Deputy Head of Trent Vale

Portland School, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST11 9JG

16 days remaining to apply

Start date details
September 2025
Closing date
19 May 2025 at 9am
Date listed
2 May 2025

Job details

Job role: Assistant headteacher
Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern: Full time
Contract type: Permanent
Pay scale: L9-L13 £60,644-£66,919

What skills and experience we're looking for

At Portland School, we are dedicated to providing exceptional learning and experiences to pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMHD). Our mission is to empower young minds and nurture futures, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential.

Our day begins at 8:45am and finishes at 2:15pm, Monday to Friday, providing students with 5.5 hours of learning each day, totalling 27.5 hours per week. Portland School specialises in catering to the unique needs of young people facing SEMHD challenges. We understand that each student is an individual, and our staff is highly trained in SEMHD teaching and management, allowing us to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student can thrive.

Our state-of-the-art facilities are designed with our students in mind, from sensory spaces to specialised classrooms, promoting growth, development, and well-being. Our passionate and dedicated staff members are committed to making a difference in the lives of our students, working tirelessly to provide the guidance, support, and educational opportunities necessary for success.

We are seeking an exceptional Deputy Headteacher who has an in-depth understanding of SEMHD and the challenges faced by pupils with complex needs and has the ability to think strategically and drive school improvement to join our dedicated team at Portland School. In this role, you will be responsible for leading and managing the school's behaviour, attitudes, and attendance strategies, ensuring that our pupils thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.

Key Responsibilities will include:

Develop and implement effective behaviour management policies and procedures to promote positive attitudes and excellent attendance.
Monitor and analyse data on pupil behaviour, attitudes, and attendance, identifying areas for improvement and implementing targeted interventions.
Work closely with the Headteacher, staff, and external agencies to support pupils with complex SEMHD needs, ensuring their individual needs are met.
Provide strong leadership and guidance to the pastoral team, empowering them to deliver high-quality support to our pupils.
Engage with parents and carers, fostering positive relationships and partnerships to support the overall well-being and progress of our students.
Contribute to the strategic development of the school, working collaboratively with the Headteacher and Governing Body.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in a leadership role within a SEMH or special educational needs setting, demonstrable expertise in behaviour management, attendance, and pastoral support, have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with pupils, staff, and parents and be commitment to continuous professional development and a passion for making a difference in the lives of young people.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our rapidly improving school and make a significant impact on the lives of our fabulous pupils. If you are passionate about supporting SEMHD learners and believe you have the skills and experience to thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply.

What the school offers its staff

Shaw Education Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching or Support Staff employment:

An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff) / Teachers Pension (Teaching Staff)
Support Staff only based on working full time, all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your first day of employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’ service including Bank Holidays)
Electric Car Scheme: Environmentally friendly vehicles with our electric car scheme.
Access to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed to support your well-being.
Free DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusive discounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offers from hundreds of the biggest brands.
Free Eye Tests
Cycle to work scheme

Access to our Institute of Education and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute and flourish in your role and in the Trust.

We know our people are the key to our success and so we’re committed to ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is a rewarding one.

Colleagues within the Trust benefit from: Access to a full range of courses both in-house and professionally accredited. These courses include all of the National Professional Qualifications – NPQH, NPQSL, NPQEYL, NPQLL, NPQLT, NPQLTD, NPQLBC are all delivered by the Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for Ambition Institute. In addition, we provide access to the NPQEL for Executive Leaders.

Experienced leadership and subject-specific support.
Guidance from former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.
Access to the Trust’s Institute of Education and SCITT.
Opportunities to work with different schools within the Trust as a Professional Advocate.
Participating in peer reviews.
Access to a suite of online courses.
Placement projects within our family of schools.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.