Head of School at Portland SEMH School
Portland School, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST11 9JG12 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
3 December 2024 at 9am
Date listed
19 November 2024
Job details
Job role
- Headteacher
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Working pattern
- Full time: full time, all year
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- Leadership SCP 17 -21 - £73,819 - £81,441 (Salary may be increased for the right candidate with relevant experience)
Pay scale
- Leadership SCP 17 -21 - £73,819 - £81,441 (Salary may be increased for the right candidate with relevant experience)
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking for an exceptional Head of School to continue our journey of success, building on the strong foundation of our dedicated current leadership team. As Head of School, you will play a pivotal role in advancing our commitment to excellence in teaching, learning, and student well-being. This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative, student-centred leader to drive forward our vision, inspire our talented staff, and work alongside our supportive community to ensure every student thrives.
Our school is proud of its remarkable progress, and we are seeking a Head of School who is ready to embrace and enhance our outstanding leadership and guide us into a new chapter.
Working with students with SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) needs and SEN (Special Educational Needs), your role is multifaceted. Beyond overseeing the general operations of the school, you play a crucial part in fostering an inclusive environment that supports the unique needs of these students.
You will need a proactive and compassionate approach, ensuring that both the staff and the school community are equipped to support all students effectively. Your leadership can help ensure that all students are given equal opportunities to succeed and thrive.
You will establishing an Inclusive School Culture by promote Inclusion and Diversity: Lead by example in promoting an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity, encourages empathy, and values all students equally.
Encourage Whole-School Buy-In and work to ensure that all staff, from teachers to support staff, understand the importance of inclusivity and are committed to supporting students with SEMH and SEN needs.
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.
Further details about the role
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. We are a split site school with two provisions to meet different needs, one at Trent Vale one at Blythe Bridge. We have an amazing staff team who work tirelessly to support approximately 120 pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.
As a specialist school our pupils benefit from smaller class sizes, a more practical curriculum, access to alternative accreditations and a highly trained staff team. Both sites have spacious grounds allowing us to provide outdoor education, with our Blythe Bridge site boasting specialist classrooms for Design and technology, Art and Design, Science, Food technology and PE.
At the heart of our school are a set of shared values where our entire school community are supported to develop a sense of Respect, Responsibility, Belonging, Independence, show a Team Approach and look after their own Mental Toughness.
Shaw Education Trust are a thriving mix of diverse and growing schools including Primary, Secondary and Special Schools all working together to improve the lives of young people in our communities. We are sponsored by Shaw Trust a charity organisation that focuses on transforming lives. We’re a growing group of dynamically awesome academies providing education to children of all ages and abilities. Staff across our team of schools are dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to be successful, whatever their starting point in life.
Our Special settings cater for children and young people with a wide range of Special Educational Needs from children with profound medical needs and life limiting conditions, those with severe, moderate and sensory needs through to young people with social emotional and mental health needs that require support and understanding to help them to navigate their world.
Whether you are a teacher, a teaching assistant, a healthcare professional or work in facilities, admin or operations all our Special Schools offer you the opportunity to work within an establishment that has a ‘family’ feel that puts the children, young people and their families at the heart of what they do.
All the pupils within our Special Schools have an individualised education and are educated in small classes and groups with enhanced support to ensure that all their needs are met. There is nothing more rewarding than being part of a team that supports a child or young person with Special Educational Needs to reach their goals. You truly will make a difference to the life of a young person and their family.
Our schools span from Birmingham to Bury, meaning that we can support students from all walks of life, no matter their background or socioeconomic status. In doing this, we can help ensure all children are able to access a high standard of education, with all being treated equally.
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.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs are not accepted.
Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Portland School
- School type
- Academy, ages 3 to 16
- School size
- 114 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
- School website
- Portland School website (opens in new tab)
- Email address
- jenna.griffiths@shaw-education.org.uk
- Phone number
- 01782 948259
Arranging a visit to Portland School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email jenna.griffiths@shaw-education.org.uk.
School location
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