Senior Teacher - Vocational Curriculum

Acorn Care and Education; Stonegate; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education provider in Stonegate is seeking a Senior Teacher to lead the Vocational Curriculum. This role involves managing a high-quality curriculum tailored for students with SEMH needs and includes a 50% teaching load. The ideal candidate will have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and experience in special education. This permanent role is part-time during term time with a salary up to £48,000 per annum.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support services

Flexible Benefits Platform

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in delivering and managing vocational qualifications.
• Background in special education or alternative provision settings.
• Experience managing budgets and resources.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a high-quality vocational curriculum.
• Oversee vocational pathways for meaningful accreditation.
• Build partnerships with employers and colleges.

Skills

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Experience with SEMH students

Excellent communication

Leadership

Resilience

Education

Teaching qualification

Job description

Overview

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four? At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first. That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay. Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So, whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.

Role: Senior Teacher - Vocational Curriculum

Location: Bricklehurst Manor School, Stonegate, TN5 7EL

Salary: Up to £48,000 per annum dependent on experience (not pro rata)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (including one 5pm finish)

Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only

Start: January 2026

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Teacher to lead our Vocational Curriculum, with a 50% teaching load, to help design and deliver practical, engaging pathways that support our students’ holistic development and prepare them for life beyond school. You will:

• Strategically develop and manage a high-quality vocational curriculum tailored to students with SEMH needs.
• Oversee all vocational pathways ensuring they lead to meaningful accreditation and real-world opportunities.
• Line-manage vocational staff and build partnerships with employers, colleges, and community organisations.
• Manage budgets and resources to keep practical learning equipment up-to-date.
• Act as Quality Nominee for vocational qualifications, ensuring compliance and high standards.

What We're Looking For

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with proven experience delivering and managing vocational qualifications—ideally in special education or alternative provision settings.
• Strong background working with SEMH students or those with challenging behaviours.
• Experience managing budgets, resources, and external partnerships.
• Deep vocational knowledge with passion for practical skills-based education.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and resilience.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

About the School

Bricklehurst Manor School is a brand-new school that will cater for up to 60 pupils with SEMH and associated needs ages 11-16. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants involvement in the set up and development of a brand-new school setting and is inspired to support within special educational needs settings.

This school is based in Stonegate, East Sussex.

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. 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 really 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 the 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
• And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, 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.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.