Key Role Information

Salary
73,118.00 - 80,526.00
Job type
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Closing
28/01/2026 12:00
Interview
5 February 2026
Start
13 April 2026
Contract term
AYR - All year round
Pay grade
Leadership Group - Fringe | L14 - L18
Department
Teaching
Key stage
Not Applicable
Hours per week
32.50
Weeks per year
52.140
Visa sponsorship
No

Your Role

Deputy Headteacher (Designated Safeguarding Leader) April 2026

Full time

Leadership pay scale 14-18

 

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mahatma Gandhi

 

Castledon School is a special school committed to Unlocking Potential for children and young people with additional needs. Guided by our values of Belonging, Opportunity and Achievement, we are seeking an experienced leader to join the senior leadership team as Deputy Headteacher, with responsibility as the Designated Safeguarding Leader.


This is an exciting leadership opportunity for someone who believes that feeling safe, understood and valued is the foundation for learning.


The successful candidate will work collaboratively alongside the Headteacher and wider Senior team as part of a strong senior leadership team. They will play a central role in ensuring pupils are safeguarded and supported to thrive, contributing to both the strategic and operational leadership of the school.


Key areas of responsibility will be discussed at interview, and will include safeguarding, attendance, behaviour and safety, therapeutic provision, and support for Looked After and Previously Looked After Children.


Central to the role is the leadership of Castledon’s therapeutic, relational approach to behaviour, recognising the impact of trauma, attachment and additional needs. The Deputy Headteacher will champion positive relationships, emotional wellbeing and consistent practice, ensuring behaviour support is underpinned by care, understanding and high expectations.


As noted in the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, “Staff support pupils’ behaviour exceptionally well… Pupils’ culture is incredibly positive and they treat each other with kindness and respect.”


The role requires a strong understanding of the complexities of a special school environment and a commitment to inclusive practice. Safeguarding, wellbeing and care will be embedded across all aspects of school life, enabling pupils to feel a sense of belonging, access meaningful opportunities and achieve their potential.

Benefits

Benenden Healthcare
Healthcare and Employee Assistance Programme
Teachers Pensions scheme
Vivup EAP and discount scheme

Qualifications

Qualified Teacher Statusessential

Skills

Leadership

Effective leadership and motivational skillsessential
Focused on standards and positive outcomesessential
Adaptable - ability to adapt style to a variery of situations and peopleessential
Strategic thinkeressential
Ability to advance equality and overcome disadvantage
Inspirational leader particularly during challenging times
Strong leader in the delivery of excellence in teaching and learning
Ability to instill a strong sense of belief and accountablility in both staff and students

Personal Attributes

Integrityessential
Ability to work collaboratively and lead a teamessential
Dedicatedessential
Focused

About Us

Our most successful employees at Castledon are those with a passion for pupils that typically find it difficult to engage. We believe that our pupil's deserve to be given the time and understanding to approach tasks in a variety of ways. Our staff are here first and foremost because they care and are able to be resilient and flexible. 


Class based staff then need to have the ability to differentiate, use quality first teaching strategies and provide for a pupils statement provision. These are the basics of successful learning and development.


The majority of staff join us from mainstream, however some come here as NQTs. We provide excellent training in behaviour, Makaton, AfL, and autism. We also ensure all staff have up to date training on delivering Read, Write inc and numicon.


Staff are also equipped over time with the skills to write and use social stories with pupils as well as a variety of other approaches to break down learning/experiences and develop their repertoire of SEN strategies.


 Wellbeing is a high priority and as such we can offer you: 

  • A dedicated, enthusiastic, friendly and experienced hardworking team of staff
  • Teachers staff are issued with a chromebook to use both at work and home.
  • Teachers are also entitled to a free school lunch of their choice if they undertake a lunch duty.
  • Hot drinks are provided free.
  • The opportunity to develop within a highly effective multi academy trust
  • Free Benenden Medical Healthcare cover
  • VIVUP Employee Assistance Programme and Lifestyle savings membership
  • Local Government Pension Scheme
  • A school that is committed to continued professional development


Castledon School

Juliet Winsor

jwinsor@castledon.org

Bromfords Drive
Wickford
Essex
SS12 0PW
Juliet Winsor
jwinsor@castledon.org

Safeguarding Information

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment. Appointment to this post will be subject to the following satisfactory pre-employment checks:

 

·        Health

·        Identity

·        Relevant work qualifications

·        Right to work in the UK

·        Barred List Check (previously List 99)

·        Disclosure & Barring Service Check (for all staff and volunteers)

·        References

·        Childcare Disqualification Declaration Check (relevant Primary School posts only)