Online Co-Head - The Guardian : Job Details

Are you an experienced, outstanding senior leader with substantial leadership experience in a specialist or online school?

Have you been successful in leading a provision's education or academic progress focussing on robust teaching and learning?

Do you have the skills and expertise to drive digital innovation?

Interested in joining a growing national service provider, at the cutting edge of engaging pupils with lengthy gaps in education?

We are seeking a highly skilled education professional to lead the education provision and digital development of our innovative online special school (the first of its kind accredited in the UK!).

You will oversee the peripatetic teaching provision for neurodiverse young people, ensuring that teaching & learning is high-quality, and pupils are provided exceptional opportunities through innovative online virtual learning.

In this role you will bring your knowledge of advanced learning management systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual and augmented reality, and mobile applications, to develop the curriculum and its accessibility, ensuring it is robust, appropriate and engaging. 

You will collaborate with the other Co-Head to ensure a strategy for growth and scalability, maintaining high standards of provision and ensuring our vulnerable young pupils are supported fully to become effective adults and members of society.

You will lead your staff team to adapt teaching & learning opportunities to allow our vulnerable and complex young pupils to thrive, gain qualifications and become successful independent adults and leaders.

The Complete Education Solution (TCES) is a long-established provider of therapeutic education, and now TCES National Online School - the first Department for Education accredited online special school - provides therapeutic education virtually to young learners with lengthy gaps from formal education, including those displaying Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA).

Our multi-disciplinary teams across the organisation work together to provide child-centric support, engaging with clinical, educational and social work experts, as well as partnering with our pupils’ families.

Essential requirements to be successful in the role are:

• A champion of education and advocate for neurodiverse young people, with similar values to match ours:  Expect the very best from each other; Develop a strong work ethic; Respect and appreciate all difference; Include everyone and exclude no one; Listen to and involve everyone; Never give up on each other!
• Able to ensure outstanding teaching practice throughout the service,
• Resilient and robust, role modelling outstanding teaching and professionalism.
• Substantial demonstrable experience in providing high quality education leadership and people management.
• Substantial demonstrable experience within specialist therapeutic education provisions or specialist schools, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams of educators, clinicians and social workers.
• Proven experience of positive performance management & developing teams, inclusive of coaching and influencing staff to deliver innovative ways of working and teaching.
• Experience of driving inclusive online education initiatives to support best practice with vulnerable and complex groups.
• Highly proficient digital skills, and/or a good understanding of IT systems and the ability to innovate provision with a range of digital tools.
• Proactive and innovative, collaborating with other senior leaders to ensure positive outcomes for stakeholders.

In return, we offer:

• Competitive salary & terms and conditions.
• An opportunity to join a leading provider of specialist education in one of the most rewarding sectors whilst directly contributing to the positive outcomes for pupils with SEMH and ASC.
• Comprehensive induction process, and excellent CPD opportunities with all staff provided an individual Learning & Development Plan to support career development and enrolment in our own Ofqual registered Level 3 Award in Therapeutic Education and Group Process.
• Regular half termly staff wellbeing days.
• A range of employee support and wellbeing benefits including our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), counselling and contributions towards medical costs and an exclusive rewards platform.
• Gym & Active Health discounts.

TCES is an independent social enterprise, providing specialist therapeutic education based in London supporting exceptional neurodiverse children and young people aged 7 to 19 who have special educational needs and disabilities typically associated with autism, social emotional and mental health needs and associated disorders. Most of them will have experienced multiple placement breakdowns and significant trauma, often resulting in behaviour that challenges. On average pupils will have been excluded from other provisions up to three times before reaching us and had significant periods out of education.

TCES consists of three schools and a community-based service across London, as well as the TCES National Online School, which was recently announced as the very first full-time online special school in the country to be accredited by the Department for Education.

To apply:

Please apply with a CV or TCES application form through the Guardian website. Shortlisted candidates will need to complete a formal application form as per safer recruitment practices in Education.

TCES is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects all staff to share this commitment. The appointment is subject to all relevant checks such as references, medical clearance and a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure.

The Complete Education Solution is an equal opportunity employer.