Secondary Teacher with SEMH Experience

Compass Community; Halifax; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff laptop

Competitive salary

Training opportunities

Small class sizes

Growth of organisation

Sick pay scheme

Flexible pension

Therapeutic supervision

Wellbeing service

Job summary

Compass Community School Willow Dean is seeking a dedicated teacher to inspire children aged 6–17 in a therapeutic, child-centred setting in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. The role emphasizes building strong relationships, delivering engaging lessons, and supporting pupils with SEMH/SEND needs.

You will contribute to an inclusive, trauma-informed environment, planning curriculum and adapting to individual strengths while collaborating with families and local authorities.

Qualifications

• QTS or PGCE is required and eligible for registration.
• Proven record of good or outstanding teaching practice.
• Excellent, emotionally intelligent communicator.
• Ability to teach a subject specialism to GCSE or vocational level.
• Strong desire to work inclusively in an emotionally literate environment.
• Experience managing crisis and challenging behaviours.
• Experience implementing a creative, engaging curriculum.
• Experience working with hard-to-reach families.

Responsibilities

• Know each child well, build nurturing relationships, and motivate students.
• Plan exciting, engaging lessons that challenge and relate to real life.
• Teach a subject to GCSE or equivalent level as appropriate.
• Manage complex behaviours with a supportive, non-judgemental approach.

Skills

QTS/PGCE

Proven teaching record

Strong communicator

Teach to GCSE

Inclusive environment

Crisis management

Curriculum development

Engagement with families

Job description

Deadline for Applications: 16/10/26

Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and transform the life of a child?Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach.Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fix what needs fixing, together.

Deadline for Applications: 16/10/26

Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and transform the life of a child?Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach.Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fix what needs fixing, together.

This is the work. And we’d like you to be part of it.

Who We Are

Compass Community School Willow Dean is an independent specialist school providing high-quality, therapeutic and child-centred education to boys and girls from 6 to 17 years of age in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. Our children come from a wide range of backgrounds and present with a wide range of needs, including, Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH) as well as other Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) such as Autism, ADHD, and communication difficulties. The work we do is both varied and challenging and, as a trauma and attachment informed organisation, all staff are provided with extensive therapeutic training and support. Our closely triangulated approach places the child at the centre of decision making, ensuring that education and therapy professionals, parents/carers, local authority teams and, most importantly, our students can work together to secure outstanding outcomes for all.

The Role

We are all primarily teachers of children before teachers of subjects. Central to this role is knowing the child, building professional, nurturing and positive relationships and motivating students. Compass Community School teachers inspire children, creating a sense of awe and wonder and making subjects and lessons real and relevant to them. They plan exciting and engaging learning opportunities which challenge and push students, whether they are working on the very basics or they have a special talent or passion for the subject. With that in mind, we are looking for the perfect teacher, rather than being specific about experience in teaching a certain subject – we will incorporate your interests, experience and passion for teaching into our school.

Our children require very special teachers who are able to manage some complex and challenging behaviours. They will know that our children require lots of attention, the right sort of communication, consistency and flexibility in equal measure, and a non-judgemental approach.

The Right Person

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Post Graduate Education Certificate ( PGCE )
• A proven record of good or outstanding teaching practice.
• An excellent, efficient and emotionally intelligent communicator.
• The ability/willing to teach a subject specialism to GCSE or equivalent vocational level.
• A strong desire to work inclusively within an emotionally literate environment, supporting children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
• Experience of crisis-management/managing challenging behaviours and working with children with SEMH difficulties.
• Proven experience of implementing a creative and academically engaging curriculum which meets the needs of individual pupils, whilst maintaining high standards of education
• Experience of effective working with hard-to-reach or disengaged families.

Benefits And Rewards

• Staff laptop and mobile phone
• Competitive salary
• Extensive training and professional qualification opportunities
• Small class sizes with specialist TA support
• The chance to be part of an expanding, national organisation that recognises skill, effort and potential and grows its own leadership teams
• Enhanced occupational sickness scheme
• Flexible pension
• Regular therapeutic and supportive supervision
• Employee benefit service with access to wellbeing services, salary sacrifice schemes, high street vouchers, money off eating-out and takeaways

We regularly review applications and reserve the right to close an advert early if we identify suitable candidates.

The Values Awards

At Compass, our strength comes from the values we live by every day – Integrity, Care and Courage. These aren’t just words that we put on our website or on a poster; they’re visible in the actions you take to support children, families and each other, often in ways that go unseen. That’s why we are launching the Compass Values Awards, to spotlight actions that embody Integrity, Care or Courage across all parts of our community. Read on to learn about how it works, what a nomination in each category looks like, and which teams fall within each service.

Safeguarding

Compass Community Schools are highly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff will be expected to hold or be willing to obtain Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services(previously the Criminal Records Bureau) and undergo due diligence checks on social media use. All school-based staff have the responsibility for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children. All school staff should be aware of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and work in accordance with this document at all times.

Compass is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As we continue to grow, we know that we must have the most talented employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our children and young people.

About You

About Us

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