Headteacher

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff, and within the next year – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG!

Are you an innovative Headteacher committed to improving the lives of pupils and young people?

We are looking for a Headteacher for our New Options School in Stratford St Mary, Suffolk. The school will have capacity for 25 pupils and is due to open in Easter 2025. We're recruiting for a Headteacher to help set up and grow our new school from January 2025. 

• Up to £70,000 per annum, depending on experience (not pro rata) 
• 37.5 hours per week; Monday to Friday
• Term Time only
• Permanent

Our new Options School will be a day school catering for pupils aged 5 to 11 with complex educational needs, communication difficulties and challenging behaviour primarily with a diagnosis of ASD. We provide a therapeutic, supportive and inclusive learning environment where our young people learn to accept responsibility for their actions, make positive decisions and display pro-social behaviour. We are committed to raising achievement and enabling pupils to recognise their potential and supporting them through a personalised, engaging curriculum. Our priority is to develop the foundation knowledge and skills required to make a manageable and smooth transition to the next life stage.

About the role

As a Headteacher, you will promote a relentless focus on high quality, creative learning, delivering our pupils educational needs, maximising pupil achievement, and their ability to develop.

As Headteacher you will have an infrastructure of support from central services for Finance, Resourcing, HR and IT including a network of supportive Headteachers from other schools alongside central school improvement support. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Outstanding outcomes for Pupils and Young People that are a reflection of their needs, abilities and aptitudes.
• A safe environment that protects the welfare of Pupils and Young People and staff in the school.
• Meeting all statutory requirements as defined by the DfE, Ofsted and other external bodies and achieving the highest inspection ratings possible.
• ?A motivated staff group that is fully engaged in the goal of achieving excellence in all areas of school life and who are committed to continuing personal and professional development.
• The commercial success of the school as defined by 100% occupancy, the rigorous management of costs and the development and implementation of growth plans as appropriate.
• Effective strategic and operational planning, that includes self-evaluation, school improvement and delivery.
• A shared vision, that fits within the overall Options Autism strategy, which inspires and motivates students, staff and all other members of the school community.

Essential Criteria:

• At least three years’ experience as a senior leader in either mainstream or special educational needs schools
• Qualified Teacher Status or Equivalent
• Willingness to extend personal and professional development
• Ability to lead and provide a clear vision
• Appreciation and understanding that leadership and management of school encompasses processes contributing to pupil outcomes, staff motivation, keeping pupils safe, filling the school with pupils, managing costs, meeting regulatory requirements and applying growth plans as appropriate

Please see job description for more details and information. 

To learn more about Outcomes First Group, Acorn Education and Care and Options Autism please visit our website for more information: https://

Why join Options Autism? 

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

#1