Lead Teacher (TLR) -Emergent Pathway

Ravenscliffe High School, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 0RZ

31 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  18 March 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  13 February 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: MPS/UPS
• Additional allowances:

  SEN2 and TLR2A

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are seeking an experienced, enthusiastic and dynamic practitioner to lead our Emergent Pathway. This is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring or established middle leader to shape curriculum, practice and provision for learners with complex SEND, while being a valued member of our middle leadership team.

This post attracts SEN2 + TLR2a and carries responsibility for the leadership, development and implementation of the Emergent Pathway.

About Ravenscliffe High School

Ravenscliffe High School is a LA maintained secondary generic specialist school, organised into four distinct learning pathways:

• Sensory
• Emergent
• Semi‑formal
• Formal

Our pathway model allows us to deliver highly personalised, developmentally appropriate learning for every pupil.

About the Emergent Pathway

The Emergent Pathway supports students with complex SEND, including:

• Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD)
• Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC)
• Significant communication needs
• In some cases, behaviours that challenge

Students are typically working at pre‑EYFS developmental levels, using a wide range of communication approaches including:

• Verbal communication
• Signing
• Visual symbols
• AAC systems

This is a challenging, creative and deeply rewarding pathway, requiring a leader who can think flexibly, inspire others, and champion progress in its widest sense.

The Role

The successful candidate will:

• Lead and influence staff practice within the pathway and contribute to the development of whole‑school SEND pedagogy
• Teach predominantly within the Emergent Pathway, with limited teaching across other areas of the school
• Lead and support a large, skilled team of staff, ensuring consistency, quality and high expectations
• Be responsible for a mixed‑ability pastoral group
• Work closely with senior and other middle leaders to develop whole‑school practice and provision

Every day in a specialist setting is different. We are looking for a leader with a positive, resilient and solution‑focused “can‑do” attitude, who is motivated by challenge and committed to making a genuine difference.

Who We’re Looking For

Our ideal candidate will:

• Be a motivational and inspirational leader, with high expectations of both staff and students
• Be an excellent classroom practitioner with experience in specialist or complex SEND settings
• Have a strong understanding of teaching and learning for pupils with significant communication needs
• Be able to nurture progress and independence for learners regardless of starting point
• Be approachable, collaborative and committed to working across pathways and teams
• Have professional confidence and curiosity to develop and implement novel ideas.
• Support and promote a culture of excellence, equality, wellbeing and safeguarding
• Build strong relationships with families, professionals and external agencies
• Have experience working with pupils who are pre‑verbal, non‑verbal and have ASC.

What the school offers its staff

• A unique and rewarding leadership role working with incredible young people; no two days are the same
• A supportive and caring staff culture, where teamwork, wellbeing and professional respect matter
• A bespoke, student focussed curriculum model, flexible to meet the needs of every learner
• A modern and stimulating teaching environment
• Dedicated TLR time and leaders committed to succession planning and leadership development
• Meaningful professional development and career progression opportunities
• A team that works hard, supports one another, and values work–life balance

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

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants to posts that are exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act will require a DBS (formerly CRB) from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

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

Lead Teacher - Emergent JD+PS.pdf - 229 KB (opens in new tab)

About Ravenscliffe High School

• School type: Special school, ages 11 to 19
• School size: 257 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Ravenscliffe High School website
• Email address: victoria.wyer@ravenscliffe.calderdale.sch.uk
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/ravenscliffe-high-school

Ravenscliffe High School is an innovative and ambitious generic 11-19 specialist school in Halifax. It is Calderdale’s only maintained secondary specialist school, catering for the needs of over 250 students with a range of additional needs including moderate, severe, profound, and complex learning difficulties. Students may also have autism, speech, language and communication needs, physical/medical difficulties, sensory impairments, and SEMH needs.
The school has an outstanding reputation locally and beyond and has consistently been judged by Ofsted, most recently in October 2022, as an outstanding Special School. Student numbers have increased significantly in recent years from 134 students in 2014 to the current 256 on role. This growth is predicted to continue in future years. This expansion in numbers resulted in Ravenscliffe becoming a two-site school from September 2018. Further expansion has recently taken place at the main site with the addition of a five-classroom annex in September 2021.

The school has the highest aspirations for its students. It is focused on its simple aim of recognising and responding to their individual needs and providing them with a relevant and challenging curriculum whilst working closely with parents and carers. This is all within a safe, happy, stimulating and supportive environment built on positive relationships, good communication, recognising and celebrating achievement and mutual support. At the school’s heart is a partnership between an experienced and committed SLT, a top-quality staff team with genuine expertise in the field of SEND and its many stakeholders.

This is an exciting time for the school as it continues to develop and enhance all aspects of its provision. If you share this determination and ambition, it offers an outstanding opportunity to develop in a forward thinking and outward looking school.

Arranging a visit to Ravenscliffe High School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email victoria.wyer@ravenscliffe.calderdale.sch.uk.

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