Soka Partners
Headteacher (Specialist Education)
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Headteacher - Specialist Education
Specialist setting for young people between 3-19 with Medical and Sensory Needs.
Based: West Sussex
Salary: Up to £85k (L17-L20)
An exceptional opportunity has arisen for an experienced and visionary educational leader to join a leading specialist education provider as Headteacher.
This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to lead a thriving specialist school supporting children and young people with complex learning, physical, communication, and additional needs. You will play a key role in shaping the future of the school, driving educational excellence while ensuring every learner has the opportunity to thrive.
Working closely with senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams, you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight, creating a culture where students, staff, and the wider school community can flourish.
The Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and inspiring Headteacher who is passionate about delivering outstanding education within a specialist setting.
You will be responsible for the overall leadership and performance of the school, ensuring the highest standards of teaching, learning, safeguarding, and student wellbeing. You will lead school improvement, champion innovation, and ensure the provision continues to deliver exceptional outcomes for pupils and their families.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
As a key member of the wider leadership team, you will contribute to organisational strategy while maintaining the unique identity and values of the school.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Provide inspirational leadership across all aspects of the school.
- Lead the strategic development and continuous improvement of the provision.
- Develop and deliver the School Improvement Plan, ensuring outstanding educational outcomes.
- Promote innovation and best practice across teaching, learning, and student support.
- Contribute to the wider organisational strategy and future growth.
Operational Leadership
- Take overall responsibility for the effective day-to-day leadership of the school.
- Oversee financial planning, resource management, staffing, and operational performance.
- Ensure full compliance with safeguarding, SEND legislation, education regulations, and quality standards.
- Build strong relationships with governors, commissioners, local authorities, parents, carers, and external professionals.
People Leadership
- Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous professional development.
- Support recruitment, retention, succession planning, and staff wellbeing.
- Inspire colleagues to deliver the highest standards of education and care.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Educational Excellence
- Ensure every pupil receives a high-quality, personalised education that enables them to achieve their full potential.
- Promote outstanding outcomes that support academic achievement, independence, communication, wellbeing, and preparation for adulthood.
- Drive continuous quality improvement and maintain excellent inspection outcomes.
- Champion inclusive practice and ensure every child receives the support they need to succeed.
About You
We're looking for an experienced and inspirational educational leader with a proven track record of leading specialist or SEND provision.
You will bring:
- Significant senior leadership experience within education, ideally as a Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, or equivalent.
- Experience leading specialist, SEND, or complex educational settings.
- A thorough understanding of safeguarding, SEND legislation, school improvement, and education regulation.
- Proven experience delivering strategic improvement, leading change, and driving high standards.
- Strong financial and operational management experience.
- Outstanding leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- The ability to inspire others, build positive culture, and develop high-performing teams.
- A genuine commitment to improving the lives and outcomes of children and young people with additional needs.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills