Headteacher Mountjoy School

Dorset Council UK; Beaminster; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Mountjoy School in Beaminster, Dorset, invites an inspiring Headteacher to lead our dedicated SEND community of up to 110 pupils aged 4–19, with a Good Ofsted rating and state-of-the-art facilities.

From 1 January 2027, the new leader will work with staff, governors and families to build on inclusive, child-centred education and steer the school through exciting growth and the planned new build.

Qualifications

• Minimum Special School Leadership Experience: 2 years.
• Child-centred education with high developmental and academic standards.
• Strong safeguarding ethos and commitment to welfare of children with complex needs.

Skills

Visionary leadership

Inclusion champion

Safeguarding

Education

Special School Leadership Experience

Job description

Following the announced retirement of our current inspirational Headteacher, the Governing Body of Mountjoy School in Beaminster, close to the beautiful Jurassic Coast in West Dorset, will shortly be advertising for an inspiring, visionary, and compassionate new leader to take up the post from 1st January 2027.

Supported by a dedicated staff team, a skilled and supportive governing body, excellent community links, local partnerships and strong relationships with families, our school offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced leader to build on strong foundations and guide us into the next stage of our journey.

Guided by our ethos of "making a difference today for tomorrow," we are proud to be Mountjoy School, where we have created a nurturing, ambitious, and inclusive environment where every learner can thrive. As a close-knit community special school catering for up to 110 pupils aged 4 to 19, we support a range of complex learning needs, including Severe and Complex Learning Difficulties (SLD/PMLD) and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Operating from our state-of-the-art facilities- including a sensory studio, media hub, and hydrotherapy pool, and rated 'Good' in all areas by Ofsted, this Group 6 position offers an exceptional opportunity for an experienced leader to build on our strong foundations of lived inclusion.

We have undergone an unprecedented period of growth in the last 5 years, partly due to the enormous demand for special school places in Dorset and the popularity of Mountjoy with parents and carers. With an exciting 'new build' on the horizon, this is a rare chance to really make a difference and drive long-term strategic success.

What We Are Looking For

• A visionary leader with a proven track record of inspiring staff, pupils, and families within a specialist SEND environment (Minimum Special School Leadership Experience: 2 years).
• An individual who champions absolute inclusion, child-centred education, and high developmental and academic standards.
• A leader deeply committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children with complex needs.