Job Description
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Headteacher of The Hawthorns School commencing Easter or September 2025.
The Hawthorns School opened its doors in our newest school building in January 2023, for children with autism. The School is currently in temporary accommodation, and preparing to move into a permanent purpose-built school and bespoke residential facility in January 2025, when we will expand our provision to 50 pupils in KS2 and KS3. Then, in September 2025 we will complete our final stage of growth to 70 pupils which will include KS4.
The current Headteacher and her team have already established a therapeutic, dedicated, tight-knit and supportive team, which prioritises the needs of the pupils through an evolving curriculum with the development of social communication at its core.
In this role the successful candidate will lead the work to shape the future of the School, enabling pupils to develop the skills necessary for their next steps, together with the SEAX Trust CEO and Director of Education, Hawthorns' current Leadership Team and Local Governance Group.
Our model is holistic and bespoke to the individual child, within the inevitable constraints of a school setting, and we are therefore seeking a forward-thinking, creative Headteacher who recognises that adapting and trialling different methods may be necessary before goals are realised. We are committed to developing pupil achievement through the aims of personal growth, participation and preparation for adulthood and our core offer forms a key part of this. We seek someone with a combination of leadership experience and an understanding of autism, to ensure that this is the focus of all who are in, or with, the school.
This role will be challenging at times, as all the best jobs are, and the successful candidate will be fully supported by the current dedicated and dynamic team. In addition, The Hawthorns is one of a community of Special Schools, supported by the well-established and highly regarded SEAX Trust. The Trust respects and trusts each school to evolve its unique identity, whilst providing layers of support and networking at all professional levels. Together, in close partnership with Essex Local Authority, The Hawthorns School could not be in a better position to continue fulfilling its aims of personal growth, participation and preparation.
If you are a current leader who is looking for a new challenge, has a can-do attitude and a keen sense of humour, then we'd like to hear from you!
We can offer you professional fulfilment, development, care and attention to wellbeing, a highly supportive and dedicated team and a delightful pupil community.
Information about the School
Established in 2015, the SEAX Trust is a growing partnership of five Special School Academies within the community of Essex. We are a Trust which:
• puts no limits on what we believe young people can achieve - creating opportunities and meeting individual needs so that our young people can live rich and fulfilled lives;
• has the courage and drive to challenge and champion change to enable equal opportunity and equity for all;
• influences, respects, listens and acts and which, in turn, is known as a voice to listen to, act upon and respect.
We consider the main asset towards achieving our vision is our body of highly-valued staff and, in recognition, we implement a wide range of strategic and person-centered reward practices across all of our Academies and within the Trust's Central Team itself.
Working in special education is extremely rewarding, supportive and motivational and most roles require little or no prior experience. If you haven't considered a role in a special school before now, then working within SEAX Trust will not only enhance your professional development, but also your self-confidence and belief that what you are doing each day truly is making a difference to our young people's lives.
SEAX Trust is a Disability Confident Employer.