What skills and experience we're looking for
Leadership & Experience in a School Setting
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent teaching qualification.
• Significant teaching experience within a special education setting.
• Proven experience in curriculum development, assessment, and reporting.
• Experience in using data to track student progress and inform teaching strategies.
• Leadership or middle management experience within a school setting.
Knowledge & Skills
• Strong understanding of curriculum frameworks and assessment methodologies in special education.
• Knowledge of best practices in differentiation and inclusive teaching strategies.
• Ability to analyse data and use it to improve student outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for reporting and liaising with stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Personal Attributes
• A commitment to high expectations for students with additional needs.
• A proactive and innovative approach to problem-solving.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and support colleagues.
• A reflective and adaptable approach to teaching and leadership.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Ambitions for themselves and the students they support.
What the school offers its staff
Oak Grove College – A wonderful place to work
Oak Grove College is a community generic special school providing special education for 281 students with learning difficulties from Year 7 to Year 14. We are part of the Thrive Federation of Schools which also includes Palatine Primary School, Herons Dale School and Cornfield School.
We are immensely proud of our college and our community. We are committed to providing the very best for young people while they are with us, helping them to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and aspiration to succeed throughout their lives. We have a staff team of about 180 people and we believe in looking after everyone well. We know that our staff team make the college what it is today and are the key to a successful future.
Staff are well supported by the leadership team and are offered opportunities to progress. We know that each and every one of our staff have a pivotal role to play and we believe in supporting everyone to achieve their potential. We have been awarded the Gold School Mental Health award and our staff wellbeing and mental health is paramount to the success of Oak Grove College. Oak Grove College is a rewarding place to work and staff report high levels of job satisfaction.
We know that our staff work hard to do their very best each day for our students and we believe in looking after them well in return. We pay for an extensive health and welfare support service for all our staff which includes physiotherapy, counselling, mindfulness support, menopause support, chronic illness support, weight management and much, much more.
Oak Grove College has convenient road and rail links with good public transport available. It is a 15 minute walk from Durrington-on-Sea train station, there is a bus stop just by the entrance, a large car park for those travelling by car and good pedestrian access for those on foot. West Sussex County Council staff can also obtain 15% staff discount on Southern Rail daily, weekly, monthly and annual tickets and are entitled to a range of other travel discounts and incentives too.
As part of our growth and commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences for all our students, we are excited to announce plans to open a new satellite site less than 2 miles from our existing campus. Candidates joining our team should be ready to embrace the unique opportunities the new location will offer and be prepared to work at both sites. This is a fantastic chance to be part of an innovative chapter in our school’s development allowing us to continue to make a positive impact on student’s lives across our community.
New employees joining Oak Grove College are guaranteed a warm welcome from the community. Our motto is that ‘Everyone matters, every day counts’ and we strongly believe that this should include our entire college community. We look forward to getting to know you better and helping you to play your part in providing the very best to our young people.
Further details about the role
We are looking for an exceptional teacher with recent, substantial middle leadership experience who is ready to grow and develop into a Senior Leader.
You will play a key role in leading and developing the curriculum to ensure it meets the diverse needs of all students. You will be responsible for overseeing assessment strategies, tracking student progress and ensuring effective reporting to parents, carers and relevant stakeholders.
Collaborating with the staff team, you will support high quality teaching and learning, ensuring that curriculum delivery aligns with individual student needs.
We offer a strong track record of career progression and professional development and are committed to supporting our staff in growing their expertise, taking on leadership opportunities, and advancing their careers within our dynamic and inclusive environment.
Interested applicants are encouraged to speak to the Headteacher prior to submitting their application.
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.