Headteacher

Keys Children; Buxton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded CPD training

Enhanced pay scales

Senior management support

Centralised head office support

Headteacher conferences

Group wide budgets

Dedicated School Administrator

In-house Educational Psychologists

Weekly Headteacher wellbeing drop-in

INSET days

Life assurance

Job summary

Oaklands Manor Headteacher role at Keys Education in Buxton, Derbyshire, focuses on trauma-informed, therapeutic education for pupils with complex needs. You will lead vision, safeguarding, and high-quality teaching across all phases, while ensuring compliance with Independent School Standards.

The post requires strong leadership and strategic planning within a residential-education context. You will develop inclusive curricula, manage resources and staff, and collaborate with families and

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in a special school or complex educational setting.
• Deep understanding of Ofsted independent school inspection framework and safeguarding.
• Commitment to Nolan Principles and professional conduct.
• Ability to develop and implement a strategic school improvement plan.
• Strong safeguarding focus for children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Establish and sustain the school's ethos, vision and direction.
• Create a culture of positive, enriching and safe school life with high aspirations.
• Lead high-quality teaching across subjects and phases using evidence-based practice.
• Oversee curriculum design to meet diverse pupil needs including vocational elements.
• Support subject leaders through coaching and professional development.
• Maintain high behaviour expectations under the Staff Code of Conduct.
• Ensure effective pastoral care and collaboration with families and agencies.
• Meet statutory SEND requirements with tailored support.
• Lead SENDCO and pastoral teams to monitor IEPs and learning pathways.
• Collaborate with governors to provide strategic governance reporting.

Skills

Leadership experience

Safeguarding knowledge

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Residential safeguarding awareness

Education

QTS required

NPQH or equivalent

Job description

Headteacher

Package Description

Headteacher - Oaklands Manor, Manchester Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6SS

Salary: £55,000 - £75,000 | Full Time (40 hours/week)

Purpose of Role

The Headteacher is the lead professional and role model for the school community, responsible for providing visionary and operational leadership that ensures high quality education, safeguarding, and wellbeing for pupils with complex needs and challenging behaviours. This role demands a commitment to the school's ethos of trauma-informed therapeutic practice and the EPIC values (Excellence, Passion, Integrity, Caring), fostering a positive, inclusive, and safe environment where every pupil can thrive.

At Oaklands Manor

Oaklands Manor provides therapeutic educational placements for pupils who live in the adjoining Keys Group Residential Home. We are committed to each and every one of our pupils and provide specialist support which is individually tailored to meet the unique needs of the pupils.

Set in a picturesque rural location, our school provides a peaceful atmosphere. Recent refurbishment has resulted in spacious, well-equipped classrooms with modern resources, with easy access to outdoor learning enhances the learning experience.

We offer a small, structured classes for implementing Individual Education and Behaviour Plans. These plans adapt curricula for pupils' abilities, Key Stages, and needs, leading to nationally recognised accreditation from Entry Level to GCSE. While adhering to a high staff-to-pupil ratio to meet diverse needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and sustain the school's ethos, strategic vision, and direction


• Create a culture where pupils and staff experience a positive, enriching, and safe school life, promoting respect, inclusion, and high aspirations. Fostering a trauma-informed and therapeutic environment


• Establish and sustain high-quality, expert teaching across all subjects and phases, based on evidence-informed practises and understanding of how pupils learn


• Lead curriculum design and implementation ensuring a broad, balanced, structured, and coherent entitlement, tailored to pupils' individual needs, including vocational and therapeutic elements


• Develop and support subject leaders and teaching staff through professional networks, coaching, and research-informed continuous training


• Establish and maintain high expectations for pupil behaviour and courteous conduct, underpinned by clear rules, routines, and positive relationships as set out in the school's behaviour policy and the Staff Code of Conduct


• Ensure effective pastoral care systems that support pupils' mental health, wellbeing, and personal development in partnership with families and external agencies


• Ensure the school meets statutory SEND requirements and provides tailored, high-quality support for pupils with additional needs


• Lead the SENDCO and pastoral teams to monitor and review Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and personalised learning pathways


• Foster collaborative partnerships securing appropriate provision and support


• Manage resources effectively, including staffing, finance, and facilities, ensuring alignment with educational priorities and compliance with statutory requirements


• Ensure compliance with Independent School Standards and all relevant health and safety regulations


• Work closely with the governing body to provide accurate information, strategic advice, and support governance effectiveness. While preparing governance reports and ensuring compliance with Independent School Standards


• Encourage staff to engage in sustained, high-quality professional development aligned with the Staff Code of Conduct's emphasis on collaboration and research-informed practice

Requirements

• Proven leadership experience in a special school or complex educational setting


• Deep understanding of the Ofsted independent school inspection framework, statutory duties, and safeguarding


• Commitment to the Nolan Principles and highest standards of professional conduct as outlined in the Staff Code of Conduct


• Ability to develop and implement a clear vision and strategic plan for school improvement


• Strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people


• Comprehensive knowledge of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), alongside substantial experience supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs


• Strong understanding of residential children's home settings, including the safeguarding responsibilities and multi-agency approaches that support positive outcomes for children and young people


• QTS is a requirement; NPQH or equivalent

Benefits of Joining Keys

• Fully funded CPD training for all staff in our schools


• Enhanced pay scales that recognise both qualifications and experience for all staff


• Extensive senior management support from Regional Managers and Regional Directors


• Centralised head office function offering supportive delivery of finance, payroll, HR and recruitment function


• Established network of collaborative Headteachers, across our schools, offering regular Headteacher conferences, peer support and sharing school improvement ideas across the group


• Group wide budgets for a range of critical resources such as estates, job boards and learning and development


• A dedicated School Administrator to provide an administrative support function to the Headteacher


• Access to our in-house Principal and Assistant Educational Psychologists and providing support for students and leaders within our schools


• Support from our Clinical Team which includes Psychologists and Attachment Aware Training


• Weekly Headteacher wellbeing drop in sessions


• Enhanced programme of 10 INSET days


• Enhanced company maternity & paternity pay


• Access to a blue light discount card for all employees


• Staff Referral Scheme - Refer a friend to join Keys and split a £500 referral bonus between you


• Life assurance

Keys Education is a national network of alternative learning solutions and pathways, designed to support learners with diverse needs to achieve their goals and realise their potential. It helps individuals with support needs build stability, resilience, and a sense of belonging through Connected Support.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are also committed to supporting the Armed Forces community through our Armed Forces Covenant.

Eligible candidates from military backgrounds are guaranteed an interview - please include details of your service on your CV.

Safeguarding

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts require an enhanced DBS check.

More can be found about Keys Group and our Therapeutic Education Services here

School tours are highly welcomed as part of our interview selection process.

Please note we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications.

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education an online search will be carried out on shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence checks.