Head of School

About the role

As Head of School, you will provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the school delivers outstanding education, exceptional safeguarding standards and life-changing outcomes for every pupil.

Working closely with the head of school of our KS2 Site, safeguarding team and SLT, you'll be responsible for creating an ambitious vision for the school, developing an exceptional staff team and ensuring the highest standards across all aspects of school life.

You'll lead a school where therapeutic approaches, high-quality teaching and personalised learning combine to help pupils reach their full potential and prepare them for fulfilling futures.

It's important to reiterate this is a complicated and incredibly important role; balancing operational leadership of the site, communicating with and supporting parents, working within the safeguarding team and of course, the wide and varying of the senior leadership responsibilities. It would suit someone who has leadership experience, and also someone who is comfortable with delivering a high level of operational oversight, organisational skills and clear, consistent communication. 

A KS3 background is ideal but not essential but experience with SEN and managing complex behaviours and needs is crucial to the success of the role

 
ABOUT REDBOURN PARK

Redbourn Park is a specialist organisation supporting children and young people with complex needs, particularly autism, trauma, and social, emotional, and mental health difficulties. We exist for pupils who have often struggled elsewhere and need more than standard education can offer. Our work brings together education, therapy, care, and leadership under one clear purpose: to create safe, consistent environments where children can regulate, learn, and succeed. We are values-driven, relational in our approach, and uncompromising on standards. Empathy matters here—but so does accountability, structure, and doing what we say we will do. Everyone at Redbourn Park, regardless of role, shares responsibility for modelling calm, professionalism, and ambition. We believe people thrive when expectations are clear, relationships are strong, and purpose is shared—and that belief shapes how we work with pupils, families, and each other every day.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES

• Responsible for effective day-to-day management of the KS3 site including recruiting and inducting staff, staff meetings and responding to the views, needs and requests of children, staff, parents, governors and visitors. 

• Work with the Leadership Team, staff and governors in the development, implementation and review of school improvement plans, including regular monitoring and evaluation of standards and quality of provision. Work with staff to develop a strong therapeutic environment that has at its centre high expectations of learning and emotional management 

• Work with, and at times lead, the Senior Leadership team in the school focuses on our developing offer of personal development opportunities, working towards the goal of a deep, wide and genuinely outstanding offer.

• Act as a deputy safeguarding lead, offering exemplary practice at all times

• Ensure your site is compliant against the independent school standards and work both independently and as part of the senior leadership team to reach ambitious goals within the inspection framework and gradings.

• Ensure the vision and values are clearly articulated, shared, understood and acted upon effectively by all stakeholders 

• Demonstrate the vision in your everyday work and practice 

• Motivate and work with others to create a shared culture and positive climate 

• Ensure that strategic planning takes account of the diversity and experience of the school and community 

• Take a leading role across their site, through a deep knowledge of new and emerging research and evidence, to enhance and extend the learning and pastoral experience of pupils and adults 

• To ensure creativity, innovation and the use of appropriate technologies to achieve excellence 

• Model and promote high professional standards around enrichment and holistic development.

• Ensure celebrating student’s success is high profile across the school and that all students, sites and enrichment opportunities are monitored.

• Develop a comprehensive programme of enrichment that supports the holistic development of

• students

• Support effective training for colleagues to reflect school, departmental and individual needs and aspirations.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• Qualified Teacher Status and completed probation

• Leadership experience

• Special Educational Needs experience

• Other relevant experience or qualifications for the role

• Strong communication and organisational skills

• Ability to manage workload, prioritise effectively, and meet deadlines

Desirable:

• Experience in a similar environment or sector

• Additional training or specialist knowledge relevant to the role

• Some experience of ISS and Ofsted inspection standards

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Reliable, professional, and accountable

• Proactive and solution-focused

• Able to work independently while contributing positively to a team

WHAT WE OFFER

• Clear expectations and support to do the job well

• Opportunities for development and progression

• A professional, values-driven working environment

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Redbourn Park is unreservedly committed to the protection and welfare of all pupils. We believe that all children and young people have the right to feel safe, listened to, and respected, and to be protected from all forms of abuse, harm, and neglect. Our specialist organisation exists to support pupils with complex needs—including autism, trauma, and social, emotional, and mental health difficulties—who require a safe, consistent environment to regulate, learn, and succeed.

This commitment is paramount, underpins all of our work, and applies to every individual, regardless of their role, who works at or on behalf of Redbourn Park. Everyone is expected to share this responsibility and to adhere to our policies and procedures rigorously.Commitment to Best Practice

Redbourn Park operates in line with national legislation and statutory guidance on safeguarding children in the UK, including [Insert specific legislation/guidance, e.g., Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)].

• Our full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found here: [Insert direct link to Redbourn Park’s full policy].

• We commit to providing regular, mandatory training for all staff on safeguarding, child protection, and specific topics relevant to our pupils, such as trauma-informed practice and managing complex needs.

Safer Recruitment Expectations

Redbourn Park is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The safer recruitment process ensures that all individuals appointed to work with our pupils are suitable.

• Vetting and Background Checks: All appointments are subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and, where applicable, a check of the barred list. We will also perform mandatory checks against relevant professional bodies and prohibition from teaching/management lists.

• References: We require a minimum of two satisfactory professional references, one of which must be from the applicant’s current or most recent employer. References will be sought prior to interview and will include specific questions regarding the candidate's suitability to work with children.

• Gaps in Employment & Full Employment History: All candidates are required to provide a full and chronological employment history. Any gaps in employment must be fully accounted for and explained.

• Right to Work: Identity and right-to-work checks will be conducted in accordance with UK legal requirements.

• Interview Process: Interview panels will include at least one person who has successfully completed safer recruitment training. All candidates will be asked safeguarding-related questions to explore their understanding and commitment to child protection.

RBP reserve the right to close the advert early, should a suitable candidate be found.