Headteacher

Compass Community Limited; Lewes; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff laptop

Competitive salary

Extensive training

Small class sizes

Flexible pension

Wellbeing services

Job summary

Compass Community Schools seeks a Headteacher to lead a nurturing team and coordinate a holistic curriculum focused on pupil needs. You will collaborate with professionals, manage staff, and deliver clear, authentic leadership that inspires change within the school.

You will also teach—0.4 of the timetable—while driving excellent teaching practices and safeguarding commitments across the campus.

Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status with a track record of good to outstanding teaching.
• Experience with SEMH & SEND, crisis-management and challenging behaviour.
• Ability to teach Maths and/or English to GCSE; experience with BTEC/Functional Skills/ELC.
• Experience designing engaging curricula with strong management and networks.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate delivery of a holistic curriculum centered on pupils' needs.
• Lead and manage staff; provide authentic leadership to inspire change.
• Deliver teaching as part of the timetable (0.4).

Skills

QTS with strong practice

SEMH & SEND crisis-management

Teach Maths/English to GCSE

Curriculum design & management

Engagement & resilience in school life

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Job description

Key Dates

Deadline for Applications: 16/10/2026

Interview Date: w/c 19/10/2026

Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and transform the life of a child?

Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach.Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fixing what needs fixing, together.

Who We Are

Our children come from a wide range of backgrounds, but all have Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH). Many will also have other Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) such as Autism, ADHD, and communication difficulties.

The work we do is both varied and challenging and, as a trauma and attachment informed organisation, all staff are provided with extensive therapeutic training and support.

Our closely triangulated approach places the child at the centre of decision making, ensuring that education and therapy professionals, parents/carers, local authority teams and, most importantly, our students can work together to secure outstanding outcomes for all.

The Role

We are excited to welcome a new Headteacher to our nurturing and close-knit staff team.

As Headteacher, you’ll be responsible for coordinating the delivery of a holistic curriculum that places our pupils needs at the centre of their learning. You’ll work closely with a range of industry professionals, managing your team of staff and delivering clear, authentic leadership that will inspire, engage, and influence real change within your school. There is also an expectation that the Headteacher will also deliver teaching – this is 0.4 of the overall timetable.

The Ideal Candidate Will

• Have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with a proven record of good or outstanding teaching practice
• Have experience working with children with SEMH & SEND, with an understanding of crisis-management, managing behaviour that challenges and supporting children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences.
• Be able and willing to teach Maths and/or English to GCSE level, with additional experience in delivering vocational BTEC, Functional Skills or ELC courses.
• Have experience in designing and delivering creative and academically engaging curriculums, with excellent management skills and the ability to work with various professional networks.
• Be driven to engage in all aspects of school life, with the passion and resilience to make a difference to the lives of their pupils.

Benefits And Rewards

• Staff laptop and mobile phone
• Competitive salary
• Extensive training and professional qualification opportunities
• Small class sizes with specialist TA support
• The chance to be part of an expanding, national organisation that recognises skill, effort and potential and grows its own leadership teams
• Enhanced occupational sickness scheme
• Flexible pension
• Regular therapeutic and supportive supervision
• Employee benefit service with access to wellbeing services, salary sacrifice schemes, high street vouchers, money off eating-out and takeaways

We regularly review applications and reserve the right to close an advert early if we identify suitable candidates.

Safeguarding

Compass Community Schools are highly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff will be expected to hold or be willing to obtain Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services(previously the Criminal Records Bureau) and undergo due diligence checks on social media use.

All school-based staff have the responsibility for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children. All school staff should be aware of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and work in accordance with this document at all times.

Compass is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As we continue to grow, we know that we must have the most talented employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our children and young people.

About You

About Us Not Specified