Deputy Headteacher

Compass Community Limited; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An independent specialist school in the United Kingdom is seeking a Deputy Headteacher to lead educational outcomes and support children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs. The successful candidate will have Qualified Teacher Status and proven teaching excellence, alongside strong communication skills. This role includes teaching duties and offers competitive salary, training opportunities, and a supportive working environment focused on student well-being. Joining this national organization presents the chance to develop within a growing team.

Benefits

Staff laptop and mobile phone

Competitive salary

Extensive training and professional qualifications

Small class sizes

Flexible pension

Employee benefit service

Qualifications

• Proven track record of effective teaching.
• Ability to support children with adverse childhood experiences.
• Experience in crisis management.

Responsibilities

• Define outcomes and success metrics for the school.
• Work closely with school leadership and support staff.
• Teach a subject specialism.

Skills

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Good or outstanding teaching practice

Emotionally intelligent communication

Ability to teach a subject specialism to GCSE

Experience with SEMH difficulties

Curriculum implementation skills

Experience with hard-to-reach families

Job description

Closing date: Monday 12th January 2026
Interview date: W/C 26th January 2026

About the role

Compass Community puts children first through a therapeutic, innovative approach. Integrity, courage and care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fix what needs fixing, together.

This is the work, and we’d like you to be part of it. Our children come from a wide range of backgrounds but all have Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH). Many will also have other Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) such as Autism, ADHD and communication difficulties.

The work we do is varied and challenging. As a trauma and attachment informed organisation, all staff are provided with extensive therapeutic training and support. Our triangulated approach places the child at the centre of decision making, ensuring that education and therapy professionals, parents/carers, local authority teams and, most importantly, our students can work together to secure outstanding outcomes for all.

Deputy Headteacher – New Specialist School

We are a new 36‑place independent specialist school due to open in September 2026. The Deputy Headteacher will define outcomes, success and character. You will work with a supportive executive structure, a dedicated Head of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum and a specialist Regional SENCO, alongside a regional network of schools.

There will be a teaching element to this role.

The Right Person

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• A proven record of good or outstanding teaching practice.
• An excellent, efficient and emotionally intelligent communicator.
• The ability/willing to teach a subject specialism to GCSE or equivalent vocational level.
• A strong desire to work inclusively within an emotionally literate environment, supporting children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
• Experience of crisis‑management/managing challenging behaviours and working with children with SEMH difficulties.
• Proven experience of implementing a creative and academically engaging curriculum which meets the needs of individual pupils, whilst maintaining high standards of education.
• Experience of effective working with hard‑to‑reach or disengaged families.

Benefits and Rewards

• Staff laptop and mobile phone.
• Competitive salary.
• Extensive training and professional qualification opportunities.
• Small class sizes with specialist TA support.
• The chance to be part of an expanding, national organisation that recognises skill, effort and potential and grows its own leadership teams.
• Enhanced occupational sickness scheme.
• Flexible pension.
• Regular therapeutic and supportive supervision.
• Employee benefit service with access to wellbeing services, salary sacrifice schemes, high street vouchers, money off eating‑out and takeaways.

We regularly review applications and reserve the right to close an advert early if we identify suitable candidates.

Safeguarding

Compass Community Schools are highly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff will be expected to hold or be willing to obtain an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau) and undergo due diligence checks on social media use.

All school‑based staff have the responsibility for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children. All school staff should be aware of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and work in accordance with this document at all times.

Compass is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As we continue to grow, we know that we must have the most talented employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives and experiences to support our children and young people.

About the Employer

Compass Community Schools are an independent, specialist education provider with a national network of schools.