory expectations; and

• preparation for inspection and continued school development.

You will also deputise for the Principal when required and will be trusted to make confident, thoughtful decisions in the best interests of learners and the school.

The person we are looking for

We want someone who combines warmth with high expectations.

Someone who understands that supporting learners with SEND does not mean lowering ambition.

Someone who can walk into a classroom, quickly understand what is working and help colleagues make it even better.

Someone who can remain calm when a situation is challenging, listen carefully, make decisions and move things forward.

Most importantly, we want a leader who genuinely enjoys working with young people.

You will bring:

• strong teaching and leadership experience;

• a good understanding of SEND and/or SEMH;

• a clear understanding of what high‑quality teaching looks like in a specialist setting;

• high expectations for learners' academic, personal and social development;

• confidence in developing and supporting staff;

• strong safeguarding knowledge;

• excellent communication and relationship‑building skills;

• the ability to challenge constructively and supportively;

• sound judgement and the ability to remain calm under pressure; and

• a genuine commitment to ensuring every learner has the opportunity to succeed.

Experience within a specialist school or alternative provision would be valuable, but we are also interested in strong leaders from other settings who understand SEND and share our values.

Why Break Through?

Because this is a school where leadership has an immediate impact.

Our learners need adults who notice them, understand them and refuse to give up on them.

They also need adults who expect them to learn, make progress, develop independence and prepare successfully for life beyond school.

At Break Through School, relationships and education go hand in hand. We believe that learners can only thrive when they feel safe and understood, but we are equally clear that nurture must sit alongside ambition.

As part of Melrose Education, you will also benefit from working within a wider group of specialist schools, with access to leadership support, professional development and opportunities to collaborate with colleagues who share the same commitment to SEND education.

If you are looking for a leadership role where you can be visible, make decisions, develop others and see the difference your work makes every day, we would love to hear from you.

If you believe that every learner deserves another opportunity to succeed — and you have the leadership, energy and determination to help make that happen — we would love to hear from you.