Lead Teacher

Elite Executive Recruitment; Peterlee; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Elite Executive Recruitment is seeking an experienced Lead Teacher for a specialist college supporting young people with complex needs in Peterlee. The role blends classroom teaching with genuine leadership to shape the learning environment and team performance.

You’ll lead teaching quality, manage timetables, develop the curriculum, monitor learner data and support staff development while maintaining high standards and a safe, motivating environment for learners.

Qualifications

• QTS or working towards it.
• Designated Safeguarding Lead experience/qualification.
• Experience with young people with complex needs, challenging behaviour and/or additional learning needs.
• Experience of line management, including setting KPIs and conducting supervisions.
• A strong understanding of teaching, learning and behaviour management strategies.

Responsibilities

• Split teaching and leadership time across the site.
• Deliver a vocational qualification to learners two days a week.
• Lead and improve the quality of teaching and learning across the site.
• Manage timetable and staff deployment.
• Oversee development of subject area and curriculum; create schemes of work.
• Monitor learner performance data and drive improvements.
• Set targets and support staff to achieve them.
• Line manage staff, including supervision and performance reviews.
• Support staff development and training; collaborate with Centre Manager.
• Maintain a safe, structured and motivating learning environment.

Skills

QTS

Safeguarding Lead experience

Experience with complex needs

Line management & KPIs

Behaviour management strategies

Personalised learning approaches

Education

Designated Safeguarding Lead qualification

QTS (or willing to work towards it)

Job description

Ready to take your teaching career to the next level?

We’re looking for an experienced Lead Teacher to join a specialist college supporting young people who need something different from mainstream education.

This is a role where you can keep teaching while stepping into a genuine leadership position — shaping the learning environment, supporting your team and helping young people with complex needs and behaviours achieve more than they may have thought possible.

You’ll be part of a supportive education provision focused on helping learners build confidence, skills and independence, while preparing them for their next steps.

What will you be doing?

You’ll have a really varied role, splitting your time between teaching and leadership.

Around 2 days a week will be classroom-based, delivering a vocational qualification and building strong relationships with learners and their families.

The rest of your week will focus on leading the education provision, including:

• Leading and improving the quality of teaching and learning across the site.
• Managing the timetable and making sure teaching and support staff are used effectively.
• Overseeing the development of your subject area and curriculum.
• Creating and updating schemes of work.
• Monitoring learner and performance data and acting where improvements are needed.
• Setting targets and supporting staff to achieve them.
• Line managing staff, including regular supervision and performance reviews.
• Supporting staff development, training and professional growth.
• Working closely with the Centre Manager to maintain high standards.
• Helping create a safe, structured and motivating environment for learners.

What are we looking for?

We’re looking for someone who understands that great teaching isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all.

You’ll ideally have:

• QTS, or be willing to work towards it.
• Designated Safeguarding Lead experience/qualification.
• Experience working with young people with complex needs, challenging behaviour and/or additional learning needs.
• Experience of line management, including setting KPIs and conducting supervisions.
• A strong understanding of teaching, learning and behaviour management strategies.
• The ability to adapt your approach and personalise learning around individual learners.
• The confidence to lead, challenge and support a team.
• A genuine passion for helping young people progress.

Why consider it?

If you're an experienced teacher who is ready for more influence and responsibility, this could be a great next step.

You won't be stepping away from teaching altogether. Instead, you'll have the opportunity to combine your classroom experience with leadership, helping shape both the experience of learners and the development of the team around them.

Most importantly, you'll be working with young people who can really benefit from having the right people in their corner.

If you're ready to make a bigger impact, we'd love to hear from you