Headteacher

London Borough of Havering; London Borough of Havering; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

London Borough of Havering is seeking a new headteacher for Corbets Tey School, Upminster, to lead a special school for students with severe and complex learning difficulties aged 4–19. The role focuses on functional communication, employability skills, and a fully inclusive curriculum, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding and community links.

The successful candidate will join a committed, student-centred team, committed to high standards, continuous improvement, and sharing learning with

Responsibilities

• Lead Corbets Tey School, Upminster, for students with severe and complex learning difficulties.
• Drive a functional communication-focused curriculum and develop independent skills for adulthood.
• Ensure a learner-centred, progressive, reflective community of educators and learners.

Job description

Leadership Pay Scale: Group 7, L29 to L35

Contract: Permanent

Start: September 2027

We are looking for a new leader to take over from our long standing headteacher as she retires this summer. Corbets Tey is a special school, on the outskirts of Upminster, for students with severe and complex learning difficulties aged from four to nineteen in our beautifully situated school and satellite sixth form.

It is a privilege for us to deliver a very exciting Post 19 offer a few minutes away from the school, where students learn to fully benefit from their local community and learn skills for employability within the provision and out with a range of employers.

We are looking for an innovative and thoughtful leader who will continue our quest to ensure every student has a functional communication method and a curriculum that is designed to fully ensure their success in developing the most independent skills for adulthood.

Our ambition every day is to provide a learning experience where our learners are all engaged in their learning 100% of the time. We are completely student centred and as a progressive and reflective community of educators, learn from our students and adapt our offer on an ongoing basis.

We pride ourselves on supporting our learners to be the most confident, communicative young people they can be as they enter adulthood with maximised independence.

A number of very generous benefactors have supported us over many years and our facilities beyond our classrooms enable enrichment and diversity of activity across a wide range of learning spaces.

We are looking for a leader who can combine warmth and compassion with ambition for every learner we serve.

As an outward facing school, we have a well established training offer for schools in our local authority and beyond. Our commitment is to share our learning with mainstream schools in order to contribute to supporting a larger number of children with special needs in the most meaningful ways possible.

If you feel this could be the role for you, come and meet our wonderful students and staff.

Closing Date: Midnight 25th November 2026

Interviews and Tasks: 8th December 2026

This post is exempt from the provision of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; the successful applicant will be expected to undertake an enhanced disclosure.

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Everybody who works for the school is expected to share and promote this commitment and to have, or acquire, the relevant abilities, skills and knowledge to carry it out.

Safeguarding

Havering Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The protection of our pupils from abuse is the responsibility of all staff within our schools, superseding any other considerations. Therefore Havering Schools comply with the Department for Education ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance.

It is an offence to apply for a post which involves engaging in regulated activity relevant to children if you are barred from doing so. Please be advised that, again in line with ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, shortlisted candidates (who wish to accept an invite to interview) will be required to submit, prior to their interview, a self-declaration of their criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. Upon submission of this information, online checks may be carried out.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; the successful applicant will be expected to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure check. Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from obtaining a position with the School.

Equal Opportunities

Havering Schools aim to promote and ensure equality of opportunity and equal treatment for all. We are committed to equal opportunities in employment regardless of gender, marital status, race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origins, disabilities, age, sexual orientation, responsibility for dependants, religious or political affiliation and trade union activities. All matters related to employment are decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.