Virtual School Headteacher

Wirral Council; Liverpool City Region; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established local authority is seeking a passionate leader to join their Virtual School team. This pivotal role involves supporting and advising on the education of children in care, ensuring they receive the highest standards of education. As a key figure, you will lead a dedicated team, fostering collaboration with social care and educational professionals to enhance outcomes for children. This role is perfect for someone who is organized, enthusiastic, and committed to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Join a forward-thinking council that values diversity, staff wellbeing, and professional growth, and help shape the future of our community.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme

Generous employer contribution

Immediate life cover

Ill-health protection

Flexible working approach

Hybrid working options

Family-friendly initiatives

28 days annual leave plus public holidays

Staff discounts

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in educational settings or local authorities.
• Experience collaborating with social care and educational professionals.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Virtual School team and support operational management.
• Drive educational standards and attainment for children in care.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Management experience in education

Project management experience

Teamwork skills

Relationship building

Commitment to child welfare

Job description

• Employer: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
• Location: Wirral, Mallory, 2 Alice Ker Square
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full Time
• Hours: 36 hours per week.
• Closing Date: 16/02/2025 at 23:59
• Reference: CF&E/25/303704

There has never been a more exciting time to join Wirral Council. We’ve got ambitious targets to meet and to achieve everything we have promised to our residents, we need people who are ready to deliver the very best for our communities and show how they can #BeTheDifference. Our vision is to secure the best possible future for our residents, defined by the community prosperity we create and supported by our excellent people and services. If you strive to #BeTheDifference and want to be at the heart of our change and improvement journey, then this could be the perfect job for you.

Head of the Virtual School

We are looking for an experienced leader to support, challenge and advise those involved in the lives of Children in the care of Wirral Council, including those who are of Nursery age, in Statutory education and have oversight of those post 16 and accessing education to 25. You will oversee the Virtual School team from a strategic direction point of view, but also support your Deputy in the operational running of the team.

About you

• You will have successful senior leadership and management experience within an educational setting or a local authority.
• You will have worked closely with social care professionals, headteachers, designated teachers, school improvement partners and other personnel working for agencies and organisations in partnership with the Virtual School to drive up standards of education and the attainment of children in care.
• You may have successful project management experience
• Be an experienced, organised, enthusiastic and inspirational leader.
• Have excellent skills in teamwork, using your initiative, be forward thinking and an exemplary role model.
• Have a strong commitment to the welfare of all children.
• Able to build and maintain relationships at all levels.

If you’re already a Wirral Council employee, and as part of our Talent Strategy, we’re committed to strengthening opportunities for our people to learn, grow, progress and thrive. For many of you, this may be preparing and applying for your next role with us, and we're passionate about ensuring you feel supported throughout your internal recruitment experience.

Working at Wirral

You’ll also want to know what it’s like to work here so, as a start:

Our values are more than just pieces of paper on our walls! We’ve all played a role in developing these, so they reflect the immense pride we have in what we do, what matters to us, what inspires us and inform how we think, approach things and behave.

We believe in ensuring staff are well looked after, staff wellbeing is a priority for us. We’re serious about recognising and rewarding people for the great things they do. You’ll benefit from our track record of developing, growing and investing in our people.

We have a range of staff benefits including staff discounts, an excellent pension scheme which includes a generous employer contribution rate, immediate life cover and ill-health protection. We have a strong flexible working approach, hybrid working, family-friendly employment initiatives and an annual leave package starting with 28 days leave plus public holidays.

We have an inclusive, engaged culture, everyone has a voice, everyone is valued for their contribution and understands the role they play in delivering our strategic priorities.

Each voice is heard, each contribution valued. We embrace diversity in our workforce and recognise it is critical to our success. We support an inclusive culture that champions differences and nurtures a sense of belonging. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds, who share our values and our commitment to inclusion to apply for roles with us.

We want you to be your best at work, we create the conditions to help you thrive and we mirror this in our recruitment process. If you’d like us to do anything differently during the recruitment process to make it barrier-free and as accessible as possible please contact [e-mail]

How to apply

Please apply online by clicking the link below