Headteacher

The Lime Trees; Manchester; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lime Trees in Manchester is seeking an experienced Headteacher to lead a specialist school within a growing educational group, focusing on SEMH and SEND.

You will set high standards, oversee curriculum, safeguarding, and staff development, and work with the Executive Headteacher to drive improvement and readiness for inspections.

The role offers opportunity to shape culture, develop staff, and deliver positive outcomes for pupils.

Qualifications

• QTS and relevant teaching qualification.
• Minimum five years' leadership experience within education.
• Experience working with pupils with SEMH and/or SEND.
• Proven record of contributing to or leading school improvement.
• Strong safeguarding experience and knowledge.
• Experience using data to monitor performance and drive improvement.
• Strong understanding of teaching, learning and assessment.
• Experience of quality assurance and self-evaluation.
• Good knowledge of the Education Inspection Framework.
• Excellent organisational and operational skills.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• High levels of resilience and emotional intelligence.
• A proactive, visible and solution-focused leadership style.
• Experience within specialist education, alternative provision, PRU or a therapeutic setting would be particularly advantageous.

Responsibilities

• School improvement and strategic development.
• Teaching, learning and curriculum oversight.
• Behaviour and attendance management.
• Safeguarding and child protection oversight.
• SEND and SEMH provision oversight.
• Pupil progress and outcomes monitoring.
• Staff leadership, performance and development.
• Quality assurance and self-evaluation.
• Parent and external agency relationships.
• Day-to-day operational management.
• Lead QA and inspection readiness, including SEF, evidence trails and mock inspections.
• Collaborate with wider specialist leaders to ensure consistent approach to curriculum, inclusion, behaviour and safeguarding.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Data-driven decision making

Safeguarding

Communication

Relationship building

Problem solving

Education

QTS and teaching qualification

Job description

LTE Search are working with a growing group of independent specialist schools in Manchester, providing education and support for children and young people with a range of additional needs, including SEMH and SEND. The organisation is committed to providing supportive, inclusive and aspirational learning environments, with a particular focus on therapeutic support, relational practice and helping pupils overcome barriers to education.

The group is continuing to expand, with a number of schools across Greater Manchester and further growth planned. As part of this development, there is a strong focus on strengthening leadership, consistency and standards across its schools.

This is therefore an exciting opportunity for an experienced school leader to join the organisation at an important stage of its development and take responsibility for leading one of its specialist settings., The Headteacher will have responsibility for the strategic and operational leadership of the school, working closely with an experienced Executive Headteacher and wider leadership team.

The role will involve setting high expectations across the school and ensuring that pupils receive high-quality education, pastoral support and care.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

• + School improvement and strategic development
• + Teaching, learning and curriculum
• + Behaviour and attendance
• + Safeguarding and child protection
• + SEND and SEMH provision
• + Pupil progress and outcomes
• + Staff leadership, performance and development
• + Quality assurance and self-evaluation
• + Parent and external agency relationships
• + Day-to-day operational management

A particularly important part of the role will be leading the school's quality assurance and inspection readiness, including the School Improvement Plan, SEF, evidence trails, mock inspections and preparation for external scrutiny.

The Headteacher will also work closely with wider specialist leaders across the organisation to ensure a consistent approach to curriculum, inclusion, behaviour, pastoral care and safeguarding., This is an opportunity to take genuine responsibility for the leadership and development of a specialist school within a growing and ambitious education organisation.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape school culture, develop staff, improve systems and ultimately make a significant difference to outcomes for pupils who may have experienced considerable barriers to education.

With the wider organisation continuing to grow, there is also potential for longer-term professional development and progression for the right individual.

If you are an experienced school leader looking for a role where you can have a visible and meaningful impact, we would be interested in hearing from you.

Please Note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK and be able to provide appropriate evidence of their eligibility to work.

The appointment will be subject to the appropriate recruitment and safeguarding checks.

We are looking for an experienced and confident school leader who can combine high expectations with a strong understanding of specialist education.

You will ideally have:

• + QTS and a relevant teaching qualification
• + At least five years' leadership experience within education
• + Experience working with pupils with SEMH and/or SEND
• + A proven record of contributing to or leading school improvement
• + Strong safeguarding experience and knowledge
• + Experience using data to monitor performance and drive improvement
• + Strong understanding of teaching, learning and assessment
• + Experience of quality assurance and self-evaluation
• + Good knowledge of the Education Inspection Framework
• + Excellent organisational and operational skills
• + Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• + High levels of resilience and emotional intelligence
• + A proactive, visible and solution-focused leadership style
• Experience within specialist education, alternative provision, PRU or a therapeutic setting would be particularly advantageous.