Headteacher for Pencalenick School

Job Title: Headteacher for Pencalenick School

Closing date: 8am 13th January 2025

Short listing: 14th January

Interview dates: 20th & 21st January

Start date: As soon as possible

Contract type: Full Time

Salary Range: L24-L30 (£87 650 - £101 532)

Contract term: Permanent

Exciting Leadership Opportunity at The Special Partnership Trust

We're a specialist educational trust on a journey to raise the bar and set new standards for Special Educational Needs (SEN) throughout the South West.

We are not afraid to do things differently and we never settle for ordinary. We aspire to be the best in everything that we do. Through collaboration, co-operation and creativity - underpinned by an ethos built on inclusivity, empowerment and transparency - we aim to inspire every single young person (as well as their families and our staff) to be the very best versions of themselves they possibly can. We do this through an ambitious, specialist curriculum that goes beyond school life and focuses on living as well as learning. We step outside the comfort zone when it’s needed, we care more than people think is needed or necessary, and we genuinely want to improve the lives and experiences of our learners.

The Special Partnership Trust is seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to design, develop, and implement the educational offer at Pencalenick School. This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary school leader to join a high-achieving and aspirational Trust committed to delivering outstanding outcomes for students with Special Educational Needs (SEND).

We are particularly keen to hear from senior leaders with a proven track record in SEN leadership, school improvement, and organisational development. Experience within a Multi-Academy Trust is desirable, but not essential. The Trust is flexible regarding the start date to accommodate the right candidate.

This role would be ideal for an accomplished SEN leader or Headteacher who is eager to build on their leadership experience by taking the next step within a collaborative Multi-Academy Trust. The successful applicant will have a deep commitment to providing a high-quality SEND provision, along with a strong background in curriculum innovation, school improvement, and staff development. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as is the ability to engage, inspire, and motivate staff and the local community.

At The Special Partnership Trust, we are passionate about providing our students with the very best education, empowering them with the skills, resilience, and independence they need to succeed. If you share our values and vision for delivering an exceptional SEND experience, we would love to hear from you.

About Pencalenick School

This is a rare and exciting leadership opportunity to lead a highly acclaimed special school into its next stage of development and to play a key role in the future leadership of the Special Partnership Trust

Pencalenick School is set in a beautiful location close to the cathedral city of Truro in the heart of Cornwall.

It provides a creative and ambitious centre of specialist learning for 190 pupils with a range of complex learning and communication needs aged 11-16. The pupils either attend Pencalenick School or 1 of 4 Area Resource Bases in mainstream schools across Cornwall (Pencalenick has 5 sites across Cornwall).

Pencalenick School is dedicated to providing imaginative and inclusive learning opportunities that celebrate the abilities of all students, regardless of need. We set high expectations and offer the right balance of challenge, care, and support. With a strong reputation in the local community, places at Pencalenick are highly sought after. Our beautiful, well-equipped campus provides an inspiring environment for learning, with further potential for development.

The successful candidate will build on the school’s excellent legacy, bringing fresh perspectives, innovation, and a clear vision to lead Pencalenick School into its next phase of growth and development. At the heart of the school’s success is a dedicated and talented team of staff who embrace change, challenge their own practices, and continually seek new ways to support our students in achieving their personal aspirations. The new Headteacher must share this 'can-do' attitude and embody it in their leadership, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and inspiring staff and students alike to reach their full potential.

Ofsted rated Pencalenick School as a Good school (May 2019), you can read the report on the school website: Pencalenick School - Ofsted Report 2019

Pencalenick School is part of the Special Partnership Trust, so works closely with a group of specialist providers – sharing skills, knowledge and expertise to continue to develop the offer in place for staff and pupils.

For more information, visit the Pencalenick School website here.

Our Total Reward Offer:

The Special Partnership Trust recognises the importance of developing a properly implemented People Strategy to underpin the overall strategic aims of the Trust.

Our People Strategy is designed to help us attract prospective high calibre candidates, as well as drive engagement, productivity and retention of our high performing and high potential employees. It reflects our belief in putting our people first. This does not mean putting our learners second. It is based on the philosophy that if we create a positive and rewarding work environment, if our staff feel motivated, well managed and well supported, they in turn will provide the best possible outcome for our learners.

We recognise that our total reward offer, has got to consist of more than just money. We seek to provide our staff with a diverse range of benefits that support their day to day needs both at work and outside of work. These include generous leave entitlements and pension scheme as well as access to health/wellbeing tools, training & development, career pathways and opportunities to ensure they feel valued.

For further information, click here to visit the Special Partnership Trust website for our People Strategy and Benefits.

Are you ready to make a lasting impact? Join us today.

Contact Us

Informal conversations are welcomed and visits to the school are encouraged. If you would like to discuss the role in confidence please call Guy Chappell, CEO, on 07807 495402. For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact Lianne Jory, ljory@specialpartnership.org

Please visit the Special Partnership website, https://www.specialpartnership.org/ for further information about our Trust and an application pack. Completed applications should be returned to Lianne Jory, (ljory@specialpartnership.org), no later than 8am on Monday 13th January 2025.