Assistant Head – Pastoral Lead and DSL

If you are committed to enriching and improving the lives of young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, if you would like to join a team which delivers an exciting and diverse curriculum which is not driven by the National Curriculum or exam outcomes, and if you want to work in a vibrant Special Academy - we want to hear from you. Students are taught through a differentiated and bespoke curriculum designed to enhance academic and social development, with a strong emphasis on independence skills. The curriculum delivers a thematic, cyclical approach to provide a meaningful and interesting context for the development of basic skills, knowledge and understanding while providing the relevant National Curriculum requirements. Classes are grouped into stage, not age, allowing for innovative and creative approaches to teaching and learning and are taught predominantly by one class teacher, supported by additional class adults. The Academy provides support for the social and emotional needs of students through a qualified and skilled therapeutic team, underpinned by a pastoral support team. The offer to students is enhanced by additional specialist therapies and interventions. Our focus is to recruit teachers who are keen to grasp the possibilities offered by the Academy where practice is based on SEN pedagogy and evidence: who would relish getting involved in exciting national professional development projects, and who want to work as part of a multidisciplinary and specialist team. The teaching team actively informs developments and collectively identifies the best ways to improve the school further. The Assistant Headteacher, Pastoral Lead, forms part of the core senior leadership team alongside the Co-Headteachers, providing strategic leadership of pastoral systems to ensure a fully integrated approach between behaviour, wellbeing and learning. The Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral) works in close partnership with the Assistant Headteacher (Inclusion, SEND and Personal Development) to ensure that inclusive provision and pastoral systems are aligned. The post holder, as Designated Safeguarding Lead, will lead the operational management of safeguarding, ensure safeguarding systems are fully compliant with statutory guidance and embedded within the culture of the school. The Co-Headteachers retain overall accountability for safeguarding across the academy Northern House Academy’s approach is rooted in relational practice, nurture and high expectations, ensuring pupils feel safe, understood and able to engage positively with learning. The Assistant Headteacher will play a key role in ensuring relational approaches underpin behaviour systems, pastoral provision and staff practice across the academy. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Assistant Headteacher will contribute to whole-school leadership and will deputise for the Co-Headteachers when required. Please see the attached pack for details of the role.