Vice-Principal in Tonbridge

£69,332 - £76,481 + excellent benefits

Our Deputy Head Teachers are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things. There’s lots of ups and downs, and to some of our young people, sitting through a lesson can be a big win. We call these huge small victories and whilst they may seem small on the surface, they add up to make a big difference.

You’ll be working with children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and therefore will need experience working with children with SEN as well as experience developing and embedding curriculum initiatives for children with SEN. This is a pivotal leadership role within the school, with responsibility for driving the educational vision, maintaining high standards and supporting the day-to-day educational leadership of a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Working closely with the Head Teacher, you will oversee Quality of Education, taking the lead on teaching and learning, curriculum, outcomes and staff development.

The successful candidate will lead the educational direction of the school and act as the key interface between staff and the Head Teacher, ensuring strong communication, consistency and high standards across the school. You will also be confident navigating a busy and ever-changing school environment, demonstrating resilience, sound judgement and the ability to respond effectively when the day takes an unexpected turn.

Hilden Park school is a purpose built, brand new, state of the art school, catering primarily for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s and Speech, Language and Communication needs. The school provides education for up to 72 children aged 8 to 16. Our aim is to ensure that every pupil has an outstanding educational experience with individual pupil progress and care at the heart of what is offered.

For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the education sector. With us, you’ll get to bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:

• Training: A full induction and on the job training
• Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays
• Progression: If career development is your thing, most of our head teachers have been promoted from within our group
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance
• Pension: we offer a range of pensions to suit your lifestyle needs including Teachers’ Pension and our very attractive TPS alternative
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
• Medical cover: so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts
• Beautiful working environments: with the very best facilities
• A recommend a friend scheme: that offers a £1,000 bonus every time

Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs – and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. You’ll be more than a Deputy Head Teacher, you’ll be able to connect with our pupils because of:

• You’ll need previous teaching experience and have Qualified Teacher Status
• You’ll also need a minimum of 2 years leadership and management experience
• Your drive to raise the quality of teaching and learning
• Your understanding of what good behaviours for learning look like
• Your effective leadership and coaching skills
• Your knowledge of how best to use your interpersonal skills to develop a strong staff team

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and that they truly belong. As a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference - especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognised as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we’ll be there every step of the way.

By building a diverse and inclusive team, we’re better able to support the children, young people and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self. The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.