Wimbledon
Headteacher Online SEN Provision Wimbledon, Southwest London September 2026 Start £90,240.00 per annum Forever Education is supporting an UK-based exceptional Online National School for 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 emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), with significant periods out of education. They are looking for a Headteacher to join them from September 2026 on a permanent basis (Employed directly by the school) They support highly complex and vulnerable pupils, with highly differentiated and personalised holistic therapeutic education programmes developed for each pupil focusing on development milestones. Our universal, targeted and intensive therapeutic provisions allow young people to be supported with bespoke therapeutic input as well as allow consistent continuation of support in the home environment. JOB DESCRIPTION • Provide clear and credible educational leadership for the Online School Ensure consistently high standards of teaching, learning and assessment across all online provision • Maintain continuous inspection readiness in line with DfE accreditation, Ofsted frameworks and safeguarding requirements Act as the named educationally accountable leader for pupils, families and commissioning local authorities’ Digital pedagogy and online learning, • Lead the design and implementation of high-quality digital pedagogy that is purpose-built for online learning, • Ensure teaching approaches support regulation, engagement and psychological safety, particularly for pupils with EBSA, anxiety and trauma histories, • Use engagement data and analytics to inform support and intervention, rather than compliance or surveillance Therapeutic and trauma-informed practice, • Work closely with Clinical Services to ensure clinical insight informs educational practice and decision-making Ensure staff are trained and supported in trauma-informed practice, co-regulation and attachment-aware approaches in a digital environment • Promote a culture where emotional safety is recognised as foundational to learning Inclusion, SEND and EBSA Ensure provision meets the needs of pupils with SEND, EHCPs and complex mental health profiles, • Oversee personalised timetables, assess-plan-do-review cycles and step-down pathways Build strong, trusting relationships with families and local authorities, providing confidence in the provision and its outcomes, • Ensure inclusion is systematically designed into staffing, pedagogy and operational structures Leadership, management and culture, • Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team including teachers, mentors and therapeutic education practitioners, • Set a calm, values-led culture that balances clarity, accountability and care, • Ensure high-quality CPD in digital pedagogy, therapeutic education and safeguarding Model reflective practice, emotional intelligence and ethical leadership Ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities and decision-making across NOS teams, embedding consistent processes, documentation and governance so that people, finance and operational functions work in a coordinated and accountable way, • Represent the Online School at industry events, conferences, fairs and public facing engagements as the lead representative of the school, • Contribute to webinars, seminars and thought leadership activity to strengthen the online school profile, credibility and market positioning, • Operational leadership and growth Lead the effective day-to-day running of the Online School Work with the Director of Education, Commercial Director and Finance Director on capacity planning and sustainable growth, • Take responsibility for operational decision-making within agreed educational and safeguarding guardrails, • Ensure growth does not compromise quality, safety or relational depth Lead strategies to reduce avoidable pupil exits, ensuring robust quality assurance, early intervention and strong relational practice to improve retention ABOUT YOU: • Qualified Teacher (holds QTS or QTLS), • Evidence of ongoing professional development in education. N, • PQH, NPQEL or postgraduate qualification in education, leadership or related field (D). KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE • Deep understanding of how children and young people learn, particularly in online environments, • Strong knowledge of trauma-informed and therapeutic education practice., • Working knowledge of National Curriculum, KS requirements and Code of Practice for SEND, Safeguarding & Chid Protection procedures., • Calm, credible and emotionally intelligent leadership style., • Ability to build trust with pupils, families, staff and external partners., • Ability to use data intelligently to inform improvement and decision-making., • Resilient, reflective and able to lead under pressure., • Clear moral commitment to inclusion and safeguarding. Strong judgement and ethical decision-making. If you are interested in this Headteacher opportunity, interviews can be arranged immediately Apply for this Headteacher opportunity by sending your CV to Katie at Forever Education You will be contacted by your personal consultant (if shortlisted) Forever Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all candidates to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check