Headteacher (with progression to Executive Headteacher)

85 Commercial St, London E1 6BG, UK

Job Type: Full year (52 weeks), full-time

Workspace: Office

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Pay: £50,000–£72,000 per annum, depending on experience, qualifications (QTS or NPQH/NPQEL required) and responsibilities across one or more sites.

OMG Education is an independent alternative provision school for pupils aged 11–18. The school offers a nurturing, creative and trauma-informed environment for young people who may be disengaged from mainstream education, at risk of exclusion, or in need of a more personalised pathway. Its vision is to unlock each learner’s potential through high expectations, tailored education, mentoring and meaningful opportunities in music, media, business, personal development and vocational learning.

About the Role:

The Headteacher will provide strong, visible and accountable leadership for OMG Education Independent School. The postholder will be responsible for the quality of education, safeguarding, behaviour, attendance, culture, staffing, compliance and day-to-day performance of the school, ensuring that all provision reflects OMG’s ethos that every young life matters. This is a strategic leadership role within a specialist independent school. The successful candidate must combine high standards, operational grip and a deep understanding of inclusion, SEND, trauma-informed practice and alternative provision. Subject to performance and organisational growth, this post is expected to progress into an Executive Headteacher role once OMG Education opens its new Kent site. At that stage, the postholder will provide strategic leadership across multiple school sites, with responsibility for consistency in culture, quality, safeguarding, compliance, outcomes and school improvement.

Essential Requirements:

• Either Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) OR National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH/NPQEL) or recognised equivalent leadership qualification
• Enhanced DBS check (including barred list check)
• Proven senior leadership experience in high-needs/AP settings
• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) experience or equivalent

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic leadership and vision: Lead and communicate a clear vision for an inclusive, ambitious and creative school culture rooted in high expectations, strong relationships and individual pupil progress. Drive school self-evaluation and development planning, setting measurable priorities for improvement in education, safeguarding, attendance, behaviour, staffing and sustainability. Provide strategic advice to the governors and the proprietor board on risk, growth, compliance, staffing structure, school capacity and future development opportunities. Support the school’s expansion plans, including preparation for the opening of the Kent site, helping to shape systems, staffing, curriculum alignment and operational readiness for multi-site leadership.
2. Quality of education: Ensure a broad, balanced and personalised curriculum that meets the needs of pupils aged 11–18, including those with SEND, EHCPs and disrupted educational histories. Oversee high-quality teaching, assessment, feedback and intervention, using data on progress, attainment, attendance and behaviour to secure improvement. Maintain a strong focus on literacy, numeracy, personal development, preparation for adulthood and post-16 progression. Model and champion excellent practice where required, particularly for pupils with complex needs or high levels of risk and vulnerability.
3. Safeguarding, welfare and behaviour: Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, or directly line-manage the DSL, ensuring all statutory guidance, policies and safeguarding procedures are consistently implemented and reviewed. Maintain a strong safeguarding culture, with accurate recording, timely referrals, effective multi-agency working and robust professional curiosity. Lead a calm, respectful and trauma-informed behaviour culture with clear boundaries, restorative approaches and consistent follow-through. Ensure attendance, emotional wellbeing and pupil safety are monitored rigorously, particularly for vulnerable learners and those with complex safeguarding histories.
4. SEND and inclusion: Ensure effective identification, planning, review and provision for pupils with SEND, including those with EHCPs, through person-centred and outcomes-focused practice. Oversee differentiation, reasonable adjustments and targeted interventions so that all pupils can engage, progress and achieve from their individual starting points. Work closely with the SENCo, therapists, external agencies and families to ensure provision is joined‑up, responsive and compliant.
5. Leadership of staff: Lead, line-manage and develop teaching, pastoral, support and administrative staff, setting clear expectations and holding teams to account. Build a collaborative and reflective staff culture that prioritises safeguarding, inclusion, consistency, professionalism and wellbeing. Oversee safer recruitment, induction, deployment, performance management and CPD to ensure the school remains well‑staffed, effective and inspection‑ready.
6. Compliance, inspection and governance: Ensure continuous compliance with the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and all related statutory responsibilities. Lead preparation for Ofsted inspection, local authority monitoring and any external quality assurance activity, ensuring evidence is accurate, current, and action-focused. Provide timely and accurate reports to governors and the proprietor board on performance, safeguarding, finance, risk, staffing and strategic priorities.
7. Operations, finance and resources: Oversee the effective day-to-day running of the school, including admissions, referrals, timetabling, attendance systems, site routines and emergency procedures. Work with the proprietor board and finance leads to support budget planning and the efficient, ethical use of staffing, facilities, equipment and resources. Ensure health and safety, site security, risk assessment and operational systems are robust, proportionate and regularly reviewed.
8. Stakeholder engagement and external partnerships: Build strong and professional relationships with pupils, parents and carers, local authorities, commissioners, placing schools and external partners. Represent OMG Education positively and credibly, supporting appropriate pupil referrals, strong stakeholder confidence and sustainable occupancy. Develop effective partnerships with agencies such as CAMHS, social care, youth justice, employers and community organisations to improve pupil outcomes and progression routes.

Progression to Executive Headteacher: Following the successful opening of OMG Education’s Kent site, and subject to performance and organisational need, the postholder will be expected to progress into an Executive Headteacher role. This will include strategic oversight of more than one school site, leadership of senior leaders across the group, and responsibility for driving consistency, quality assurance, compliance and school improvement across the wider provision.

General: Carry out any additional duties reasonably commensurate with the level and responsibilities of the post, as agreed with the governors or proprietor board. Review this job description regularly in line with the school’s strategic priorities, regulatory requirements and growth plans.