Headteacher

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!

Job Title:        Headteacher

Location:        Options Higford, Shifnal, TF11 9ET

Salary:       Up to £80,000 per annum dependent on experience and qualifications

Hours:             Monday to Friday

Contract:         Permanent, Term Time Only

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

Are you an innovative Headteacher/Senior Leader committed to improving the lives of pupils and young people with a primary diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Continuum and additional complex needs.

This is an excellent opportunity for an inspiring Headteacher to join our fantastic team at Options Higford in Shifnal. 

As Headteacher, you will continue our vision and ethos of ‘Thinking and Learning Differently’ and promote a relentless focus on high quality, creative learning, delivering our pupil's educational needs, and maximising pupils’ achievement and ability to develop your strategic thinking in response to their complex.

About the role

You will exercise dynamic leadership of the school and ensure the full development of the vision for the service, its promotion, and continuous improvement. You will create and maintain outstanding outcomes in the education of our students.

You will continue to drive our shared vision and strategic plan through inspirational leadership and motivates pupils, staff, and everyone within our school community and beyond. Your leadership should express core educational values and moral purpose and include stakeholders’ values and beliefs. The strategic planning process is critical to sustaining school improvement and ensuring that the school moves forward for the benefit of its pupils. 

You will collaborate with the school's senior leadership team and the Regional Director to provide an inclusive approach to outstanding educational and therapeutic provision which is well established in the school.

You will have overall responsibility for the strategic leadership of the school whilst maintaining ongoing communication with schools within the London Region to ensure that the provision and standards are consistently high across the schools.

Essential:

• Relevant experience in the specialist area of the service, i.e. relevant experience working with young people/young adults with autistic spectrum disorders and/or challenging behaviour
• Relevant experience as a Head Teacher or Deputy Head Teacher in a Complex Special Needs School.                       
• Experience with Ofsted procedures/inspections and working with School Improvement Partners.                              
• Manage budgets effectively and ensure cost efficiency and financial compliance.                                        
• Relevant Teaching Qualification              

Please see the job description for more details and information. 

About us

Options Higford School is an Independent School for pupils and young people aged 5 – 19 years. There are currently 50 students on roll, but we are currently going through a period of growth up to 60 students. We specialise in meeting the learning needs of students with Autism and additional needs including Learning Disability, and the behaviours that may challenge resulting from those diagnoses. We offer a bespoke curriculum with personalised timetables within small class groups (maximum 5 students) supported by high levels of skilled staff who all receive the training and support required to deliver both Autism and Trauma Informed practice.

Options Higford is set in 28 acres of beautiful Shropshire countryside.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

Benefits

Your health and well-being are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions.
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all; we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day knowing that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks, and successful applicants will be given a fully enhanced DBS.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 

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