At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a compassionate team to inspire and empower students with diverse needs.
- Company: Join Horizon Care and Education, a market leader in SEN education.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, bonuses, and extensive professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Comprehensive induction and ongoing support for your career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people while leading a supportive community.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Teacher in a SEND environment and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Want to work for a company with great values? Are you compassionate? Inspiring? Dependable? Collaborative? Then we want to hear from you! Horizon Care and Education have an opportunity for an experienced Headteacher to lead the team at our new school based in Oldham. Ideal start date will be January 2026, but no later than February 2026 with a view to the school opening after the Easter holiday.
Thorneycroft School is an independent specialist day school providing high-quality education for boys and girls. Based in Oldham, the school meets the diverse needs of pupils aged 5-16 with a variety of SEND needs. This will be the 14th school ran by Horizon Education, giving you an excellent support network and basis to run and develop the school as part of a market leading SEN educational provider. Your support network will include a forward-thinking senior management team focused on quality of education and continuous development.
Horizon operates with a set of core values – Compassionate, Inspiring, Dependable and Collaborative. We expect our leaders to exemplify our values in every aspect of their role. A true leader is one who uses these values as a compass, guiding actions, decision-making, and fulfilling our collective mission of providing the very best outcomes for our young people.
We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for an experienced and dynamic individual to join us as our Head Teacher. As a leader in our organisation, you will play a pivotal role in inspiring, motivating, and empowering our dedicated staff and students. We are seeking a leader who embodies our core values and can guide our community towards success.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Vision: Inspire and lead with a clear vision for the future of our school, fostering an environment of growth and excellence.
- Resilience: Exhibit resilience in the face of challenges, driving forward with determination and adaptability.
- Empathy: Show genuine care and understanding for the needs of both our staff and students, creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.
- High Support & High Challenge: Strive for academic excellence while providing unwavering support to students, ensuring they reach their full potential.
The successful applicants will need:
- A wealth of experience working as a Head Teacher in a similar SEND environment or setting.
- Have a good understanding about the School Improvement process, effective curriculum models and the development of process, maintain and build your understanding of requirements, helping the school move towards an outstanding rating.
- Have a thorough understanding and knowledge of the Independent School Standards.
- Ability to motivate, drive and support staff and pupils, using a person-centred approach.
- A real ‘can do, will do’ attitude, with the desire to succeed and improve our school.
- Excellent communication and top-quality relationship building skills.
- Hold Qualified Teacher status.
Why work for us?
- Occupational sick pay
- Christmas bonus
- Blue Light Card
- Colleague referral scheme with cash rewards – earn up to £2500 per referral!
- Financial wellbeing service
- Life Assurance
- Tastecard - spectacular savings on dining, pizza, cinema tickets, supermarkets, and UK attractions!
- Opportunity to progress in your career through our Education Academy, and ongoing training and professional development.
- Comprehensive and tailored induction programme including face-to-face training, online modules, shadowing, and local induction period.
- Face-to-face therapeutic training and support for all colleagues via our SHINE programme.
- Access to a wide range of free online courses for all colleagues on a variety of topics.
- Employee assistance programme – free, confidential support via Bupa.
- Supportive management and senior leaders.
- High quality CPD opportunities.
- Free eye checks.
- Community and wellbeing - Your wellbeing matters to us, and we are committed to ensuring you get all the support you need to feel good about what you do. We’re in this together.
Please note we will not interview for this role without a fully completed application pack. Closing date for this role will be 8th December. We reserve the right to close the advert before the closing date stated if we receive a high volume of applicants.
Headteacher (Thornycroft SEN School - Oldham) employer: Horizon Care and Education
Horizon Care and Education is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a compassionate and collaborative work environment at Thornycroft SEN School in Oldham. With a strong focus on employee growth through comprehensive training and support, including our unique SHINE programme, we empower our staff to inspire and lead our students towards success. Our commitment to wellbeing, alongside competitive benefits such as occupational sick pay and a Christmas bonus, makes us a rewarding place to work for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people with SEND needs.
Contact Details:
Horizon Care and Education Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Headteacher (Thornycroft SEN School - Oldham)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those who have experience with SEND. They might have insider info on the role or even put in a good word for you!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Horizon Care and Education's values. Think about how your experiences align with their core values of compassion, inspiration, dependability, and collaboration. We want to see that you live and breathe these principles!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've inspired and motivated staff and students in previous roles. We love hearing about real-life situations where you've made a difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who are ready to make an impact in our schools!
We think you need these skills to ace Headteacher (Thornycroft SEN School - Oldham)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Values:Make sure to highlight how your personal values align with ours – Compassionate, Inspiring, Dependable, and Collaborative. We want to see how you embody these in your previous roles!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the Headteacher role at Thornycroft SEN School. We love seeing candidates who put in that extra effort.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the heart of your experience and vision for the school.
Apply Through Our Website:Remember to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Horizon Care and Education.
How to prepare for a job interview at Horizon Care and Education
✨Know Your Values
Before the interview, take some time to reflect on how your personal values align with those of Horizon Care and Education. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've demonstrated compassion, inspiration, dependability, and collaboration in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Vision
Prepare to articulate a clear vision for the future of Thornycroft School. Think about how you can foster an environment of growth and excellence, and be ready to discuss innovative ideas that could enhance the educational experience for students with SEND needs.
✨Demonstrate Resilience
Be prepared to discuss challenges you've faced in your career and how you've overcome them. Highlight your adaptability and determination, as these qualities are essential for a Headteacher leading a new school.
✨Engage with Empathy
During the interview, show genuine care for both staff and students. Share stories that illustrate your ability to create a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, and explain how you plan to motivate and support your team while driving academic excellence.
