Senior Assistant Headteacher - Designated Safeguarding Lead in Bridgwater

Bridgwater College Academy is seeking to appoint a Senior Assistant Headteacher – Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to join our senior leadership team and take a key role in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils across the academy. This is a senior leadership position with overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection. The role combines strategic oversight with day-to-day leadership of safeguarding practice, ensuring statutory responsibilities are met and that safeguarding remains central to academy life.

In this role, you will:

• Provide senior leadership for safeguarding and child protection across the academy
• Hold overall accountability for safeguarding, supported by a wider safeguarding team
• Work closely with the Headteacher, Trust Safeguarding Lead, governors and external partners
• Contribute to a strong safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe, listened to and supported
• Exercise sound professional judgement in complex and sensitive situations
• Provide appropriate professional challenge where safeguarding practice, systems or culture require scrutiny or improvement

This is a demanding but highly rewarding role, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting difference to children and young people.

We are looking for an experienced and credible leader who is committed to safeguarding and to the wellbeing and success of every child. The successful candidate will:

• Have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a strong track record of leadership within a school or all-through setting.
• Have a strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection within an educational setting
• Be calm, resilient and reflective when working in complex or sensitive situations
• Be able to balance empathy with authority and collaboration with professional challenge
• Value listening to children and promoting inclusion and high aspirations
• Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils, staff, families and external partners
• Be committed to maintaining high standards, accountability and continuous improvement in safeguarding practice
• Share the academy’s values and contribute positively to its culture and leadership team

This role would suit someone who is motivated by safeguarding leadership, who understands the responsibility that comes with the role, and who wants to work within a supportive and values-driven academy community.

Bridgwater College Academy offers an all-through safeguarding culture with continuity of care, underpinned by a committed and supportive leadership team. The role provides opportunities to influence safeguarding practice at both academy and Trust level, within a values-led environment that places ambition, inclusion, and pupil wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. Helping you achieve a good work life balance is important to us. Lots of our colleagues work flexibly including part time hours and/or job shares and we are happy to discuss these opportunities with you.

We believe in hiring for potential and this means that we value individuals for the knowledge skills and experience that they have developed in every aspect of their lives. If you don’t feel that you meet all of the criteria listed in the person specification, we would still encourage you to apply. We truly believe that diversity of thought, culture, background and perspective secure the best outcomes for our students. We strive to build teams that represent our local communities and welcome applications from individuals who identify as members of an under-represented group and in particular individuals who identify as BAME, disabled or LGBT. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

We care about our staff and provide a number of benefits in addition to salary including a positive and supportive working environment, Teachers Pension Scheme, on-site gyms, free parking, access to a retail discounts platform and Employee Assistance Programme.

Bridgwater & Taunton College Trust is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share its commitment. Our mission is that all children achieve. This post is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). A comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on all applicants, which will include a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).