Deputy Headteacher

Start date: 1 September 2025  

Closing date: Noon, 2 June 2025

Interview Date: W/C 16 June 2025

Salary: L16 - L20 £72,162 - £79,475 

Thomas Bewick School, part of Prosper Learning Trust are seeking two passionate and dedicated leaders with a proven track record of success in a similar setting to join the team from 1st September 2025.

The successful candidates will:

• Be dynamic and professional leaders
• Have substantial experience in leadership within a similar setting
• Be able to demonstrate experience and expertise in specific age phases in order to lead on the day-to-day operational management at specific school sites (Either Early Years through to Upper Key Stage 2 or Upper Key Stage 2 through to Post 16)
• Demonstrate expertise in supporting pupils with SEND and Autism
• Be strategic thinkers with the ability to inspire and motivate others
• Share our commitment to providing a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where every pupil can thrive

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. The school is based over three sites, two in West Denton and one at Broadwood Primary School in Denton Burn. The school offers a broad and balanced curriculum with personalised pathways and specialised teaching inspiring 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.

As Deputy Headteacher at Thomas Bewick School, you will:

• Work closely with the Headteacher to lead on curriculum development, quality of education and leadership while ensuring the school meets its ambitious goals for pupil achievement and well-being
• Be able to motivate staff
• Set high expectations and promote achievement
• Facilitate rigorous and continuous self-evaluation
• Be skilled in working collaboratively with stakeholders and partner organisations to maximise the educational opportunities for children and young people with autism

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, supporting the headteacher to lead the school through the next exciting phase in its journey to excellence. You will be involved in strategic leadership and lead the day-to-day operational management at one of the school sites. 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.

We can offer:

• 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
• Further professional development appropriate to the role

The Trust currently has 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.

Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust 

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.

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

Visits and Further Information

Visiting dates: 19 and 20 May 2025. To arrange a visit or request a confidential phone call with the Headteacher, please email admin@thomasbewick.newcastle.sch.uk

To learn more about Thomas Bewick School and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit our websites.

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.