Assistant Head of School

Overview and Responsibilities

Assistant Head of School – Aurora Meldreth Manor School

Location: Meldreth, Nr Royston, Cambridgeshire/Hertfordshire border

Contract Type: Full time, Permanent

Hours: 40 hours per week

Salary: L1-L6 (£49,781 - £56,316 per annum)

At The Aurora Group, we believe in giving people the opportunities they need to lead fulfilling, independent lives. Established in 2015, we are now the UK’s sixth largest provider of education, care and support services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Here at Aurora Meldreth Manor, many of our students have complex learning difficulties, some associated with profound physical disabilities and/or medical needs. Their ages range between 6 – 19. 15 students live within our on-site residential children’s home, with the remaining students attending on a day basis.

Whatever a student’s abilities or challenges, we aim to provide them with memorable experiences and stimulating activities that promote self-esteem and personal independence. This approach is enhanced by the imaginative use of a variety of suitable and interesting resources and environments – from the rich experiences of sound, colour and touch in the sensory room, through to energising rebound therapy and physical exercises in the hydrotherapy pool.

The school is growing in size and we are about to commence on the refurbishment of buildings to allow us to increase the number of students on roll.

We are recruiting for an Assistant Head of School/Exams Lead to join the leadership team at Meldreth Manor School.

The Role

To undertake overall responsibility for the school in the absence of the Head of School and to lead on school examinations.

To achieve in this role, you will be someone who inspires creativity and collaboration, a strong leader and a passionate advocate for your students, finding ways to deliver educational outcomes that make a real difference to them. It is an exciting time to be part of Aurora and this is a unique career opportunity to make your mark on our growing services.

Key duties

• Working closely with staff and students to maintain the school’s strategic objectives
• Assisting the Head of School in ongoing monitoring and evaluation of our Quality Improvement Plan
• Leading our staff by monitoring their progress whilst encouraging and contributing to their ongoing training and professional development
• Maintaining responsibility for the welfare, conduct and progress of our students, ensuring that the needs and priorities for individuals are effectively disseminated to all staff.
• Working in partnership with parents, carers, external agencies and the wider community to foster positive relationships, thereby improving pupil achievement, personal development and inclusion opportunities.
• Leading, monitoring and evaluating the content and effectiveness of the school curriculum in partnership with other key members of staff whilst also monitoring student attainment and progress

A full job description is available on request, please contact kirsty.wilkinson@the-aurora-group.com

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• Qualified teacher status.
• Leadership experience

Desirable Qualifications:

• Accredited training in specific areas of special education, e.g. PMLD/SLD/ASD needs
• NPQSL

Experience:

• Show evidence of at least 5 years successful proven track record of excellent creative and structured teaching within the special needs environment.
• Experience of teaching in a specialist environment.
• Evidence of major whole school responsibilities and experience of turning policy into effective and successful practice.
• Experience of working with and developing links with the community
• Leadership of a significant area or phase or inclusion, including responsibility for raising standards across the whole school.
• Experience of working with and involving school governors/trustees or executives

Professional Knowledge

• A clear understanding of the essential qualities necessary for effective teaching and learning.
• Experience of using effective behaviour and teaching strategies, preferably within a special school setting
• Understanding of the implementation of TEACCH or other similar ASD intervention and support strategies.
• Up to date knowledge of statutory regulations and guidance relating to the post including understanding of OFSTED requirements and latest developments in special education.

Benefits and Additional Information

What’s on offer:

• Full training and continued support
• Life assurance and pension
• Health cash back plan
• Car lease scheme
• Bike to work scheme 
• Perk box
• Free parking

How to Apply: 

To apply for this role, please visit our careers place www.theauroragroup.co.uk/careers or for more information on this position please contact Kirsty in the Recruitment Team at kirsty.wilkinson@the-aurora-group.com

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.