Deputy Headteacher

Integrity Education Solutions are supporting a highly specialist SEND Outreach provision in East London, seeking to appoint a Deputy Headteacher from January 2027. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and ambitious Deputy Headteacher to support children and young people who are currently unable to access traditional group education.

This is a unique leadership opportunity for a senior education professional with a strong understanding of SEND, SEMH, autism and emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) who is passionate about re-engaging young people with education and creating meaningful pathways back into learning, independence and future opportunities.

The provision works with young people who may have experienced prolonged periods out of education, high levels of anxiety, complex social care histories, sensory differences, challenging or anxiety-driven behaviours and significant barriers to accessing conventional school environments. Its therapeutic approach is designed to rebuild stability, confidence and trust before supporting pupils towards appropriate next steps.

The Role

The Deputy Headteacher will play a key role within the senior leadership team, supporting the strategic and operational leadership of the Outreach provision and helping to ensure that every young person receives a highly personalised, safe and ambitious educational experience.

The role will involve working closely with education, clinical, safeguarding, pastoral and family support professionals to ensure a genuinely multidisciplinary approach to pupil development. A key focus will be ensuring that education remains purposeful and outcomes-focused, with pupils supported through a structured pathway from individualised outreach towards increased community participation, small-group learning and, where appropriate, reintegration into registered school or college provision.

The provision's approach is explicitly designed as a stabilising and transitional phase rather than a long-term destination, with progression and increased independence at the heart of its purpose.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Headteacher in providing strong strategic and operational leadership across the Outreach provision.
• Lead and develop high-quality teaching, learning and personalised curriculum delivery for pupils with complex SEND.
• Drive positive outcomes in attendance, engagement, behaviour, wellbeing and educational progress.
• Support and develop a multidisciplinary team, promoting consistent therapeutic, relational and trauma-informed practice.
• Oversee effective safeguarding, risk management and pupil welfare arrangements, ensuring robust responses to complex needs and vulnerabilities.
• Work closely with families, Local Authorities, clinical professionals and external partners to develop effective education and transition pathways.
• Lead and support school improvement activity, using assessment, evidence and pupil outcomes to drive continuous improvement.

The Educational Approach

The Outreach provision delivers education through a highly personalised 1:1 model, with young people supported alongside trained Therapeutic Intervention Practitioners throughout their education day. This approach is designed to build relationships while gradually developing independence and reducing reliance on individual adults.

Pupils initially undertake a dedicated two-term assessment programme, allowing the education and clinical teams to develop a detailed understanding of their educational, therapeutic, safeguarding and wider needs.

The assessment process brings together educational assessment with psychotherapeutic, speech and language, occupational therapy, safeguarding, strengths and risk, and preparation-for-adulthood information. This provides a comprehensive evidence base for determining the most appropriate next stage of a young person's education.

The curriculum combines core academic learning with life skills, independence, leadership, self-advocacy, social development and preparation for reintegration.

The provision supports young people who may:

• Have complex SEMH needs
• Have Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), ADHD or sensory differences
• Experience EBSA and significant anxiety around education
• Present with anxiety-driven behaviours, including aggression or PDA
• Have complex social care histories
• Be at risk of exploitation or display high-risk behaviours
• Be Children Looked After and require stability and continuity
• Require highly personalised, therapeutic 1:1 support

About the Candidate

The successful candidate will be an experienced senior education leader with a strong track record of supporting children and young people with SEND, SEMH and complex barriers to learning.

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and significant experience within education.
• Previous senior leadership experience, ideally at Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher or equivalent level.
• Strong experience working with pupils with complex SEND, particularly ASC, SEMH and/or EBSA.
• A strong understanding of therapeutic, trauma-informed and relational approaches to education.
• Experience leading and developing staff within a complex educational environment.
• Proven ability to improve attendance, engagement, behaviour and educational outcomes.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and experience working with vulnerable children and young people.
• Experience working collaboratively with families, Local Authorities and multidisciplinary professionals.
• Excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.
• The resilience, emotional intelligence and adaptability required to lead within a complex specialist environment.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join a specialist provision that is doing education differently. Rather than simply providing an alternative placement, the Outreach model is designed to re-engage young people with education, rebuild confidence and stability, and create a clear pathway towards greater independence and appropriate future provision. Since 2023/24, more than half of the cohort has successfully stepped down into onsite education, including school and college placements.

The successful Deputy Headteacher will have the opportunity to play a significant role in developing this model, leading talented multidisciplinary staff and helping some of the most vulnerable young people reconnect with education and their future.

Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 (Dependent on experience)

If this role is of interest, please contact Kenny Fraser at integrity Education Solutions.

Integrity Education Solutions are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to enhanced DBS and full pre-employment checks. Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community.