Pastoral Lead

Acorn Care and Education; Tapton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education provider is seeking a dedicated Pastoral Lead to join a new school in Derbyshire opening in January 2026. The role involves overseeing pastoral care for students with social, emotional, and mental health challenges. Candidates should have experience in safeguarding and staff management, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to educational values. This position offers a competitive salary and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support services

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience managing and mentoring staff is required.
• Full UK driving licence is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all aspects of pastoral care.
• Develop safeguarding strategies and behaviour support systems.
• Provide direct support to pupils in crisis.

Skills

Proven experience in pastoral care, safeguarding, or SEMH interventions

Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Analytical skills for behaviour and attendance data

Commitment to the school’s values

Education

Training in trauma-informed practice or restorative approaches

Job description

Job Title: Pastoral Lead

Location: Bluebank School, Whittington Moor, Derbyshire, S41 8LQ

Salary: Up to £30,000 per annum dependent on experience (not pro rata)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only

Start: January 2026

Overview

We are excited to offer a unique opportunity for an inspiring, dynamic, and committed Pastoral Lead to join Bluebank School, a new Acorn Education provision opening in January 2026. This co-educational school will support up to 60 pupils aged 5–18 with complex needs, including Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties.

About the Role

We are seeking an inspiring and committed Pastoral Lead to join Bluebank School. You will lead and coordinate all aspects of pastoral care, ensuring the emotional wellbeing, safety, and holistic development of pupils with SEMH needs. You will develop safeguarding strategies, behaviour support systems, and personalised care plans, while guiding staff in inclusive practices to help all students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Key responsibilities

• Leadership & Safeguarding: Act as the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO), monitor incidents, liaise with external agencies, and contribute to a multidisciplinary team.
• Behaviour & Pastoral Leadership: Develop behaviour support strategies, lead and mentor pastoral staff, oversee schedules, coordinate attendance and welfare interventions, and promote restrictive-practice reduction.
• Student Support: Provide direct support to pupils in crisis, mentor students, and coordinate interventions with staff, families, and external agencies.
• Policy, Quality & Compliance: Contribute to school policies, maintain records, and operate internal quality assurance processes.
• General Duties: Uphold school values, participate in SLT and pastoral meetings, engage in professional development, ensure health and safety compliance, and undertake other duties as requested by the Headteacher.

Essential qualifications

• Proven experience in pastoral care, safeguarding, or SEMH interventions
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation
• Experience managing and mentoring staff
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Analytical skills for behaviour and attendance data
• Training in trauma-informed practice or restorative approaches
• Commitment to the school’s values
• Full UK driving licence

Supporting Statement Guidance

Please include a short statement telling us:

• A little about yourself and why you are interested in this position.
• Why you believe you are suitable for the role, referring to the job description.
• Details of your relevant skills and experience.
• How you would contribute to the role and the school if appointed.

About us

Bluebank School is a brand-new Acorn Education provision set to open in January 2026 in Whittington Moor, Derbyshire. The co-educational school will cater for up to 60 pupils aged 5 to 18, offering specialist support for children and young people with complex needs, including Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties.

We are part of Acorn Education and can promise you plenty of challenges, and a rich variety of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education for vulnerable pupils and young people. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• Market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, including:
• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG!