Job Summary
Working Pattern:
Full time - term time
Advert Start Date:
03/03/2025
Advert End Date:
21/03/2025 12:00
Salary:
£87,651.00 - £101,533.00 per annum depending on relevant teaching experience and in accordance with the Teachers' Pay and Conditions
Hours per week:
Full time as in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document
Job Category:
Schools - Leadership
Employment Location:
Thomas Bewick School, Linhope Road, West Denton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 2LW.
Further Information
This school has Academy status and is part of Prosper Learning Trust; the employer will be the Multi Academy Trust.
Thomas Bewick School
Linhope Road
West Denton
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE5 2LW
Interview Date: 03.04.2025 & 04.04.2025
Start Date: 01/09/2025
The Role
Thomas Bewick School is a specialist school for up to 360 children with autism aged 3-19 based in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The school opened in September 1999 and joined Prosper Learning Trust in April 2019 with the aim of becoming a recognised centre of excellence both locally and nationally. As of September 2024, the school is based over three sites, two in West Denton and one at Broadwood Primary School in Denton Burn.
A broad and balanced curriculum with personalised pathways and specialised teaching inspires pupils to learning success, supported by high quality pastoral care. The school’s main priority is to address the autism-specific barriers to learning so that pupils are able to take advantage of multiple learning opportunities.
This is an exciting opportunity. Thomas Bewick School is a well-established and highly regarded provision and plays a leading role in the SEND service for Newcastle and neighbouring communities. It has grown rapidly in recent years to help meet the escalating demand for specialist autism places. You can be at the heart of its continuing development, leading the school through the next exciting phase in its journey to excellence. You will be responsible for the strategic leadership and day-to-day operational management of the school. The aim will be to ensure that every pupil has an outstanding educational experience with individual pupil progress and care at the core of the offer.
At Thomas Bewick School, the Headteacher will be central to its success. You will ensure the vision and values of Prosper Learning Trust are at the core of the development of the school whilst implementing Trust systems and protocols to facilitate its smooth running.
The role will require you to be a dynamic and professional leader, able to motivate staff, set high expectations, promote achievement and facilitate rigorous and continuous self-evaluation.
You will be skilled in working collaboratively with stakeholders and partner organisations at all levels to maximise the educational opportunities for children and young people with autism.
You will advise the Local Advisory Committee and CEO on the recruitment and selection of staff, creating and developing an organisation in which high quality people work together towards the common goal of creating a successful school on behalf of its pupils and their families.
You will work closely with the Trust Director of School Improvement to ensure that all aspects of the quality of education in the school are delivered to the highest possible standard.
You will develop, secure and sustain high quality teaching and effective learning across the school, monitor, evaluate and review classroom practice and promote continuous improvement. You will seek to set outstanding standards and to maintain high expectations amongst staff for the progress of all pupils.
Whether you are a serving Headteacher/Principal or a successful senior leader looking for your first whole school leadership role, you will have an exceptional track record of success, specifically in relation to securing positive outcomes for all pupils regardless of background or ability.
Prosper Learning Trust is at a very exciting stage in its development and you will have the opportunity to play a key role in its growth. As Headteacher of Thomas Bewick School you will become a member of the Trust’s Executive Leadership Team. We will provide you with the resources you need and support you in your efforts to promote excellence throughout the school. You will be working with knowledgeable and supportive specialist staff in a school with excellent facilities and alongside a growing and ambitious Academy Trust, its schools and its leaders.
We can offer:
- A friendly and supportive team of staff across the Trust who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another
- An exciting and diverse learning environment where hard work and achievement are appreciated, acknowledged and celebrated
- A curriculum that is relevant to the needs of our pupils
- A well-resourced learning environment
- A supportive Trust, Trustees and Local Advisory Committee members
- Further professional development appropriate to the role
Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust
Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds. Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and Kindness. We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.
The Trust currently have 5 schools in the region:
- Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3-19 years)
- Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11-16 years)
- Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3-19 years)
- Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5-16 years)
- Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11-16 years)
Prosper Learning Trust was also recently named as the lead partner in the opening of a new Free School in Jarrow, South Tyneside. This school will be a Special School academy for pupils with SEMH (4-11 years).
The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Thomas Bewick School but will be expected to work at any Prosper Learning Trust site should the need arise.
The Trust is proud to say that we match the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates:
- A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another
- Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group
- Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates.
- Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace
- Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)
- Cycle to work scheme
For more information on why we think you should work for us see our Trust website, where you will also find videos of what our current staff think.
To learn more about this unique opportunity, Thomas Bewick School and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit Vacancies - Prosper Learning Trust
We are more than happy for prospective candidates to visit the school so we can share our vision and values, and discuss this post. Alternatively you can request a confidential conversation.
Visiting dates: 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 19 March or others by arrangement (to arrange a visit or a phone call please email admin@prosperlearningtrust.co.uk)
Please note that all successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre-employment medical questionnaire.
Safeguarding Information
Prosper Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, as well as vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to apply for Disclosure from the DBS.
The Trust actively promotes equality of opportunity with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcomes applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. The Trust selects all candidates for employment based on their skills, qualifications and experience, in comparison against the person specification.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If you are invited for interview, you will be required to disclose convictions that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. Certain spent convictions and cautions will be ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed. Full details on protected convictions and information about which convictions must be declared during job applications can be found on the Ministry of Justice website. You will be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure and Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed. This role will include Regulated Activities and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure is required for this post. Please note that in all cases written references will be taken up and made available to interviewers before the final selection stage; even if you indicate otherwise.
Online vetting checks will be carried out for candidates who are shortlisted.
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