Head Of English Teacher (23974)

Barnardos; Southborough; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Small Class Sizes

Inclusive Culture

Daily Conveniences: free lunches & on‑

Pension Scheme

Barnardo's Benefits Portal

Regular CPD & Training

Therapeutic Collaboration

Job summary

Meadows School in Kent is seeking a dedicated Teacher to deliver engaging, personalised learning for pupils aged 5–19 with EHCPs or in the process of obtaining one. You will work as part of a supportive, collaborative team to create a safe and inspiring learning environment, celebrating each pupil's achievements and supporting academic, social and emotional development.

The school offers a broad curriculum with GCSEs, BTECs, Functional Skills and more, and emphasizes values of Engage, Enrich and

Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging, personalised learning that builds confidence and develops skills.
• Create a safe and inspiring learning environment and celebrate individual achievements.
• Support pupils' academic, social and emotional development while contributing to their brighter futures.

Job description

Meadows School is a non-maintained special day school in Kent run by the children's charity Barnardo's. We provide education for students between 5 and 19 who have an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) or are in the process of obtaining one. Our designation is for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.

Based in Southborough (between the two historic towns of Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge) on a beautiful 19-acre campus. Our site incorporates Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 and has a separate post-16 provision.

At present there is capacity for 100 pupils on roll.

The pupils who attend Meadows school may have had a negative experience of education and some will have spent time out of school in the past. It is for this reason that we have the three values of 'Engage, Enrich and Empower' at our core.

We engage minds, enrich lives, and empower futures.

We strive to achieve a culture that: promotes respect, tolerance and kindness; celebrates success and provides the ability to work through difficulties. Working in partnership with families and agencies, we aim to support pupils to develop character strengths and promote their resilience to enable the young person to maximise their potential during their time with us.

We offer a broad curriculum tailored to individual pupil needs. There are opportunities to study for GCSEs, BTECs, Functional Skills, Vocational Skills qualifications, Entry Level Certificates and Open Awards.

We believe in children; We transform lives; We fulfil vision.

As a Teacher at Meadows School, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people by delivering engaging, personalised learning that builds confidence, develops skills and helps every pupil reach their potential. Working as part of a supportive, collaborative team, you will create a safe and inspiring learning environment, celebrate individual achievements and support pupils' academic, social and emotional development while contributing to their brighter futures.

Why work at Meadows?

The perks of working at Meadows School center heavily on a supportive environment, low staff-to-student ratios, and extensive employee benefits.

Workplace & Environment Perks

• Small Class Sizes: Class groups are kept small with a maximum of ten pupils, and every class is supported by two staff members.
• Inclusive Culture: A strong workplace culture focused tightly on individual staff well-being, safety, and operational development.
• Daily Conveniences: Staff receive free school lunches and have access to free on-site parking.

Financial & Core Benefits

• Pension Scheme: Access to an official workplace pension scheme.
• Barnardo's Benefits Portal: As the school is run by Barnardo's, employees gain access to a dedicated benefits platform providing various corporate discounts and lifestyle perks.

Professional Growth

• Regular CPD & Training: Ongoing access to excellent continuous professional development (CPD) and routine skills training.
• Therapeutic Collaboration: Staff work alongside a multi-disciplinary well-being team, collaborating directly with Speech and Language therapists, Counsellors, and Occupational Therapists.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Please note salary offered will be subject to skill set and experience following interview.

Barnardo's Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

Our safer recruitment processes mean that the safety and welfare of the child is paramount at every stage of the process and therefore we adopt rigorous scrutiny in our pre-employment checking. Applicants must be willing to undergo relevant pre-employment checks, including references being taken up prior to interview and for the successful candidate, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and online checks being completed in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance. It is an offence to apply for a role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

As part of your application, you will need to provide full details of your employment since leaving secondary education, starting with your current or most recent employment first and then by working backwards, including reasons for leaving. Please also include any periods of voluntary work and/or training, providing reasons for any periods not in employment, education or training.

Read further about our commitment to safeguarding and our pre-employment checks in our applicant information sheet below.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Barnardo's Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

Our safer recruitment processes mean that the safety and welfare of the child is paramount at every stage of the process and therefore we adopt rigorous scrutiny in our pre-employment checking. Applicants must be willing to undergo relevant pre-employment checks, including references being taken up prior to interview and for the successful candidate, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and online checks being completed in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance. It is an offence to apply for a role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

As part of your application, you will need to provide full details of your employment since leaving secondary education, starting with your current or most recent employment first and then by working backwards, including reasons for leaving. Please also include any periods of voluntary work and/or training, providing reasons for any periods not in employment, education or training.

Read further about our commitment to safeguarding and our pre-employment checks in our applicant information sheet below.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Barnardo's Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

Our safer recruitment processes mean that the safety and welfare of the child is paramount at every stage of the process and therefore we adopt rigorous scrutiny in our pre-employment checking. Applicants must be willing to undergo relevant pre-employment checks, including references being taken up prior to interview and for the successful candidate, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and online checks being completed in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance. It is an offence to apply for a role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

As part of your application, you will need to provide full details of your employment since leaving secondary education, starting with your current or most recent employment first and then by working backwards, including reasons for leaving. Please also include any periods of voluntary work and/or training, providing reasons for any periods not in employment, education or training.

Read further about our commitment to safeguarding and our pre-employment checks in our applicant information sheet below.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

About Barnardo's

At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role.

Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is reflected in our values and our practice, and we have invested in this area of our work to ensure that we can deliver on our commitments to be an inclusive employer. EDI is a key enabler of our purpose as a charity and we want to ensure that the diversity of our teams is reflective of the communities we serve and that we continue to learn and develop our work with a focus on inclusion. We particularly encourage applications from candidates from Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnic Communities, candidates who are LGBT+ and Disabled candidates.