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- Tasks: Lead a new specialist school, ensuring outstanding outcomes for students with complex needs.
- Company: Join Acorn Education, a leading provider of specialist education in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible benefits, and exceptional mental health support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Must have Qualified Teacher Status and National Professional Qualification for Headship.
- Other info: Work in a supportive environment focused on personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Term Time Only
Start: February 2026
About the Role
As Headteacher, you will provide clear, inspiring and effective leadership to ensure the school delivers outstanding outcomes for children and young people. Working within the strategic framework of Acorn Education & Care, you will be responsible for the overall performance, development and success of the school, creating a culture where pupils thrive, staff feel motivated and excellence is the shared ambition.
Key Objectives
- Deliver outstanding outcomes for children and young people that reflect their individual needs, abilities and aspirations
- Create and sustain a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for pupils and staff
- Ensure full compliance with statutory requirements and regulatory frameworks, achieving the highest possible inspection outcomes
- Lead, motivate and develop a highly skilled staff team committed to continuous improvement and professional growth
- Secure the commercial success of the school through strong occupancy, effective cost management and strategic growth planning
- Drive effective strategic and operational planning, including self-evaluation and school improvement
- Establish and promote a clear, shared vision aligned with Acorn Education & Care that inspires pupils, staff and the wider school community
Leadership and Educational Outcomes
- Lead the assessment, planning and delivery of personalised educational and developmental programmes that enable children and young people to achieve their full potential
- Ensure pupils leave the school equipped for fulfilling lives and positive contributions to society
- Take overall responsibility for the success and performance of the school
- Line manage all staff, including volunteers and contractors, fostering high standards and accountability
Safe and Effective School Environment
- Ensure robust health and safety policies, procedures and systems are in place and consistently applied
- Work closely with Acorn Education & Care to implement best practice across the school
- Maintain rigorous systems for monitoring, recording and responding to incidents and concerns
Qualifications Required
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
- Completion of the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)
- Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development
This role is suited to an ambitious and values-driven leader who can balance educational excellence, staff development and strategic growth while keeping children and young people at the heart of every decision.
About Us
Dibden Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school based in Southampton. We provide inclusive education within a safe and nurturing environment for students with complex needs, including social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) challenges, communication and interaction difficulties, and associated behaviours. Our focus is on meeting each pupil’s individual needs and helping them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs.
Why join Acorn Education?
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 in the knowledge 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 to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing 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
- Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
*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. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
Headteacher in Southampton employer: Dibden Park School
Contact Detail:
Dibden Park School Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Headteacher in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in education, attend local events, and join online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the school and its values. Tailor your responses to show how your leadership style aligns with their mission. We want to see that you’re not just a fit for the role, but for the whole community!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. The more comfortable you are, the better you’ll shine during the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Headteacher in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for education and leadership shine through. We want to see how you can inspire others and create a thriving environment for both pupils and staff.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to reflect the specific values and objectives of Acorn Education & Care. Highlight your experience in creating supportive environments and achieving outstanding outcomes for children.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to convey your ideas and experiences, making it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect fit for the Headteacher role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Dibden Park School.
How to prepare for a job interview at Dibden Park School
✨Know Your Vision
Before the interview, take some time to reflect on your vision for the school. Think about how you can align it with Acorn Education & Care's values. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've inspired others in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how it has positively impacted staff and students in the past. Use concrete examples to illustrate how you've motivated teams and fostered a culture of continuous improvement.
✨Understand the Regulatory Framework
Brush up on the statutory requirements and regulatory frameworks relevant to the role. Being able to discuss how you ensure compliance and achieve high inspection outcomes will demonstrate your readiness for the position.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to create a nurturing environment. Think of situations where you've successfully handled challenges related to student welfare or staff development, and be ready to share those stories.
