Head Teacher Clare Lodge School

Clare Lodge is seeking an exceptional leader to champion our vision of inclusive, high-quality education for children who reside at Clare Lodge. This is a rare opportunity for a values-driven, strategic leader to shape the next chapter of a unique and respected alternative education provision.

At Clare Lodge, we support children aged 10 -18, our children have experienced significant barriers to learning, particularly relating to social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs. The Headteacher is a key member of the senior leadership team and is responsible for:

• The internal organisation, management, and control of the school.
• Establishing and sustaining the school’s ethos and strategic direction together with the Registered Manager and through consultation with all partners.
• Establishing and overseeing systems, processes, and policies so the school can operate effectively.
• Identifying problems and barriers to school effectiveness and developing strategies for school improvement and development that are realistic, timely and suited to the school’s context.
• Ensuring that school improvement and development strategies are ambitious and effectively implemented.
• Leading effective progress towards achieving the school’s aims and objectives.
• Allocating financial resources appropriately, efficiently, and effectively.
• Communicating with staff to enable them to carry out their professional duties effectively.
• Maintaining effective relationships with managers, parents, carers, communities, authorities, social workers and other schools, and agencies.
• Fulfilling the professional responsibilities of a Headteacher, as set out in the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document.
• Meeting the expectations set out in the Teaching Standards, Children’s homes Regulations and National Minimum Standards.

Our culture is one of care, creativity, and resilience, underpinned by a therapeutic and trauma-informed ethos.

We are looking for a Headteacher who can inspire staff, drive improvement, and maintain strong relationships with local schools and agencies. You’ll be a confident communicator with emotional intelligence, able to lead through challenge and change. You’ll also understand, or be ready to rapidly learn, the complexities of alternative provision.

We are looking for a Headteacher with significant experience in supporting learning and leading teams to deliver high quality education provision and outcomes for children. Proven experience of delivering positive change for children in a school and experience in alternative provision would be advantageous.

Supported by an experienced Senior Leadership Team and Registered Manager, and a passionate, skilled team, you will play a visible, strategic role while remaining agile and responsive to day-to-day needs. You will also benefit from excellent relationships with the Registered Manager, Responsible Individuals, peers and access to mentoring and professional support.

If you believe in the value of every child and have the vision, courage, and compassion to lead transformational work, we would love to hear from you.

At Clare Lodge, our dedicated school team is made up of qualified teachers, alternatively qualified educators, and skilled teaching assistants who work together to deliver a broad and engaging curriculum to children at Clare Lodge. We believe education plays a vital role in supporting and empowering children. While residing at Clare Lodge, our children benefit from a nurturing and inclusive learning environment tailored to their individual needs.

Our educational team is supported by a wider network of caring professionals, including care staff, health specialists, and business support personnel. Together, we form a committed and collaborative team that passionately believes in the potential of every child.

Clare Lodge is a leading national provider of all female "welfare" placements for young people in the UK. The service is independent, and not contracted to the Youth Justice Board, and accepts referrals in respect of young females aged 10 to 17 years who need care, programmes of intervention and protection. Typically, those placed have extensive histories of abuse and exploitation, poor attachments, and low self-esteem. Many of the young people have a range of health/mental needs and exhibit complex behaviours which may include running away, self-harm, exploitation, psycho-sexual difficulties, issues concerning drug and alcohol misuse, eating disorders, aggression and other challenging behaviours.

Clare Lodge provides:

• Psychological/psychiatric assessment and therapeutic input
• Reports for Court
• Health screening and assessment
• Drug and alcohol advice/counselling
• Sexual health advice/counselling
• Art therapy
• Evaluation and behaviour intervention programmes
• Full educational programme to National Curriculum/GCSE Standard
• Streamlined/fast referral/placement arrangements

Our Vision is to be an exceptional secure children’s home that provides a safe and nurturing environment where young women are supported to achieve their full potential through the power of relationships. Our Mission is to transform young women’s lives through focused, personalised care utilising the most innovative approaches through a trauma-informed lens.

Relationships are at the heart of our work at Clare Lodge, we believe in unlocking the incredible potential within every young person. United as a single team, we are committed to fostering the conditions for success and change. We invite you to be part of our journey.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged and valued and will play a vital role in our success. We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible.

If you are disabled and require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact pccrecruitment@peterborough.gov.uk we will work with you to meet your needs. Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.