Special School Headteacher

Inner London Leadership Range (L28-34)

We are looking for an inspirational and dedicated Headteacher to lead Castlebar School into its next phase of development and growth.

Castlebar School, a maintained special school in the London Borough of Ealing, serves pupils aged 4-11 years with moderate to severe learning difficulties including autism and other complex needs.

Currently, we have 184 pupils and 100 staff members. Our high-quality facilities include well-equipped classrooms, outdoor learning areas, a specialist food technology room, art and music rooms, and various therapy and intervention rooms. Our most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023 rated us as ‘Outstanding.’

Our vision is to provide an inclusive, high quality education for children aged 4-11 years with complex SEN needs. We offer a stimulating and enriching curriculum that provides a wide range of exciting, personalised learning opportunities, enabling our pupils to develop essential life skills and become as independent as possible.

We have a committed and highly skilled workforce, an enthusiastic Senior Leadership team, a supportive board of governors, and the most amazing children who inspire us daily.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced senior leader with a passion for special education. You must have the ability and enthusiasm to ensure that everyone involved in the school can help all children reach their potential. In return, Castlebar School offers a uniquely rewarding work environment, with a vibrant and supportive school community eager to work in partnership with you.

For further details about our school, please visit our website at ww.castlebar.ealing.sch.uk.

The candidate pack and additional information are available for download at www.tes.com.

We warmly encourage visits to the school. To arrange a visit, please contact our School Business Manager, Philippa Quenby, at pquenby@castlebar.ealing.sch.uk or 020 8998 3135.

Application deadline: 10 October 2024 (midnight)

Interview and Assessment: 13 and 14 November 2024

Castlebar School is committed to promoting and achieving equality of opportunity for all students, parents, staff, governors, visitors and job applicants.

Castlebar School is committed to upholding the highest possible safeguarding standards and follows safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults. This role involves safeguarding responsibilities. All staff at Castlebar School must adhere to statutory guidance, our safeguarding policy and staff code of conduct in order to fulfil these responsibilities. The successful candidate will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service. Further information can be found at www.gov.uk

Also, in line with KCSIE 2024 and safer recruitment practices, the school may conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates. The online search is part of our safeguarding checks and will seek publicly available information on candidates’ suitability to work with children. Shortlisted candidates will be provided with further guidance and will be asked to clarify their online presence.

This post is exempt from the rehabilitation of offender’s act 1974, which provides that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are protected so that they do not need to be disclosed. Shortlisted candidates are required to complete a self-declaration form. It is an offence to apply for this role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. For roles that involve regulated activity with vulnerable adults an adult barred list check is required.