Lead Teacher

Elite Executive Recruitment; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Elite Executive Recruitment is seeking an experienced Lead Teacher for a specialist college supporting learners with complex needs. This leadership role blends classroom teaching with strategic oversight to shape the learning environment and drive team performance.

You will balance direct teaching (vocational delivery) with leading the education provision, curriculum development, and staff development, all aimed at helping young people progress and gain confidence.

Qualifications

• QTS or be prepared to work towards it.
• Designated Safeguarding Lead qualification/experience.
• Experience with young people with complex needs, challenging behaviour, or additional learning needs.
• Experience in line management with KPIs and supervision.
• Strong grasp of teaching, learning and behaviour management strategies.
• Ability to tailor learning to individual learners.
• Confidence to lead, challenge and support a team.
• Passion for helping young people progress.

Responsibilities

• Split time between teaching and leadership responsibilities.
• Deliver a vocational qualification around 2 days per week.
• Lead and improve teaching quality across the site.
• Manage timetable and optimise use of teaching and support staff.
• Develop and update schemes of work and curriculum.
• Monitor learner performance data and drive improvements.
• Set targets and support staff to achieve them.
• Line-manage staff with supervision and performance reviews.
• Collaborate with the Centre Manager to maintain high standards.
• Create a safe, structured, motivating learning environment.

Skills

Leadership

Line management

Behaviour management

Curriculum development

Stakeholder engagement

Education

QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)

Designated Safeguarding Lead qualification

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 behavior management strategies.
• The ability to adapt your approach and personalize 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