Headteacher – Specialist Education
Salary: £79,000 – £85,000 per annum
Location: West Sussex
40 hours per week | Term Time Only
Liam at Amber Mace is working alongside a specialist education provider to find a Head Teacher for a school in West Sussex.
Are you an exceptional educational leader ready to shape the future of specialist education?
We are seeking an inspirational, strategic and compassionate Headteacher to lead a thriving specialist education setting that supports children and young people with a diverse range of additional needs. This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation that is passionate about helping every learner achieve their full potential.
Our specialist provision supports children and young people from early years through to adulthood, providing education for pupils with complex physical disabilities, neurological conditions, autism, speech, language and communication needs, alongside specialist respite and post-19 pathways. Our aim is simple: to create an environment where every learner can thrive, develop confidence and achieve meaningful outcomes.
With outstanding specialist facilities including sensory spaces, hydrotherapy and swimming facilities, woodland learning environments and purpose-built learning spaces, we provide an exceptional environment for both students and staff.
The Opportunity
As Headteacher, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across our specialist education provision, ensuring the highest standards of teaching, learning, safeguarding and student wellbeing.
Working alongside an experienced senior leadership team, you'll inspire and develop a highly skilled multidisciplinary workforce while driving continuous improvement, innovation and sustainable growth.
This is a unique opportunity for a leader who combines educational excellence with commercial awareness and who is passionate about developing services that make a genuine difference to children, young people and their families.
What You'll Be Responsible For
- Providing inspirational leadership across our specialist education provision.
- Creating a culture of high expectations, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Leading and developing multidisciplinary teams to achieve outstanding outcomes.
- Ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding, wellbeing and compliance.
- Managing budgets, resources and operational performance effectively.
- Building strong relationships with families, local authorities, commissioners, governors and partner agencies.
- Supporting the continued development and growth of specialist educational services.
- Championing innovative practice and ensuring every learner receives the highest quality education and support.
About You
We're looking for an experienced and ambitious educational leader who is passionate about specialist education and committed to achieving exceptional outcomes.
You'll bring:
- Significant senior leadership experience within education.
- Experience leading SEND or specialist education services.
- A proven track record of driving school improvement and delivering excellent educational outcomes.
- Strong operational leadership, including finance, HR, safeguarding and compliance.
- The ability to motivate, inspire and develop high-performing teams.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Commercial awareness with experience supporting organisational growth and sustainability.
- A collaborative leadership style that places children and young people at the heart of every decision.
- Most importantly, you'll share our belief that every child and young person deserves the opportunity to lead a fulfilling, meaningful and successful life.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to lead an established and highly respected specialist education provision while helping shape its future.
We offer:
- Salary of £79,000–£85,000 per annum.
- 40 hours per week, term-time only, supporting a healthy work-life balance.
- The opportunity to influence the strategic direction of a growing specialist education service.
- A supportive and experienced leadership team.
- Excellent professional development and career progression opportunities.
- A collaborative culture where innovation is encouraged and success is celebrated.
- The opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of children, young people and their families.
Our Values
- Everything we do is underpinned by our values. We are:
- Supportive – enabling everyone to reach their full potential.
- Ambitious – striving for the very best outcomes.
- Loyal – putting children, young people and colleagues at the centre of everything we do.
- Unique – embracing innovation without compromising quality.
- Transparent – acting with honesty, integrity and respect.
- Engaging – working collaboratively with families, colleagues and partners.
- Together, we create opportunities that empower children and young people to achieve meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're an inspiring Headteacher with the vision, leadership and passion to lead a specialist education setting into its next chapter, we'd love to hear from you.
Join us and help shape brighter futures for children and young people, while leading a dedicated team committed to excellence every day.
If this sounds like something that may interest you contact Liam at Amber Mace on 01904 571187 or email your CV over to [email protected].
Pay: £79,460.00-£85,547.00 per year
Work Location: In person
