Senior Leader - West Somerset

Willow Vale School, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2JD

4 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  28 June 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  12 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Subject: English
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: L2-L6
• Additional allowances:

  L2-L6

Senior Leader - West Somerset job summary

Willow Vale School are seeking to appoint permanent full time Class Teacher and Centre Lead for our Minehead campus - MPS/UPS to start September 2026.

We are looking for dynamic, resilient and flexible teachers to join our team.

Willow Vale School is a newly established and forward‑thinking provision created from the former Bridge School Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane Partnership College (TDPC). Spread across six specialist sites in the Bridgwater and Taunton areas, we provide flexible, personalised education for children and young people with a wide range of needs.

Our work is guided by three core values that shape everything we do:
Be Safe. Be Kind. Belong.
These values underpin our culture and ensure every learner feels supported, respected and part of a community where they can thrive.

Students join Willow Vale through several pathways. Our main remit is to work with and support young people who are not able to access mainstream schools, for a variety of reasons. Whatever the route, our aim is to provide high‑quality, highly personalised programmes that rebuild confidence, re‑engage learners and prepare them for their next steps.

Teachers will be expected to support HLTAs in delivery and planning of lessons. In addition, teachers will be key teachers / tutors for small groups of learners.

There is a need to be flexible in their approach, be sympathetic to the individual needs of students and be able to differentiate to a high level to work within our multi-site school in the Minehead area. Ideally you should have experience working with young people who may have significant gaps in their education to help them re-engage in their learning.

We can offer a range of CPD opportunities and the opportunity to work as part of a very skilled, supportive and experienced team. There will be opportunities for career progression as part of the wider partnership of schools, as The Bridge works within a formal partnership with both Polden Bower and Avalon Schools.

Please contact Kim Lawrence, Headteacher, should you need any further information. Enquiries are welcome and visits are highly encouraged. Please call 01823 349338 to arrange an appointment.

If you feel you have what it takes to work with us to achieve the very best for our students, we would very much like to hear from you.

Willow Vale School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts require a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure, medical clearance, an online check, proof of the right to work in the UK and satisfactory references.

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for the role.

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.

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.

About Willow Vale School

• School type: Local authority maintained school, ages 5 to 16
• School size: 59 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Willow Vale School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-bridge-school-sedgemoor

The Bridge School, Sedgemoor is one of four Pupil Referral Units commissioned by Somerset County Council and Somerset schools. We provide services through a number of centres for students who have a range of social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. All students are referred through their mainstream schools in the Sedgemoor area.

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