LEAF Centre Manager
Willow Tree Academy, Rotherham, S65 2JW21 days remaining to apply
Start date details
October
Closing date
3 July 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
12 June 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £32,916.00 - £45,352.00 Annually (Actual)
LEAF Centre Manager job summary
Are you a passionate and inspiring leader with a commitment to transforming the lives of children facing Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) challenges?
We are seeking an exceptional, enthusiastic, and dedicated LEAF Centre Manager to lead our specialist provision, supporting pupils who require intensive intervention to overcome barriers to learning and successfully re-engage with education. This is a unique and rewarding opportunity for an experienced leader who is committed to inclusion and believes every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.
The LEAF Centre provides targeted support for academy pupils and commissioned placements through structured intervention programmes designed to improve wellbeing, behaviour, attendance, engagement, and academic progress. Our aim is to help pupils develop the confidence, resilience, and skills they need to successfully return to mainstream education and achieve their full potential.
As LEAF Centre Manager, you will provide both strategic leadership and operational management of the centre while maintaining a significant teaching and pastoral role. You will lead a dedicated team of SEMH practitioners, oversee the delivery of a high-quality curriculum tailored to individual needs, and work collaboratively with schools, families, and external agencies to secure the best outcomes for every pupil.
We are looking for someone who:
Has a proven track record of successful leadership and management within an educational setting.
Has experience of working with children with SEMH needs and a strong understanding of trauma-informed and inclusive practice.
Can deliver high-quality teaching and learning that engages and motivates vulnerable learners.
Demonstrates exceptional pastoral skills and can build positive, trusting relationships with pupils and families.
Has experience of working effectively with multi-agency partners to support children with complex needs.
Is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Has the vision, resilience, and determination to lead continuous improvement and make a lasting difference to young people's lives.
In this role, you will:
Lead the day-to-day operation and strategic development of the LEAF Centre.
Manage and support a team of SEMH practitioners and support staff.
Deliver an innovative curriculum designed to meet the academic, social, emotional, and behavioural needs of pupils.
Monitor and evaluate the impact of interventions to ensure successful outcomes.
Provide intensive pastoral support, mentoring, and behaviour intervention for pupils experiencing significant challenges.
Work closely with home schools, families, inclusion panels, and external agencies to coordinate support and reintegration plans.
Champion safeguarding, attendance, wellbeing, and positive mental health.
Foster a culture of success through celebration, recognition, and meaningful community engagement.
We can offer:
The opportunity to lead a highly valued specialist provision and make a genuine difference to children's lives.
A supportive and collaborative leadership team.
High-quality professional development and leadership opportunities.
A strong commitment to staff wellbeing.
The chance to work within a values-driven organisation where inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.
If you are an ambitious and compassionate leader who shares our commitment to ensuring every child succeeds, regardless of their starting point, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Join us and help shape brighter futures for the children and families we serve.
Willow Tree Academy Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
Further information about the job
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
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Willow Tree Academy
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
- Website
- Willow Tree Academy website
Our school mission statement states our commitment to ‘engaging hearts and minds in
the joy of learning’ and I am fortunate to have such a talented team who go ‘the extra mile’.
My staff all offer great commitment to your children and to the community of Herringthorpe
too. Teamwork, creativity, taking responsibility, empathy and a high sense of personal selfesteem
are just some of the qualities that we aim to develop in your children. To be able to
do this we need to work in partnership with you.
We too are proud of our outstanding provision and because of this we support other schools in
challenging circumstances. Our collaboration with Greasbrough Primary School has been an amazing
success, with the school emerging rapidly from Special Measures in less than eighteen months.
Strengthening our partnership was the next step and we have now formed Willow Tree Academy which
also no includes Rockingham Junior and Infant School and Roughwood Primary School.
Each year the school goes from strength to strength – we believe every day is special and no time can be
wasted in the pursuit of excellence. However, you are the first and foremost educators of your children
and we value your support and time with Home Learning and most important, reading at home. We look
forward to working together in partnership to help your child be the best that they can be!
Head office location
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