Deputy Headteacher

This school has Academy status and is part of the Prosper Multi Academy Trust; the employer will be the Multi Academy Trust.

Newcastle Bridges School
Drayton Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3RU

Start date: September 2025
Interview Date: W/C 12th May

Newcastle Bridges School is delighted to announce an exciting opportunity for a Deputy Headteacher to join our team from September 2025. We are seeking a passionate and dedicated leader with a proven track record of success in a similar setting. The successful candidate will:

• Have a passion for teaching and learning, and improving outcomes for pupils
• Have substantial experience in leadership within special or alternative provision settings
• Demonstrate expertise in supporting pupils with SEMH needs or Autism
• Be a strategic thinker with the ability to inspire and motivate others
• Share our commitment to providing a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where every pupil can thrive
• Have flexibility and gain an understanding of the specific needs of our students
• Innovate and motivate the staff team working with our pupils, ensuring they maximise the opportunities presented to them
• Contribute to the strategic development of the school
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders
• Have the highest of expectations for all our pupils and a relentless focus on safeguarding

The key duties attached to this post will be allocated after the appointment has been made. We are therefore looking for candidates that can demonstrate a range of skills and flexibility. This post will be suited to either an experienced leader in mainstream or specialist education looking for a new challenge.

Newcastle Bridges School is an alternative provision which provides excellent educational opportunities to pupils whose education has been interrupted by mental or physical ill-health. We seek to support each pupil’s access to a full-time, broad and balanced education appropriate to their potential and their needs and encourage reintegration into mainstream wherever possible. Newcastle Bridges School was judged by Ofsted to be ‘outstanding’ in May 2022.

A number of provisions are based within hospital settings. The school meets a huge variety of complex needs and strives to ensure that its pupils, no matter what difficulties they face, are not disadvantaged in any way with regard to their education and future opportunities. The school provides a holistic, child centred education that encourages pupils to aim high. Every pupil is equal, valued and unique and we aim to provide an environment where all pupils feel safe and can flourish.

The school has various departments, each of which caters for a particular group of pupils and their needs.

The Kenton site is a Newcastle Local Authority commissioned provision offering education to pupils 11-16 years old who are unable to access mainstream school due to medical and mental health needs.

The Great North Children’s Hospital (GNCH) caters for pupils whose education is interrupted by regular stays, or a long-term stay in hospital. Pupils are taught by a team of teachers in the different specialist paediatric wards or in the hospital classroom.

Ferndene is a purpose built inpatient centre that provides assessment and treatment for 12-18 year olds with complex mental health, behavioural and emotional needs including pupils with a learning disability.

The Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder Service (CNDS) is a specialist second opinion service for nursery or primary school aged children who may have autism and other complex communication/mental health/neuro-developmental problems.

Medical Pathway Provision provides education for pupils who are unable to attend their normal place of education due to illness. This service is based within our Kenton site. Pupils are taught from Reception to Year 11 and teaching can take place in a variety of settings within the community as appropriate to their medical needs.

This is an exciting opportunity for an excellent practitioner to join our outstanding school and work in a challenging but rewarding environment.

The successful candidate will join a forward-thinking, collaborative community that values innovation, inclusivity, and aspiration. As Deputy Headteacher, you will work closely with the Headteacher to lead on curriculum development, quality of education, and leadership while ensuring the academy meets its ambitious goals for pupil achievement and well-being.

We can offer:

• Exceptional facilities designed to meet the needs of complex learners
• Comprehensive professional development opportunities tailored to senior leadership roles
• The chance to make a significant impact on a growing academy and its pupils

If you are ready to take the next step in your career and help shape the future of Newcastle Bridges School, we would love to hear from you.

To learn more about Newcastle Bridges School and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit our websites.

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 Newcastle Bridges 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.

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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