Headteacher Designate

Headteacher Designate Wolsey Park School / Chetwood

School Group Size: To be confirmed

Required: September 2025, for January 2027 opening

Salary range: Group 7 pay range

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." Helen Keller

A unique opportunity has arisen for an exceptional Headteacher, or Senior Leader, who is seeking a new challenge, and wishes to join a dynamic and supportive Trust as Headteacher Designate of The Wolsey Park and Chetwood School. Zenith Multi Academy Trust was established in 2017, and currently consists of three secondary schools, one special school, and one primary school in South East Essex.

This brand new special school provision will open in January 2027, across two carefully planned sites in Rayleigh and South Woodham Ferrers. Together, these sites will offer an outstanding all-through education for 190 pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD), and profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD). The two sites will be configured to enable a strong sense of progression, ensuring that pupils experience a carefully supported transition across key stages and beyond, within a consistent and familiar school community.

We are now seeking a inspirational leader with the knowledge and experience to transform this vision into reality. This will include shaping the school's ethos and values, contributing to the design and layout of both sites, establishing the curriculum and therapeutic offer, and recruiting and developing a high-quality and committed staff team to ensure the school will be a true beacon of excellence. Our Trust is ethical and inclusive, and all our work is underpinned by our four Trust values of dignity, collaboration, positivity, and aspiration.

As a Headteacher within our Trust, you will be given both the autonomy to lead, and the support to improve and develop your school. As a Trust, we believe in giving leaders the space and resources to realise their vision for the school, whilst holding them to account for standards and outcomes. The Trust has a strong reputation for supporting their Headteachers, and has excellent relationships with Essex Local Authority and the DfE, along with an innovative partnership with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). CPD is a major strength of our Trust, and the successful candidate will benefit from access to sector-leading training opportunities and networking, both during the pre-opening phase and beyond.

You will need to be a successful Headteacher or Senior Leader who:

· Has a compelling and ambitious vision for inclusive education and high aspirations for pupils with complex needs

· Provides a safe and caring aspirational environment for all pupils

· Has a proven track record of achieving excellent outcomes for pupils with SEND

· Can lead and develop a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality education and care

· Motivates and inspires pupils, staff, and parents/carers

· Commits to working collaboratively with colleagues, pupils, families, and the wider community

· Can build strong, effective relationships with a range of stakeholders, including the Local Authority, health, and social care partners

· Understands and champions the importance of communication as central to teaching, learning, and well-being for pupils with complex needs, recognising every child's right to have a voice, and to express choice and preferences.

We can offer you:

· The opportunity to lead and shape a brand new school and build your own leadership team

· Close collaboration with our existing Headteachers, CEO, and Trust leaders, within a strong culture of mutual support

· Highly engaged and supportive Trustees and Governors

· The chance to develop as an outstanding leader and take on a high-profile, influential role within our Trust and the wider SEND community

· Extensive CPD and leadership development opportunities

· Full support and partnership with Essex Local Authority, the Department for Education, and the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)

· Access to the well-established and vibrant Essex Special Schools network

Why join Zenith?

We offer a wide range of additional benefits to our teams, including:

· Access to outstanding ready-made professional networks and CPD

· Benenden Healthcare, including access to a GP 24/7 for you and your immediate family

· VIVUP Employee Assistance Programme and Lifestyle savings membership

· On-site staff counselling programme

· Annual calendar of wellbeing events

· Eyesight tests / Access to Bike2Work scheme

· On-site free medical health checks

· On-site free flu jab clinics

· Generous Teachers' Pension and Local Government Pensions schemes

We encourage you to visit us, and we hope that you will be excited by the opportunities we have to offer.

Trust visit: Visits are encouraged and appointments are available by appointment between 24th March - 4th April 2025. Please contact Leigh Christensen, Trust Director of HR, to arrange, leighch@zmat.co.uk

We are a South East Essex Multi Academy Trust, currently comprising three secondary schools and one primary school: The King John School in Benfleet, The James Hornsby School in Basildon, Castle View School in Canvey Island and Laindon Park Primary School and Nursery in Basildon.

The Trust's core aim is to ensure that we enhance the life chances of all the young people within the Trust to enable them to fulfil their potential and achieve the best possible outcomes. This is at the heart of everything we do.

There are currently four schools in the Trust family:- The King John School, The James Hornsby School, Castle View School and Laindon Park Primary School and Nursery.

As a Trust our school's progress 8 measures places us in the top 25% of the country. Our schools offer a high quality educational experience through a broad curriculum in a caring and friendly environment.

The Trust has good staff retention and is wholly committed to continued professional development. The Trust offers free healthcare through Benenden Healthcare scheme which all employees are entitled to join.

We offer excellent opportunities for our employees to develop their career within the Trust driven by our shared vision and commitments to pupils, staff and their wider community.