Secondary Phase Lead - The Avenue School

Reading Borough Council; Reading; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

The Avenue School in Reading is seeking a Secondary Phase Lead to provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the Secondary department. You will drive progress for pupils academically, socially, emotionally, and toward adulthood.

The role requires leadership of curriculum, assessment and pastoral systems, with a coherent, personalised approach and clear pathways to Post 16 or other destinations. Strong communication and proactive teamwork are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience implementing initiatives at a strategic level.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work with a team.
• Organised, decisive and compassionate with a passion for improving outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the Secondary department.
• Ensure the curriculum, assessment and pastoral systems are coherent and personalised.
• Embed EHCP and PFA outcomes in planning and provision.
• Engage with Personalised Learning Plans to align with curriculum outcomes.
• Quality assurance through regular evaluation and improvement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Excellent communication

Team collaboration

Job description

Secondary Phase Lead - The Avenue School

Salary L5 to L9 - £57,137 to £63,070 Per year

Contractual hours 32.5

Basis Full time

Region Permanent / Full-time

Job category/type Education, Schools, Teaching, Youth Work

Full time - Permanent - January 2027 start

The Avenue Special School is a vibrant and friendly school community which supports more than 250 pupils, aged between 3-19, with a range of severe or profound learning difficulties, some physical disabilities and autism.

We have small well-resourced classes and a real passion for supporting young people to have active and healthy lives through an exciting education both in and out of the classroom.

Working at The Avenue provides you with the opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of young people with special educational needs.

It also allows you to progress in your career, taking on responsibilities and developing your passions and interests.

We care deeply about CPD and balancing workloads to allow staff to flourish, so we offer a full programme of training and mentoring, staff wellbeing days, and the chance to work in a supportive and encouraging team environment where your voice really does matter.

In order to strengthen our leadership capacity, improve consistency of practice and continue to raise professional standards across our school and support operational and strategic demands, we are excited to have created a new Secondary Phase Lead role.

The Secondary Phase Lead will provide strategic leadership and day to day operational management of the Secondary department, ensuring pupils make excellent progress academically, socially, emotionally, and in preparation for adulthood.

The successful candidate will ensure that the Secondary curriculum, assessment, and pastoral systems are ambitious, coherent, sequential and personalised, with clear pathways toward Post 16 provision and or other destinations, accreditation, independence, and active community participation. EHCP and PFA outcomes will be embedded within all aspects of planning and provision.

Alongside the curriculum there are expectations of a rigorous program of quality assurance. The Secondary Phase Lead will also regularly engage with the pupils' Personalised Learning Plans to ensure these are embedded alongside the academic outcomes outlined in the curriculum frameworks.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate experience of implementing initiatives at a strategic level, as well as being a good communicator and a proactive team member.

The successful candidate will be highly organized, a confident decision maker and compassion with a passion for ensuring best outcomes for all young people in a dynamic environment.