EXPIRED

Headteacher

High Well School, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 2DD

This job expired on 13 March 2026 – see similar jobs

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  13 March 2026 at 4:14pm

• Date listed

  13 February 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £78,702 to £107,131
• Pay scale: Group 5 - L18 to L31

What skills and experience we're looking for

The Headteacher will:

• Support the School’s Governing Body to establish and sustain the school’s ethos and strategic direction and serve in the best interests of the pupils, staff and wider community through clear leadership and professional conduct to foster a positive culture
• Fulfil the requirements and duties set out in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document relating to the Conditions of Employment of a Headteacher
• Ensure the school effectively and efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks, meets all statutory duties and that staff understand their professional responsibilities and are held to account
• Have ambitious expectations for all pupils with SEN and disabilities and make sure the school works effectively with parents, carers and professionals to identify additional needs and provide support and adaptation where appropriate
• Ensure the school fulfils statutory duties regarding the SEND Code of Practice
• Have experience of managing a Specialist Secondary school setting with Exam accreditations
• Keep up to date with developments in education and seek training and continuing professional development to meet the needs of all staff members
• Develop strategies for school improvement that are realistic, timely, suited to the school’s context and are effectively implemented, monitored and measured
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of all children and young people and the wellbeing of staff within the school
• Establish and sustain high expectations of behaviour for all pupils, built upon relationships, rules and routines which are understood clearly and consistently applied by staff and pupils
• Establish curriculum leadership, high quality teaching with formative assessment and use valid, reliable and proportionate approaches to assessing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum
• Ensure rigorous approaches to managing Health and Safety, Compliance, Risk, Financial management and robust Governance
• Embody the school values that aim to prepare pupils for Positive Futures

What the school offers its staff

• Positive friendly working environment
• Opportunity to work with amazing young people and staff
• Subsidised Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Talented and supportive SLT & Governing Body
• A supportive environment where your talents will be encouraged, nurtured and rewarded
• Access to Wellbeing platforms, including Cycle to work scheme, Employee benefits and discounted gym membership
• Staff wellbeing day
• Wellbeing Breakfast
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to Counselling services
• Access to Physiotherapy
• Access to GP Services
• Free Parking

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

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.

This job post has expired.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Head Teacher Recruitment Pack High Well School 2026.pdf - 433 KB (opens in new tab)

About High Well School

• School type: Special school, ages 9 to 16
• School size: 103 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 9 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: High Well School website
• Email address: recruitment@highwell.org.uk
• Phone number: 01924572100
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/high-well-school

High Well School is a Special School which caters for a minimum of seventy 9-16 year olds with an Education Health & Care Plan for severe and profound social, emotional and mental health needs as well as other learning difficulties. The School meets the needs of some of Wakefield’s most complex and vulnerable young people.

High Well endeavours to provide a nurturing environment with personalised support and specialist teaching to enable our pupils to re-engage in learning, develop their social and emotional skills and leave with not only appropriate qualifications but the skills required to succeed in life after school. This is reflected in our vision of ‘Preparing for Positive Futures’.

Arranging a visit to High Well School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@highwell.org.uk.

School location

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