Deputy Principal

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are seeking an ambitious, trauma-informed, inspirational, and compassionate Deputy Principal to join our Senior Leadership Team. Working closely with the Principal, you will help shape the strategic direction of our school, championing an environment of high quality teaching and learning where our students feel safe, valued, and empowered to succeed. You will be a driving force in balancing therapeutic support with an ambitious, accessible curriculum.

Key Responsibilities

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Therapeutic & Strategic Leadership

Shape a trauma-informed school culture that reduces barriers to learning and prioritizes emotional regulation.

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Curriculum & Engagement

Lead an innovative, flexible curriculum that blends academic progress with vital life skills and vocational opportunities.

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Positive Behaviour Support

Oversee robust, non-punitive behaviour support frameworks, working closely with therapists and external agencies.

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Staff Empowerment

Coach, mentor, and build resilience among a dedicated team of teachers, teaching assistants, and pastoral staff.

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Safeguarding

Act as a key leader in safeguarding, ensuring strict compliance and exceptional care for vulnerable learners.

Key Requirements

• Qualified Teacher Status
• Substantial and recent experience of teaching pupils/students with special needs, including autism, to a high standard
• Experience of working effectively with young people who present with a range of challenging behaviour
• Proven ability in building and leading a staff team
• Generate enthusiasm for new ideas in both students and staff, and inspire others with confidence and professional autonomy

What the school offers its staff

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme).
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme.
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme).

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.