Head of Education – Specialist SEND Provision | Somerset

Salary: £57,127 – £64,691 (Leadership Scale L5-L10) Contract:  Permanent, Full Time (40 Hours per Week) Location:  Minehead, Somerset Start Date:  September 2026 (or sooner if possible)

Teaching Personnel is proud to be supporting a well-established specialist post-16 SEND provision in Somerset in the recruitment of an exceptional Head of Education.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced senior leader to join a highly regarded specialist setting dedicated to preparing young people with learning disabilities for adulthood, employment, and independent living. Situated in the coastal town of Minehead, the provision offers a unique learning environment focused on developing life skills, employability, and personal independence.

The Opportunity

As Head of Education, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all aspects of education, including curriculum development, teaching and learning, assessment, quality assurance, and student outcomes.

Working closely with the Principal and wider leadership team, you will drive a culture of high expectations, continuous improvement, and inclusive practice, ensuring learners receive an ambitious, personalised education that supports their individual EHCP outcomes and Preparing for Adulthood goals.

This role would suit an experienced SEND leader who is confident managing teams, developing staff, and leading educational excellence within a specialist environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the quality of education across the provision. • Develop and implement an ambitious, inclusive curriculum for learners with SEND. • Drive improvements in teaching, learning, assessment, and student outcomes. • Lead quality assurance, self-evaluation, and improvement planning processes. • Support, develop, and performance-manage education staff. • Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to ensure holistic student support. • Maintain oversight of safeguarding within education and promote student wellbeing. • Contribute strategically to the ongoing development and vision of the provision.

Essential Requirements

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or QTLS. • Degree or equivalent qualification. • Significant senior leadership experience within education. • Experience working within specialist SEND and/or post-16 settings. • Strong understanding of EHCPs and Preparing for Adulthood outcomes. • Proven track record of curriculum leadership and improving educational outcomes. • Experience in quality assurance, self-assessment, and school improvement planning. • Strong staff development and performance management experience. • Secure understanding of safeguarding and statutory responsibilities. • Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification or recognised leadership qualification. • Experience leading through Ofsted inspections or external reviews. • Knowledge of specialist education funding and compliance requirements.

Why Apply?

• Leadership role within a highly specialised and rewarding educational setting. • Opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people with SEND. • Competitive Leadership Scale salary of £57,127-£64,691. • Supportive senior leadership team and clear strategic vision. • Beautiful coastal Somerset location.

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All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ's on the Teaching Personnel website for details. All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date. Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants. We offer all our registered candidates FREE ch