Assistant Head of Site - Autism Base New Bridge School, Hollinwood, Oldham

The Trustees are looking to recruit to the post of

Assistant Head of Site - Autism Base New Bridge School, Hollinwood, Oldham

Leadership Pay Range L3–L7: £49,574-£54,816 per annum

Commencing as soon as possible

We have an opportunity for an ambitious, passionate leader to take on the role of our Assistant Head for our Interactive Base team. Build your meaningful future with us and take your career to the next level.

Role Highlights:

• Enable pupils with complex needs to reach aspirational destinations
• Lead your team in our outstanding setting
• Model exceptional PMLD/CLDD practices
• Develop your own career with progression opportunities

If you’re the kind of person that is committed to improving the lives of children, by having the ability to build good working relationships, utilising organisational skills, being flexible and innovative, and enjoy working with a range of different stakeholders, then you are the person to support our children and staff. We pride ourselves on being the New Bridge ‘community’, a vocational destination, not just a job. 

We are part of the wider New Bridge Multi Academy Trust (MAT), New Bridge School is a special needs school for pupils and students between the ages of 11 and 19 across four sites within Oldham.

New Bridge school is an Outstanding rated provision which caters for 340 pupils with a wide range of SEND, from moderate learning difficulties to profound and multiple learning difficulties, including severe and complex learning difficulties. The school also caters for pupils with physical disabilities, multisensory impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments and specific conditions including autism spectrum condition. Making a difference to the lives of these young people could be the most important job you will ever have. All pupils have an EHC plan. In order to cater to the needs of the range of pupils the school has developed a range of different provisions.

One of which, is our Interactive Base Provision. The Interactive Base (IB) provides an appropriate learning environment for learners with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and complex learning difficulties and disabilities (CLDD). The aim of the IB is to provide a stimulating, engaging and sensory curriculum that is both broad and balanced.  The IB groups offer a base for their learners which provides routine, consistent specialist staffing and encourages independence and communication. The pupils within the IB are grouped in classes which go across age groups and Key Stages to best meet their needs.

All pupils in IB have individual care plans which detail interventions required for their care and ability to engage fully with all aspects of school life. They may require support with feeding and swallowing, speech and language programmes which can include assistive technologies, physiotherapy programmes, behaviour interventions, personal care and assisting with medical needs. The curriculum is designed to meet these complex needs and is developed so that all pupils have full access to all the school’s facilities. These pupils are working towards a destination of taking part in their community and are likely to require lifelong support to do so

The class teachers in these settings focus largely on EHCP outcomes and deliver the majority of subjects to pupils. Enrichment subjects like PE, Music and Art are delivered by a specialist teacher. The pupils in these groups may have associated sensory sensitivities and require support from staff to engage in sensory diets to regulate their level of arousal. Some pupils have behaviour plans with strategies to support proactive interventions to successfully support the regulation of emotions.

Groups in IB are usually no more than 10 pupils supported by one teacher and up to four or five TA’s depending on pupil need. At the moment, we have 6 Interactive Base class groups. With this post, we would be interested in applicants with experience of supporting children or young people with CLDD or Special Educational Needs within the primary or secondary sector

As the Assistant Head for the Interactive Base, due to the complex nature of our students, high levels of emotional and physical resilience are needed. However, the knowledge that our work is making a positive impact in helping the young people to grow and work towards independence brings great reward.

This is an exciting time for the Base as it continues to develop and enhance all aspects of its provision.   If you share our determination and ambition to ensure that this provision is a beacon of outstanding practice this role offers an exciting opportunity to develop in a forward thinking and outward looking organisation. 

Your continued development will also be a priority and you will receive excellent support and advice from a talented team of colleagues who will invest in your professional learning. Candidates should be able to demonstrate recent, successful, and sustained impact as a leader along with experience of working with children and young people with PMLD and hold a strong belief in the underlying need to build strong relationships. You will have a positive attitude which will inspire, enthuse and motivate pupils, staff and the wider school community. You must be confident, approachable and have the skills to work collaboratively, build effective teams and also to be a present and visible leader who leads by example. Above all, you will share the Trust’s vision of ‘Creating Meaningful Futures’ for its students and ensuring they are safe and happy.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate how they meet the essential criteria outlined in the job specification.

Although based initially at our Roman Road site, all staff are employed by the MAT and are expected to work at any site within the New Bridge Group

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment.   

This post will be subject to a number of pre-employment checks including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and proof of right to work in the UK in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. It will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here.  

For successful candidates, an online search will be carried out as part of our due-diligence in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023.  

We strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.  

Salary: L3-L7 - £49,574 - £54,816 per annum

Working Hours: 1.0 fte

Status: Permanent

Closing Date: Tuesday 10th December (9am)

Interviews: Week commencing 16th December 2024

Further info: Debbie Birch-Hall, Deputy Head of School - dhall@newbridgegroup.org

Completed applications to be sent to: recruitment@newbridgegroup.org